Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Finale]

Hi I'm new to this but have been interested in getting a US Amex credit card so wanted to ask a few questions. Firstly is it possible to sign up for a free Amex credit card and then fill out an Amex Global Transfer form. Secondly how long do you need to hold onto the Amex credit for before requesting for the global trasnfer form?

Global transfer page says you need to have a card for at least 3 months. However, from my memory, a few people got rejected due to the account less than a year old (even when the page said 3 months).

 

[deuterx]

Does anyone here have a second USA Amex or more without SSN/ITIN ??

I plan on applying tomorrow for my second one, I don't have ITIN/SSN nor i live in the USA.
I am debating wherever to fill non taxable income or leave it empty. I don't remember how i filled that last January when i got my first Amex!

Otherwise i am going to do the app the same. Sign up for the largest published bonus for the card. Check that i am outside of the USA where it has SSN number. And then i will have to have a call with Amex.

LLC is not the best way to an ITIN imho. I have an LLC and an EIN. I have never used my business EIN for anything, prefer not to use my company for my personal stuff.

 

[albyd]

I initially got my Marriott card via Global Transfer. Applied for Green Charge card as my second card via the Amex website. I can't recall now what I said for income (I would've stated my AUD income in USD so I could back it up if they called my employer which I don't think they did). I have US address and using TextNow app as my US mobile. They called me on that # and verified my passport details - I don't have SSN/ITIN/EIN and was approved after they confirmed wasn't a fraudulent application (ie by calling me on my US number in real time).

YMMV

 

[PointsLife1]

I initially got my Marriott card via Global Transfer. Applied for Green Charge card as my second card via the Amex website. I can't recall now what I said for income (I would've stated my AUD income in USD so I could back it up if they called my employer which I don't think they did). I have US address and using TextNow app as my US mobile. They called me on that # and verified my passport details - I don't have SSN/ITIN/EIN and was approved after they confirmed wasn't a fraudulent application (ie by calling me on my US number in real time).

YMMV

So you used global transfer via Australian Amex the second time also? The US website asks for SSN even when logged on with existing US card.

 

[deuterx]

I initially got my Marriott card via Global Transfer. Applied for Green Charge card as my second card via the Amex website. I can't recall now what I said for income (I would've stated my AUD income in USD so I could back it up if they called my employer which I don't think they did). I have US address and using TextNow app as my US mobile. They called me on that # and verified my passport details - I don't have SSN/ITIN/EIN and was approved after they confirmed wasn't a fraudulent application (ie by calling me on my US number in real time).

YMMV

Thanks! I do use Google Voice for my US phone.
My Amex GT was rather weird, i was not asked my passport # at any time nor do i have ever gave it to Amex. Also my GT was without an Amex card. This card that i got that day was my first Amex card ever in any country.
The rep over the phone didn’t ask me for my amex number i think. She just emphasized to verify my US address, so she contacted my bank: Citibank USA and we had a 3 way call where the Amex rep only confirmed I had an account with the bank and for how much time. Then at the same time the Amex rep asked me which relatives did i had at my address and i said my brother. While i was on call with her, she told me that my brother would receive a code to his mobile number (i never gave her my brother mobile number) My brother was available and immediately messaged me the code.

I had prior US cards with Citibank, High Limit ones and good credit scores 760+ at the time. I mentioned the Amex lady i was an international client with a US home currently based abroad. She promised my card could be delivered here (Europe) once it was first delivered to my USA home and it was true. I was approved for a $10k card, which i found a little bit low and i told the Amex representative. She said not to worry that she would make a note on my file, and some months later when i asked for a single increase it went directly to $30k. I did all the call with Amex in my native language which was very nice! I think that way i avoided misunderstandings. Citi representative was also very friendly and spoke my native language perfectly too when all 3 having the call. I didn’t participate and just heard, then Amex rep disconnected Citi banker. (It was not my personal banker but whatever banker it was available)

 

[Sora]

I have had mine for 3 years, you can apply for a credit card from the "transfer to USA" page, was approved on the spot for $8,000.00 and didn't require any documents, simply a passport number, asked for my salary, was easy as that.

You just need an address in the US - so if you have relatives, it could work for you.

 

[marki]

OK. Thanks. Maybe I was thinking of your USA trip proposed for a few months ago, where you were looking at opening a bank account. Like with most of us, that probably didn’t happen.

Interesting when applying for a US credit card I was able to just use my Australian Passport and a referral from Amex Australia via global transfer.

 

[marki]

I have had mine for 3 years, you can apply for a credit card from the "transfer to USA" page, was approved on the spot for $8,000.00 and didn't require any documents, simply a passport number, asked for my salary, was easy as that.

You just need an address in the US - so if you have relatives, it could work for you.

Mine was a forwarding address which then I changed to an Australian address.

 

[blacksultan]

Mine was a forwarding address which then I changed to an Australian address.

have you applied for subsequent amex cards? what is the process?

 

[glasszon]

Given most people won't be able to go to the nearest Hilton resort hotel to use the $250 Hilton credit with the Aspire card, has anyone worked out whether there's any gift cards we can buy from US restaurants rather than letting the Hilton credit goes to waste?

 

[blacksultan]

Given most people won't be able to go to the nearest Hilton resort hotel to use the $250 Hilton credit with the Aspire card, has anyone worked out whether there's any gift cards we can buy from US restaurants rather than letting the Hilton credit goes to waste?

iF I`m not mistaken Hilton have offered an extension on the validity of the credit.

 

[pyusha]

Finally received my Aspire card today. Amex asked to wait for 10 days before they could re-issue a new card to a different address. On the 11th day, did a NotaryCam per the suggestion by Ko0l. Amex called in 4 hours after NotaryCam was done, and did another check and re-issued the card.
Need to figure out a way to make the payments. Checked with OFX, and they are ready to waive $15 fee for the first 10 transactions.

 

[glasszon]

iF I`m not mistaken Hilton have offered an extension on the validity of the credit.

Are you referring to the free night certificate instead of the hilton resort credit? All free night certificates got extended, but I am not aware of any extension to the hilton resort credit as Amex decided to allow people to redeem it for US restaurant charges in lieu of an extension:

Hilton, American Express Credit Card Enhancements

Hilton and American Express offer more ways to earn rewards and provide greater flexibility during this time on their co‑branded credit card products.

newsroom.hilton.com

I heard one way is to load up Starbucks US account, but $250 USD is quite a lot for Starbucks (especially with everyone working from home) and I am not sure whether you can use Starbucks US credits in Australia.

 

[DC3]

.... I heard one way is to load up Starbucks US account, but $250 USD is quite a lot for Starbucks (especially with everyone working from home) and I am not sure whether you can use Starbucks US credits in Australia.

My Starbucks USA account is good in a number of countries, including Oz, USA, UK. I have loaded some amounts into my Starbucks account, using the Aspire. Rebates have been processed by AMEX. I am using a VPN for Starbucks (USA) top-ups.

Edit: Starbucks card balance does not expire

 

[LordGarlic]

Just an update, finally managed to get my card shipped out using myus. My suite number was not listed on the package hence they did not log the package into my suite. Live chat took forever to connect and it took 15mins to resolve. Looking forward to receiving the card to pay my BAS to meet the spend requirements for the bonus signup points.

 

[pyusha]

Given most people won't be able to go to the nearest Hilton resort hotel to use the $250 Hilton credit with the Aspire card, has anyone worked out whether there's any gift cards we can buy from US restaurants rather than letting the Hilton credit goes to waste?

Also, any ideas of how to spend the $250 airline credit?

 

[DazMel]

I've held a BofA personal checking a/c and associated Visa debit card for many years, yes i maintain a minimum USD1,500 balance to avoid interest and charges.
a few tips:
#1 I needed to be in a branch to open the a/c, my photo is on the Visa card
#2 A USA mailing address is essential, I use TravelingMailbox.com, this has a monthly fee but you can hibernate the account
#3 International wire transfers USA to AU require a PIN, I found difficulty receiving PIN by SMS so elected for the SafePass Physical PIN generator which must be posted to a USA address
#4 The TravelingMailbox service has a hash (#) in the address which is not accepted by BofA online forms, you have to phone the bank to make the address change

 

[DC3]

Also, any ideas of how to spend the $250 airline credit?

I had already selected AA as the airline. An AA award booking that I had subsequently made, earlier this year, offered 8,000 miles for purchase, for $255. Poor value, but I could find no other way of using the airline credit at the time. Anyway, although measly, it rounded-up my AA points balance to something that is now more useable. This will not suit everyone.

Rebate of $250 was processed by Amex, so the effective cost was $5. Subsequently, I had to cancel the booking, due to COVID. However, Amex would not know that.

 

[kyanar]

Finally received my Aspire card today. Amex asked to wait for 10 days before they could re-issue a new card to a different address. On the 11th day, did a NotaryCam per the suggestion by Ko0l. Amex called in 4 hours after NotaryCam was done, and did another check and re-issued the card.
Need to figure out a way to make the payments. Checked with OFX, and they are ready to waive $15 fee for the first 10 transactions.

My strategy for paying my ICC may help there - Citibank AU Global Currency Account denominated in USD, and a Revolut account. I have Revolut premium ($10/month) but if your bill is less than $9k USD then you can use the free account. Load your money to pay the bill onto Revolut, then use Revolut to convert it to USD (fee free) and then SWIFT it to your Citibank AU USD account, at which point you SWIFT it to Amex.

The reason for using Revolut is because Citi has a terrible exchange rate which is fine for like $10, but quickly loses you a lot of money as you increase the amount. The reason for using Citi is that Amex uses a "For Further Credit" account (the beneficiary is not the account holder) so you cannot use Transferwise, OFX, or any of those other providers - it must be a bank, and Citi allows you to hold the USD in USD until you need to send it, and send it free.

 

[blacksultan]

My strategy for paying my ICC may help there - Citibank AU Global Currency Account denominated in USD, and a Revolut account. I have Revolut premium ($10/month) but if your bill is less than $9k USD then you can use the free account. Load your money to pay the bill onto Revolut, then use Revolut to convert it to USD (fee free) and then SWIFT it to your Citibank AU USD account, at which point you SWIFT it to Amex.

The reason for using Revolut is because Citi has a terrible exchange rate which is fine for like $10, but quickly loses you a lot of money as you increase the amount. The reason for using Citi is that Amex uses a "For Further Credit" account (the beneficiary is not the account holder) so you cannot use Transferwise, OFX, or any of those other providers - it must be a bank, and Citi allows you to hold the USD in USD until you need to send it, and send it free.

Are’nt there fees for swift ? What about xe money transfer which many have used ?