Strategy to obtain US Amex

[blacksultan]

Given it's one bonus per lifetime (or 7 years), I'd rather wait for it to go back up to 90K + $250 back. The only reason I can see for jumping on a sub-par offer is if you've run out of other cards to apply for or, in the case of the Gold, you expect to make extensive use of the 4x categories.

Or if you can’t get out of pop up jail and may need the MR points urgently .
Btw the $250 cash back offer is avl thru resy but likely to throw up a pop up .

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Or if you can’t get out of pop up jail and may need the MR points urgently .
Btw the $250 cash back offer is avl thru resy but likely to throw up a pop up .

Yep I think if you have a popup jail 75k + 250 in dining credits is a decent deal.

 

[Tiki]

I can't use that much in dining credits. The countries I go to and being mostly off the beaten track means that Amex isn't widely accepted in small budget restaurants though Visa and MC are usually fine. But I can easily spend that much booking flights and hotels online.

The Amex partners I would probably use are BA and AC both of whom partner with Chase and I will be out of 5/24 jail in July 2024. At least Chase is predictable! Those cards have lower annual fees. I could also use them to top up QF if I can't get enough points off Woolies, but I think I am tracking ok for that target (BNE-SYD-SCL in 2025).

The only other Amex card of interest besides the Green would be Bonvoy if it gives enough points (not hotel nights) to transfer to one of their airline partners.

 

[Daventry]

Do let us know how you go. I know that it really depends on the CSR. They accepted my bank statement maybe they'll accept a cc statement.

Approved

Right away applied for Green Amex and got popup jail…could it be because I have a Platinum card? I have used it every month since I got it and will start its second year this week. My other Amex is a Bonvoy Brilliant which I got 3 months ago and have also used it every month.

 

[DC3]

Decided to apply for a Chase card on Sunday. Yesterday got a phone call while a was at work from a US number that according to Google is from Chase.
Got an email last night asking to provide proof of ITIN/SSN and address.

They don’t mention credit card statements among examples of proof of address. I hope my last Amex statement is enough

I noticed that your Chase cc has been approved.

So, what proof of address did you end up providing? Was it the Amex cc statement?

Already having a Chase checking account may have helped.

Edited

 

[Daventry]

I noticed that your Chase cc has been approved.

So, what proof of address did you end up providing? Was it the Amex cc statement?

Yeah, my Amex statement.

 

[DC3]

Yeah, my Amex statement.

Was that the same address as your Chase checking account? I guess that it was.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I noticed that your Chase cc has been approved.

So, what proof of address did you end up providing? Was it the Amex cc statement?

Already having a Chase checking account may have helped.

Edited

Oh you have a Chase checking account? I think that definitely would have helped.

 

[timmy1234]

Just a checking account opened in branch in February 2022. Have been using it to pay off my US Amex balance.

what id or information did they ask you to open a chase checking account

 

[Daventry]

Was that the same address as your Chase checking account? I guess that it was.

Yes, same address on Chase and Amex

 

[Daventry]

what id or information did they ask you to open a chase checking account

Passport and proof of address. I used a statement from HSBC Premier.

 

[blacksultan]

Passport and proof of address. I used a statement from HSBC Premier.

What is the benefit of a chase checking account over hsbc premier ? What are the costs ?

 

[levelnine]

A relatively exciting (at least for me!) development if you have an iPhone.

I have a US and an Australian Apple ID. The US one for US banking apps; the Australian for everything else. (I know you can switch between countries using a single ID, but only if you have no money in your Apple account, which I do.)

You used to have to log out of your Australian account and log in to your US account to update your US apps.

Now it seems iOS allows you to remain logged in to your Australian account while the US apps update. It'll prompt you for your password/2FA for your US account when you go to update US apps, but it doesn't require you to log out first.

A significant benefit that makes it so much easier to manage apps from the stores in both countries.

 

[maverick1]

A relatively exciting (at least for me!) development if you have an iPhone.

I have a US and an Australian Apple ID. The US one for US banking apps; the Australian for everything else. (I know you can switch between countries using a single ID, but only if you have no money in your Apple account, which I do.)

You used to have to log out of your Australian account and log in to your US account to update your US apps.

Now it seems iOS allows you to remain logged in to your Australian account while the US apps update. It'll prompt you for your password/2FA for your US account when you go to update US apps, but it doesn't require you to log out first.

A significant benefit that makes it so much easier to manage apps from the stores in both countries.

just tested it and it works as you described. I had an pending update for C1 app but couldn't be bothered with the whole cycle of logging in/out of different id's, but ya this time it just asked for the pwd of the US login while staying logged in via AU id.

 

[maverick1]

For anyone with HSBC premier US, I recently applied via my US RM and got approved for HSBC Premier Credit card which comes with 35k points SUB (3k spend) and no AF. Not something to get excited about but I wanted to get it anyways as my options are currently limited. I put my AU address for card delivery and it has been shipped via DHL.
The points can be transferred to 11 hotel and airline partners including Qantas

Aug has been hectic - got 2 Amex Biz and 1 HSBC personal. I hope to stay under 5/24 to be eligible for chase cards some day.

 

[velli25]

Posted this in the wrong thread initially...moved to here

In light of the SSN / ITIN upcoming changes for GT, tried to apply the other half for a US AMEX via GT. She's only had the AU Platinum for ~1 month and been an additional user of my card for some time. Unfortunately declined for the Green card...bugger.

On a separate note; I understand it takes around 6sh months to get a FICO for credit cards. Does anyone know the approximate time for a charge card?

 

[desafinado74]

Passport and proof of address. I used a statement from HSBC Premier.

Out of curiosity, which American city was this Chase Branch located ?
And they didn't ask for utility bills as proof of address ?
Well it is great that they accepted your bank statement.
Finally, did you give them a prepaid phone number like those cheap $3 T Mobile sim cards ?
Any issues with 2FA ?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Posted this in the wrong thread initially...moved to here

In light of the SSN / ITIN upcoming changes for GT, tried to apply the other half for a US AMEX via GT. She's only had the AU Platinum for ~1 month and been an additional user of my card for some time. Unfortunately declined for the Green card...bugger.

On a separate note; I understand it takes around 6sh months to get a FICO for credit cards. Does anyone know the approximate time for a charge card?

Last I heard charge cards take longer to get a FICO score as utilisation isn't recorded.

 

[Daventry]

Out of curiosity, which American city was this Chase Branch located ?
And they didn't ask for utility bills as proof of address ?
Well it is great that they accepted your bank statement.
Finally, did you give them a prepaid phone number like those cheap $3 T Mobile sim cards ?
Any issues with 2FA ?

This was in Miami.

No, no utility bills.

I used TextNow. Haven’t received my credit card yet but in the branch they sent me a couple of messages while they opened my account and had no issues.

 

[Daventry]

What is the benefit of a chase checking account over hsbc premier ? What are the costs ?

I opened it to start building a relationship with them.
Since then I’ve invited to apply for a credit card twice: first one was rejected (last December), last one was approved.
You need to either deposit $500 every month or keep an average daily balance of $1500 every month to avoid fees.