Strategy to obtain US Amex

[blacksultan]

The Aus and us Amex apps are separate . Us app needs to be downloaded from us store . Same website works for website log in though .

We dont have access to the online chat to get that number as we dont have an account and it keeps pushing us back to the AUD amex chat.

I think we just need to call up the GT number again and get her account setup. Then as blacksultan said request the replacement card be sent to our friends address again via courier or post with trac

Post automatically merged: Nov 2, 2023

They send you an email upon approval to create an account prior to card arrival. The link/ website wont load.

You don’t need their link . That link may be for an Amex us app which won’t work if you are not signed into the US Apple store .

Post automatically merged: Nov 2, 2023

The Aus and us Amex apps are separate . Us app needs to be downloaded from us store . Same website works for website log in though .

Post automatically merged: Nov 2, 2023

You don’t need their link . That link may be for an Amex us app which won’t work if you are not signed into the US Apple store .

You can’t sign up at link without card details anyway .

 

[itsjackson]

They send you an email upon approval to create an account prior to card arrival. The link/ website wont load.

As blacksultan says, you won't be able to sign up without the card details to validate. I read somewhere that you can't sign up before you get your first card, even if you have the link.
I tried to do the same and even called to get the same answer.

I am guessing others who have existing cards or accounts may be able to add the card prior, but not for the first one.

 

[Bronica]

Is the original post guide still appropriate, or is there an updated guide?

Also, are obtaining a US card possible for someone on a salary in AU? (Noting that we need to apply for an LLC in US)

 

[Sora]

Can you get a free ITIN if you are like me with no ITIN and earn bonuses from banks? Could I not use this approach to show I need to file taxes?

As I am still in the USA, I am thinking this could be an approach outside applying online and paying $350 USD to get one.

 

[blacksultan]

Can you get a free ITIN if you are like me with no ITIN and earn bonuses from banks? Could I not use this approach to show I need to file taxes?

As I am still in the USA, I am thinking this could be an approach outside applying online and paying $350 USD to get one.

How would you get a free itin ?

Is the original post guide still appropriate, or is there an updated guide?

Also, are obtaining a US card possible for someone on a salary in AU? (Noting that we need to apply for an LLC in US)

the us banks never ask for proof of income at application or later unless an FR is conducted because of suspicious activity .

 

[cathalm8]

The Aus and us Amex apps are separate . Us app needs to be downloaded from us store . Same website works for website log in though .

Post automatically merged: Nov 2, 2023

You don’t need their link . That link may be for an Amex us app which won’t work if you are not signed into the US Apple store .

Post automatically merged: Nov 2, 2023

You can’t sign up at link without card details anyway .

We called again and got a new card resent via ups overnight. Then we got an email from Amex saying 'We were unable to send mail to your current billing address'.

Unsure why its not being delivered. We have previously received a Amex rejection letter to the same address. However I also never received correspondence from HSBC to that address.
I know that the post box has the names of the people living their (not ours) so perhaps that is why.

At this stage we may have to try the MyUS route and give up on the friends address which is a shame. Time is also of the essence if we are to make our green card minimum spend requirement.

 

[cathalm8]

Must be a recent update by AMEX sending cards with address not including line 2 (which I assume you're putting your suite/box no). Previous cards sent to me included my actual suite/box detail itself and got sent just fine. Albeit I am talking about a non-Planet Express mail forwarder so ymmv

This is interesting. This might be the reason why the Amex card is not being delivered to my friends apartment if the second line includes the apartment no. We will need to call Amex again and try for a third delivery..

 

[Finale]

This is interesting. This might be the reason why the Amex card is not being delivered to my friends apartment. Is this fixable by simply speaking with Amex?

It happened to me a few times. I had Apt # on the first line, Amex didn't include it once or twice. Then I changed it to the line 2 and one time it was missing. It was fine most of the time though. I spoke to them and and they did the fix by adding Apt # on both lines lol

 

[cathalm8]

It happened to me a few times. I had Apt # on the first line, Amex didn't include it once or twice. Then I changed it to the line 2 and one time it was missing. It was fine most of the time though. I spoke to them and and they did the fix by adding Apt # on both lines lol

Ok, we will call again and try again lol.. not easy

 

[blacksultan]

We called again and got a new card resent via ups overnight. Then we got an email from Amex saying 'We were unable to send mail to your current billing address'.

Unsure why its not being delivered. We have previously received a Amex rejection letter to the same address. However I also never received correspondence from HSBC to that address.
I know that the post box has the names of the people living their (not ours) so perhaps that is why.

At this stage we may have to try the MyUS route and give up on the friends address which is a shame. Time is also of the essence if we are to make our green card minimum spend requirement.

Maybe Amex does not mail to post boxes ?

 

[cathalm8]

Maybe Amex does not mail to post boxes ?

I meant letter box.

 

[Finale]

Can you get a free ITIN if you are like me with no ITIN and earn bonuses from banks? Could I not use this approach to show I need to file taxes?

As I am still in the USA, I am thinking this could be an approach outside applying online and paying $350 USD to get one.

Disclaimer: I'm not an accountant and the info was from my previous research so I cannot guarantee it is 100% correct.

You can get ITIN by going to IRS taxpayer assistance center in person for free. However, you cannot use the bank bonus you earned this year as it's for next year's filing. If you want to apply now, you have 2 choices. 1. You apply for ITIN without filing tax return but you need to meet an exception ie expecting to have some royalty income, interest, devidends etc which you will need extra docs from those banks or companies. You can check exception table on page 11 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw7.pdf. This will be difficult to obtain especially from the banks as they are not familiar with it. 2. You file tax now for last year's income and you might have to pay a bit of penalty as it was already past the due date. You can make up your income.

 

[leyy]

So I logged into my amex account today and they presented an upgrade offer to the Platinum Charge card. I currently have the Amex Green and Hilton Aspire Card.

Any thoughts? 100,000 SUB, for $695 fee was thinking maybe I would upgrade take the bonus points then downgrade back to Gold or Green? The Platinum benefits are not great for non-US Cardholders.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

So I logged into my amex account today and they presented an upgrade offer to the Platinum Charge card. I currently have the Amex Green and Hilton Aspire Card.

Any thoughts? 100,000 SUB, for $695 fee was thinking maybe I would upgrade take the bonus points then downgrade back to Gold or Green? The Platinum benefits are not great for non-US Cardholders.

I recall someone mentioning double stacking the bonuses upthread? You sign up for the card then accept the offer? Perhaps you can double check.

 

[albyd]

I'm thinking - it works out at approx. $A,1000 = 1c/point. Nothing amazing though should be able to squeeze better value from US MR if used well. YMMV.

I applied for the Bonvoy Business and got pop up jail for that too. I have the basic Bonvoy - the "old" SPG card. I asked about it on Amex chat and they said because I've received SUBs before even if not for this card product (which my reading of the T&C is that I should receive SUB), that the system is refusing to give me the SUB. I thought pop-up Jail was all about putting through too little spend on cards - I still put the lion's share of spend on my AU card - that might be why I'm guessing.

 

[DC3]

I thought pop-up Jail was all about putting through too little spend on cards - I still put the lion's share of spend on my AU card - that might be why I'm guessing.

I’m not aware of any connection between card spend/ card management on US v AU cards if that’s what you mean. There’s no direct ‘connection’ between the two that I’m aware of. Is that what you mean?

 

[albyd]

Just to clarify my post, I didn't think there was a connection between how much I put through in spend on AU vs US. I put through nearly all of my spending on my AU card so that limits what I put through on the US cards (especially at the current exchange rate, I'm not excited about swapping spend over). I thought pop-up jail was part of Amex US's strategy to keep low spending customers from qualifying for additional SUBs as they aren't so desirable (I'm assuming with higher spending customers, they can earn more merchant fees - net of the cost of MR to them). This may be an additional explanation for pop up jail - they just don't want to give multiple SUBs out as that has historically been a sign of churning.

Edit: I just spoke with an agent in the Amex US call centre and they parroted the same rules as we have in AU back to me - can only get the SUB once per type of rewards - ie already have a MR car, then you're welcome to open a different product but won't receive the SUB. I will get a SUB on my Gold card as I applied or it via a link shared on AFF and that will post when my next statement issues according to the agent. Thought I'd share my experience - though there's plenty of DPs around to contradict it but several AMEX US agents have said the same thing now so may be a more recent development. YMMV.

 

[levelnine]

Not sure if here or the ATO thread is most appropriate, but I'll start here.

Has anyone paid the ATO with a US Amex card? Did you get the points okay? Were you charged 1.45% as the ATO website suggests?

 

[http_x92]

Not sure if here or the ATO thread is most appropriate, but I'll start here.

Has anyone paid the ATO with a US Amex card? Did you get the points okay? Were you charged 1.45% as the ATO website suggests?

Yep 1.45% surcharge for a US Amex and earned at the base points rate (3x HH points or 1x MR).

 

[levelnine]

Yep 1.45% surcharge for a US Amex and earned at the base points rate (3x HH points or 1x MR).

Thank you, really appreciate the data point. A small silver lining of this bill is that I'll be able to hit a Biz Gold SUB with it!