Strategy to obtain US Amex

[DC3]

For anyone using US Global Mail - Amex sent me a letter stating that this is a mail forwarder and that I need a physical address. Looks like I will need to go back to MyUS for physical and use the US global mail as the mailing

Were you able to resolve this?

I read where the Nevada address for US Global Mail does not show as a Commercial Mail Receiving Company. That seemed to be the case when I did a USPS look-up, whereas the Miami address indicated a CMRC. So, it may pay to look around before deciding where to live.

 

[cathalm8]

View attachment 391582
And the QF points post quickly too. Last day tomorrow (20/6) as a reminder for anyone interested. I've done about $1k total, a nice bonus for something I'll use fairly quickly.

I don't really like holding big stacks of GCs, I've done $3k Apple cards before on the 20x offer, but that's about my limit.

Do these gift cards count as legitimate spend on Australian credit cards? Currently have a Westpac altitude bonus spend requirement to meet.

 

[desafinado74]

Were you able to resolve this?

I read where the Nevada address for US Global Mail does not show as a Commercial Mail Receiving Company. That seemed to be the case when I did a USPS look-up, whereas the Miami address indicated a CMRC. So, it may pay to look around before deciding where to live.

The US Globalmail addresses that are safe to use include the Nevada, California, and one of the Arizona addresses.

 

[Tiki]

Has anyone ever been able to use a prepaid Visa or MC prepaid gift card to fund a Wise transfer to the US to pay your cards? I tried with a Visa Activ from Officeworks (5x on Ink Cash) but it failed at "verified by Visa". Just wondering if there was a word-around?

 

[maverick1]

Has anyone ever been able to use a prepaid Visa or MC prepaid gift card to fund a Wise transfer to the US to pay your cards? I tried with a Visa Activ from Officeworks (5x on Ink Cash) but it failed at "verified by Visa". Just wondering if there was a word-around?

no, don't think so. I've tried a few prepaid card over the years without any luck..

 

[QF_Flyer]

Do these gift cards count as legitimate spend on Australian credit cards? Currently have a Westpac altitude bonus spend requirement to meet.

I would imagine so, they'd just code as Qantas spend on any which award extra points for that too. But I've never purchased them via that route. I do usually buy 4% discounted gift cards through Woolies Insurance and through a work gift card portal, Aussie cards have always just counted them as normal spend.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Has anyone ever been able to use a prepaid Visa or MC prepaid gift card to fund a Wise transfer to the US to pay your cards? I tried with a Visa Activ from Officeworks (5x on Ink Cash) but it failed at "verified by Visa". Just wondering if there was a word-around?

Not personally with Wise, in fact I've had some really difficulties with prepaid cards, but there's always a way. Can you add them to Apple Pay? I'd suggest trying to use them to top up Revolut then either Rev-US card or Rev-Wise-US card, if that works (no guarantees though, sadly).

 

[albyd]

It works with Revolut but it must cost them money as I got a warning (which I assumed meant “behave” rather than “no more soup for you”) and they blocked it as a load method for me. I think the message is ‘use sparingly’.

 

[levelnine]

What you're doing is manufactured spend — buy "cash" with a credit card then use that cash to pay off the credit card.

Financial institutions hate it for many reasons, not least the fraud & regulatory risk. It's very hard to find institutions that turn a blind eye to this stuff.

There are methods for converting GCs to cash, but they tend to be closely guarded secrets among those who MS because they are hard to find and easy to get shut down if used by too many people.

 

[Tiki]

What you're doing is manufactured spend — buy "cash" with a credit card then use that cash to pay off the credit card.

Financial institutions hate it for many reasons, not least the fraud & regulatory risk. It's very hard to find institutions that turn a blind eye to this stuff.

There are methods for converting GCs to cash, but they tend to be closely guarded secrets among those who MS because they are hard to find and easy to get shut down if used by too many people.

I used to do it with US cards back in the days of Bluebirds and Vanilla GCs bought at pharmacies. Vanilla GCs could be loaded to the Bluebird which was a prepaid card that could be transferred to a bank account. But I needed to be visiting the US in person to buy the Vanilla GCs. This was years ago, pre-2013 I think.

What caught my eye was a clause in Wise that said they accept prepaid Visa cards. But that particular one failed at "verified by Visa". The GC works fine in person and in Apple Pay.

I tried both loading cash onto the Wise card and doing a transfer AUD-USD to my US bank that I would normally use my Nab Visa debit for.

I thought all this sort of thing was shut down years ago, then just stumbled on that Wise blog.

Send money with prepaid card: your full guide

Your full guide on how to send money with a prepaid card.

wise.com

No idea what 3DS is.

This would also come in handy if I need to pay for an ecolodge that isn't on Booking.com or accepting normal credit cards. I have my eye on one in Brazil that would cost around $1500-ish.

If this is sensitive, I would appreciate a PM, I promise to keep it confidential and would use it sparingly.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

The US Globalmail addresses that are safe to use include the Nevada, California, and one of the Arizona addresses.

Is there a list somewhere?

 

[desafinado74]

Is there a list somewhere?

There you go....

US Global Mail

inbox.usglobalmail.com

 

[DC3]

Is there a list somewhere?

The list is in the previous post. I will be choosing one of those when I subscribe. Or, check the US Global Mail website, for available locations

 

[soliloguy]

For those who applied for your ITIN - what box did you tick (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw7.pdf)? Was it the one where you said you were a nonresident filing a tax return and went on to file one? Or was it that Box H other and there was some other exception?

As a data point for those thinking about using Maza
a) It requires you to enable an in-app subscription to the service commencing next year in addition to the 49USD already paid - which means you'll need a US CC for the App Store to place a hold for said subscription
b) Requires you to geolocate to your listed US address - i.e. will need to fake your GPS location
c) Files a W7 under Criteria H - Other - 'Exception 1C Individual who is resident alien for tax purposes and opened an interest bearing bank deposit account'

C is the problem I'm dealing with at this stage as being a tax resident there comes with a few implications and I'm wondering how the others filed for their ITINs?

 

[DC3]

For those who applied for your ITIN - what box did you tick (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw7.pdf)? Was it the one where you said you were a nonresident filing a tax return and went on to file one? Or was it that Box H other and there was some other exception?

Are you doing your own? Mine was done by a CAA and I just signed it

 

[BTS_FAN]

Hi, I was thinking of getting the Citi AA or (the AA business version, so it won't count toward Chase 5/24) Anyone experienced with Citi?


Thanks

 

[soliloguy]

Are you doing your own? Mine was done by a CAA and I just signed it

Just updated my post for context!

 

[levelnine]

Hi, I was thinking of getting the Citi AA or (the AA business version, so it won't count toward Chase 5/24) Anyone experienced with Citi?


Thanks

Biz version is easier to get than the personal for whatever strange reason.

Don't add to Apple Pay — high risk of a fraud lock and, if locked, you'll need to wait for a verification code in the mail most likely.

Need to ramp up slowly as high spend on a new card is another fraud lock trigger.

Customer service is completely incompetent.

But otherwise a very profitable card if you know how to use it.

 

[Ko0l]

C is the problem I'm dealing with at this stage as being a tax resident there comes with a few implications and I'm wondering how the others filed for their ITINs?

I did it with the sh studio on fiverr and they ticked the same box. (Box H other)

I guess getting an ITIN will basically put you in as a tax resident. Regardless of which box you tick. Ie have to file tax returns.

Interesting about Maza, it looks like a much cheaper option for only $49 USD and it looks like you also get a USA interest earning bank account?

Let me know your experience with it and how long it takes. It looks at least more secure than Fiverr which is just an online marketplace like eBay. Would've experimented with them if I knew about the option.

 

[nj12]

Recently applied for my 2nd Chase Card - WOH about 2 weeks ago (approved for CSP in December 23). I called in to provide more information and the automated status line changed from 7-10 days to approx. 2 weeks which is usually a good sign of approval. However almost 2 weeks has passed and when I've called in to speak with a rep about it on both occasions they've advised it's under review and no decision has been made. They clarified that it's not declined or approved yet. Is it normal for it to take this long?

Update: After 31 days and numerous phone calls to Chase to verify identity while being told my application was subject to an extended review multiple times I received an email today that i've been approved for World of Hyatt with a 15.5k limit. Any recent DP's on Chase expediting card to Aus?