Strategy to obtain US Amex

[kyanar]

As an Australian, you can also apply to Amex UK for a Platinum ICC. The card is denominated in US Dollars, GBP or Euro, and carries a $450USD membership fee. But the good part is that it gets you Amex UK's partner benefits, so you get SPG/Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Shangri-La Jade, Radisson Gold, plus the usuals - and with Shangri-La Jade, you can also immediately match to SQ KrisFlyer Silver with an immediate upgrade to KrisFlyer Gold after three SQ or SilkAir flights in four months.

The best part is that you don't need to do any funky stuff to build credit or anything, they ask Amex Australia for their assessment of your creditworthiness and go from there.

 

[albyd]

It looks like an easier path but the nitty gritty reveals there’s a 3% or thereabouts currency conversion fee which would kill the economics unfortunately. Unless of course most of your spend is in your chosen base currency rather than local use in Australia in $A.

https://www.americanexpress.com/con...-agreement.pdf?inav=icc_footer_card_agreement

 

[kyanar]

Oh yeah definitely - for AUD spend I'd avoid that. But it can be a decent option if you head to the states a lot.

 

[jasonfungsing]

As an Australian, you can also apply to Amex UK for a Platinum ICC. The card is denominated in US Dollars, GBP or Euro, and carries a $450USD membership fee. But the good part is that it gets you Amex UK's partner benefits, so you get SPG/Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Shangri-La Jade, Radisson Gold, plus the usuals - and with Shangri-La Jade, you can also immediately match to SQ KrisFlyer Silver with an immediate upgrade to KrisFlyer Gold after three SQ or SilkAir flights in four months.

The best part is that you don't need to do any funky stuff to build credit or anything, they ask Amex Australia for their assessment of your creditworthiness and go from there.

What's the difference between Amex Platinum Charge Card and Amex platinum ICC card?

 

[kyanar]

What's the difference between Amex Platinum Charge Card and Amex platinum ICC card?

An Amex Platinum ICC is an Amex Platinum Charge Card.

 

[jamestran84]

just obtained a wyoming LLC. I'm heading to the US in Jan anyway, so will open a bank account and see how it goes. thanks for this idea

 

[jasonfungsing]

I got good news to share, I got the Hilton Aspire Amex Card from US website.

Here is what I did.

I login in AU amex as usual, change the country to US at the bottom right, then apply for the card. After I clicked the apply button, I got a popup ask for my approval to use my AU profile details for the application, I agreed on this, then the application form is half filled, like name, email etc. All I need is to put my US mobile, address and annual income.

The confirmation page says they need to look into the application. Several hours later, I got email, card approved.

I have already setup my US Amex login from the confirmation email, added the card to my apple pay, all without received the card in snail mail.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for sharing your experience jasonfungsing. Do you already have a US credit score? Do you have a US mobile, address, employer and ITIN/SSN? Otherwise how did you get these?

Good to hear they accepted mobile rather than 'home phone' although mobile is everyone's home phone now anyway.

I'm Australian based and unlikely to move to the US but would be interested in getting a US Amex - especially a Hilton or SPG branded one.

Let us know about your experience with the exchange rate. I have a Citi Premier and have been happy with it - even using it in Australia, the exchange rate is pretty fair and they honour the spend category bonuses for non-US merchants.

 

[foggy]

I got good news to share, I got the Hilton Aspire Amex Card from US website.

All I need is to put my US mobile, address and annual income.

Do you have a US mobile / address? or can you put one of those forwarding type of services?

 

[jasonfungsing]

Thanks for sharing your experience jasonfungsing. Do you already have a US credit score? Do you have a US mobile, address, employer and ITIN/SSN?

I have a US mobile number, I don't think I have US credit score as this is my first ever US credit card. No employer, ITIN/SSN either. The US address I am using is one of those mail forwarder.

 

[jasonfungsing]

Do you have a US mobile / address? or can you put one of those forwarding type of services?

I have a US mobile. For the address, I put in my package forwarder address.

 

[jasonfungsing]

I have a Citi Premier and have been happy with it - even using it in Australia, the exchange rate is pretty fair and they honour the spend category bonuses for non-US merchants.

That’s very good. Also one of the US card I want to get. But I believed CITI bank require SSN for the card

 

[albyd]

I think they’ve reversed the policy but briefly just needed to set up a checking account at a branch and after 6 months you could apply for an ‘international’ card. No SSN needed. There was a good list of available cards under this program.

I think the other way with some banks may be via a secured card first to build up a spend and credit history. Is much longer burn and the rewards might not be as flexible. I like the Citi card given it’s a flexible rewards program.

 

[Finale]

I have a US mobile. For the address, I put in my package forwarder address.

What forwarding company are you using? Quite interesting as I heard they don't normally accept mail forwarding address when applying for a new card but could be different when doing a global transfer. And what type of US mobile you have? I heard they mightn't do an address verification if they can verify it from your phone number. I used to have just a t-mobile prepaid SIM and they couldn't verify it and had to do 3-way call with them and my bank.

I think they’ve reversed the policy but briefly just needed to set up a checking account at a branch and after 6 months you could apply for an ‘international’ card. No SSN needed. There was a good list of available cards under this program.

I think the other way with some banks may be via a secured card first to build up a spend and credit history. Is much longer burn and the rewards might not be as flexible. I like the Citi card given it’s a flexible rewards program.

Do you have a list of cards? I have prestige now but the fee will be $495 next year and losing 4th night free via concierge. Not sure if 5x on Airlines & Dining will do it for me (for $245 fee after $250 travel credit). I already have Amex Platinum for 5x Airlines. Going to the US in April and looking at applying for another card and/or downgrade to Premier.

 

[albyd]

Do you have a list of cards? I have prestige now but the fee will be $495 next year and losing 4th night free via concierge. Not sure if 5x on Airlines & Dining will do it for me (for $245 fee after $250 travel credit). I already have Amex Platinum for 5x Airlines. Going to the US in April and looking at applying for another card and/or downgrade to Premier.

I'll have a look through my records over the weekend and post it. I'm not sure that it still works. Sounds like you've got a number of US cards and a SSN? I like the Premier - reasonable for my use at $US95pa. I keep it for US and overseas trips since it has no currency conversion fee and a pretty fair exchange rate when I last checked (not an issue if in the US since it's its native currency) and a rewards program.

 

[Finale]

I'll have a look through my records over the weekend and post it. I'm not sure that it still works. Sounds like you've got a number of US cards and a SSN? I like the Premier - reasonable for my use at $US95pa. I keep it for US and overseas trips since it has no currency conversion fee and a pretty fair exchange rate when I last checked (not an issue if in the US since it's its native currency) and a rewards program.

Thanks albyd. I have 4 cards from Amex and a Prestige. I don't have SSN or ITIN. I heard about international card thing before but when applying about 2 years ago, the banker didn't say anything about it and just did an application for me. I think I might fall into international customer category. Not sure if AA card will work.

 

[jasonfungsing]

What forwarding company are you using? Quite interesting as I heard they don't normally accept mail forwarding address when applying for a new card but could be different when doing a global transfer. And what type of US mobile you have? I heard they mightn't do an address verification if they can verify it from your phone number. I used to have just a t-mobile prepaid SIM and they couldn't verify it and had to do 3-way call with them and my bank.

The forwarder I am using is MyUS. The mobile number I got is from Google. It used to call Project Fi, now is Google Fi.

 

[jasonfungsing]

I have 4 cards from Amex and a Prestige. I don't have SSN or ITIN. I heard about international card thing before but when applying about 2 years ago, the banker didn't say anything about it and just did an application for me. I think I might fall into international customer category. Not sure if AA card will work.

How did you get your Prestige card? Applied online or a branch? I want to get this card too

 

[Finale]

The forwarder I am using is MyUS. The mobile number I got is from Google. It used to call Project Fi, now is Google Fi.

Thanks. I just used google number with hangout app. Let us know how they handle shipping credit cards.

How did you get your Prestige card? Applied online or a branch? I want to get this card too

The only way to apply for Citi card without SSN/ITIN is at the branch as far as I know. I applied for their basic card first then upgraded to prestige a year later. I didn't know it was quite easy to get a premium card there.

 

[auflier]

I think it's necessary to have a US bank account as it is listed on Global Transfer page. It was also the only way for me to verify my address. You will need it anyway to pay the bills.

Any chance you can please advise on the us bank accounts listing? Where can I find this info to determine which account to open? Cheers