Strategy to obtain US Amex

[kyanar]

Yeah. I get that part. I was of the impression that they are registered as accepting agent or certified accepting agent. It seems this can be DIY'd too. Passport can be sent to US consulate to get a certified copy for US$50 + W7+1040NR. But personally to play it safe I'll probably go via CAA route.

Embassies/Consulates won't do that unless the reason you're requesting an ITIN is due to ticking "a" (required to obtain an ITIN to claim tax treaty benefits) - unfortunately when you do that, they reject you because the taxation agreement with Australia does not require an ITIN or FTIN (TFN). It might work if you lie and claim that you're doing actual work for a US company in order to meet the criteria required - but you still need something on letterhead from a US company that says they must have an ITIN for withholding. Ticking the other boxes requires an Apostille (DFAT sticking an actual wax stamp on a photocopy).

No US companies I can find will issue these to Australians any more since it's explicitly no longer required.

 

[Ktan89]

Question:
I transfer my current amex to US amex. Will I get bonus points on other US amex cards applied ?

 

[levelnine]

I transfer my current amex to US amex. Will I get bonus points on other US amex cards applied ?

Hard to tell what you mean by this question.

You open a US Amex card (eg US Amex Platinum) using Global Transfer.

You earn points through that card. If there is a sign up bonus attached to the card you apply for, you'll get that sign up bonus if you meet the bonus criteria.

If you opened a US MR-earning card, you can transfer Australian MR to US MR once per year at roughly the prevailing exchange rate.

 

[maverick1]

Embassies/Consulates won't do that unless the reason you're requesting an ITIN is due to ticking "a" (required to obtain an ITIN to claim tax treaty benefits) - unfortunately when you do that, they reject you because the taxation agreement with Australia does not require an ITIN or FTIN (TFN). It might work if you lie and claim that you're doing actual work for a US company in order to meet the criteria required - but you still need something on letterhead from a US company that says they must have an ITIN for withholding. Ticking the other boxes requires an Apostille (DFAT sticking an actual wax stamp on a photocopy).

No US companies I can find will issue these to Australians any more since it's explicitly no longer required.

I don't think rejecting/approving an ITIN application falls under the purview of an embassy/consulate. Their job as stated on the website is to certify the copy your passport which you then use with your ITIN application if applying yourself or through an AA.

Certifying passport process from US consulate website -

Certifying your passport through the Consulates

These instructions are for applicants submitting their request for a certified copy of their passport by the U.S. Consulate to support their application for an ITIN (Form W-7). The applicant must mail the following items to our office.

• Completed Form W-7: Application for an ITIN
• A self-addressed Express Post envelope
• Current passport and one clear photocopy of their passport (Note: we cannot certify any other identity documents, such as drivers licenses)
• Applicable fee (found on the fees page under the heading of Certification)

Applications are only accepted by mail – they are not accepted in person. Mail the items above to the U.S. Consulate General serving your area.

Please allow approximately five working days for our office to process your request. We will return the items to the applicant in the envelope provided.

 

[Ktan89]

Hard to tell what you mean by this question.

You open a US Amex card (eg US Amex Platinum) using Global Transfer.

You earn points through that card. If there is a sign up bonus attached to the card you apply for, you'll get that sign up bonus if you meet the bonus criteria.

If you opened a US MR-earning card, you can transfer Australian MR to US MR once per year at roughly the prevailing exchange rate.

Sorry let me clarify.
I hold an AUS Amex Platinum and I transfer this to get US Amex Platinum (Global transfer).

I then want to open a Hilton Amex card to get bonus points, will I get the bonus points or do they have the same rule where you can't apply within 18months of holding an Amex card?

Where do i find the exchange rate to transfer points from AUS to US?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Sorry let me clarify.
I hold an AUS Amex Platinum and I transfer this to get US Amex Platinum (Global transfer).

I then want to open a Hilton Amex card to get bonus points, will I get the bonus points or do they have the same rule where you can't apply within 18months of holding an Amex card?

Where do i find the exchange rate to transfer points from AUS to US?

The exchange rate is the FX rate.

When you do a global transfer you are applying on the basis of your Australian records. Your Australian account is untouched. There are no rules around multiple cards with US Amex and SUBs. The restriction with SUBs is that you can only receive one in your lifetime (7 years~).

Please take the opportunity to read through or search the previous 216 pages as there is a lot of information there.

 

[levelnine]

I then want to open a Hilton Amex card to get bonus points, will I get the bonus points or do they have the same rule where you can't apply within 18months of holding an Amex card?

In addition to reading this thread, which will give you all your answers, you should have a read of the rules for applying for US Amex cards — there's a million websites that have them. You'll quickly realise that US Amex is not even remotely like Australian Amex. They have completely different rules on eligibility.

 

[Ktan89]

Thank you so much for the replies @levelnine and @richh1833.

Care to share some of the websites to read?
is there a easy guide - 1 pager - to read through instead of the 217 pages?

 

[kyanar]

I don't think rejecting/approving an ITIN application falls under the purview of an embassy/consulate. Their job as stated on the website is to certify the copy your passport which you then use with your ITIN application if applying yourself or through an AA.

The embassy will only certify a passport for the purpose of obtaining an ITIN for the purposes of obtaining tax treaty benefits when required. Refer to the page at https://au.usembassy.gov/itin-applications/

U.S. Embassies and Consulates are able to certify copies of foreign passports in relation to ITIN applications, but only for non-resident aliens applying for ITINs for the purpose of claiming tax treaty benefits (i.e. those applicants who are ticking “a” and “h” on the W-7 form). If you are applying for an ITIN for any other purpose, you will need to submit original documents, or apply from within the United States using an IRS ITIN Acceptance Agent

Applying for an ITIN for any other reason, they will not notarise for you - you will need to engage the services of a Notary Public, or a CAA. Your difficulty will be getting the required documentation from a US-based company to be able to pick "a" on the completed W-7 you must submit to the consulate.

 

[maverick1]

The embassy will only certify a passport for the purpose of obtaining an ITIN for the purposes of obtaining tax treaty benefits when required. Refer to the page at https://au.usembassy.gov/itin-applications/



Applying for an ITIN for any other reason, they will not notarise for you - you will need to engage the services of a Notary Public, or a CAA. Your difficulty will be getting the required documentation from a US-based company to be able to pick "a" on the completed W-7 you must submit to the consulate.

ah! got it. I'll going via CAA not worth the trouble otherwise.

 

[kyanar]

ah! got it. I'll going via CAA not worth the trouble otherwise.

Yeah, sorry. I wasn't clear that I was meaning that the trouble would be getting them to notarise not getting the application accepted - though that can certainly be an unpleasant experience too! Luckily, they don't seem to demand apostilles anymore - they still required that when I applied.

Might be worth another crack - I could probably get cards out of Citi due to a longstanding relationship, and then get a FICO from that and pivot.

 

[ithongy]

I would not attempt to apply for a second amex card without a FICO score. Just be patient and wait.

You can try the Frugal Flyer website they have a DIY. EIN Express is an option as well. We won't know about fiverr until we actually get an outcome.

Set up a LLC or INC open a business checking account and apply for US business credit cards is another possible route.

 

[maverick1]

Set up a LLC or INC open a business checking account and apply for US business credit cards is another possible route.

Yep. Reading up on it. Not sure if it was you or someone else mentioned about Wyoming LLC.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

For anyone who has gone through Fiverr and gone to the CAA we've discussed on earlier pages. Is anyone actually worried that their W7 will be refused?

Based on the form she sent me to sign, I'm a little concerned about the reason she put in. Thoughts for anyone who went with Fiverr?

 

[DC3]

How do people pay their Amex bills from abroad? Do you transfer using Wise or what’s the best and most cost effective way of doing these transfers?

Wise

 

[prozac]

SSN = Social Social Number.

Thank you. I have another for your - ITIN?

EDIT: Found it! W7 - Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number

 

[DC3]

Thank you. I have another for your - ITIN?

 

[DC3]

Hi guys, I applied for my 2nd Amex via the GT route but was told by Amex that we can use the GT only once and any subsequent cards will need FICO score (don't have one yet), form 4506 etc? Is that correct or do I need to try a different agent?

3 x Hilton Amex, here, all by GT. This was on-line. No talking to agents.

 

[maverick1]

3 x Hilton Amex, here, all by GT. This was on-line. No talking to agents.

Wow mate. well done. Did you get your 2nd and 3rd card after your FICO score was generated?Coz I just got my first GT but then I applied for the 2nd one via GT route and it asked me to send my US tax return (form 4XX something) for processing the application.

side question - did you get all the 3 (Hon, Sur and Asp) Hilton cards, and is your strategy to then play the upgrade bonus game?

 

[maverick1]

Wise

I'm doing it via IBKR. I convert my AUD to USD at spot and then wire that money to my HSBC US account which is then linked to my Amex US. IBKR has couple of options to send money to your account with one free transaction/month and after that depending on the option you use it is either $10 or $1 for any subsequent transaction that month.