Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Phoenix-1]

I have an offer to get a $250 bonus by opening an Amex checking account, but the form requires me to answer a question about W-9 backup withholding. No matter if I chose "yes" or "no" one of the statements is "I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person"

For those who opened Amex checking accounts, how did you handle this?

 

[levelnine]

And I assume doesn’t take up any space on 5/24 as business?

Correct.

 

[georgie23]

I have an offer to get a $250 bonus by opening an Amex checking account, but the form requires me to answer a question about W-9 backup withholding. No matter if I chose "yes" or "no" one of the statements is "I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person"

For those who opened Amex checking accounts, how did you handle this?

From memory this didn’t come up when I signed but there was no sign up bonus when I signed up.
I have an offer for $350 for a Savings account and I looked at it quickly the other day and the same form came up

I am assuming it will be for people earning interest and completing tax return the form is required. As non resident aliens not sure if we can just ignore it - seems Amex will want to complete a form anyway

- wondering if the SUB only triggers a 1099 form if reaches over $600 (have seen that from elsewhere)

 

[Phoenix-1]

I am assuming it will be for people earning interest and completing tax return the form is required. As non resident aliens not sure if we can just ignore it - seems Amex will want to complete a form anyway

- wondering if the SUB only triggers a 1099 form if reaches over $600 (have seen that from elsewhere)

Makes sense. Maybe I'll give them a call. I'll report back if I do.

 

[djchuckles]

Finally got round to calling Amex about my Business Checking application. They said they just need to verify my identity. So they’ve sent me a link to do this via Notarycam.com and I’ve set an appointment for tomorrow. Seems pretty painless.

NB I don’t have SSN or ITIN (yet), and have had an Amex US CC via GT for just under 2 months.

 

[georgie23]

When I did the notary they just wanted passport and to prove you are who you say you are

 

[mike0430]

I have an offer to get a $250 bonus by opening an Amex checking account, but the form requires me to answer a question about W-9 backup withholding. No matter if I chose "yes" or "no" one of the statements is "I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person"

For those who opened Amex checking accounts, how did you handle this?

I think the problem here is that its hard to qualify for the 2 x $1000 deposit transactions.

 

[blacksultan]

I have an offer to get a $250 bonus by opening an Amex checking account, but the form requires me to answer a question about W-9 backup withholding. No matter if I chose "yes" or "no" one of the statements is "I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person"

For those who opened Amex checking accounts, how did you handle this?

How did you receive offer ? Was it an email ?

 

[blacksultan]

Everyday no annual fee one. If you don't want to loose 1 slot of 5/24 then downgrade (after min 1 year) one of aMex card to this Annual fee free to keep your MR

Can’t downgrade as everyday are / were in a separate card family .

 

[Phoenix-1]

I think the problem here is that its hard to qualify for the 2 x $1000 deposit transactions.

Seems like Revolut deposits as ACH which will meet the requirements.

How did you receive offer ? Was it an email ?

As part of the "Offers" under my Amex Blue Everyday card.

 

[djchuckles]

Seems like Revolut deposits as ACH which will meet the requirements.


As part of the "Offers" under my Amex Blue Everyday card.

I assume transfer from HSBC US to Amex will count?

 

[Voele]

I have 2 cards open, amex green since May, and Surpass for 3.5 months now. I spent ~$17k on the surpass (cycled through the credit a couple times) to get the FNC before year end.

I tried to apply for a credit increase, but got denied. Also currently in PUJ for another card. Am I just being impatient and should I give Amex more time to build history or is it something else I'm doing wrong (e.g., cycling through credit multiple times per statement period)?

 

[levelnine]

Am I just being impatient and should I give Amex more time to build history or is it something else I'm doing wrong (e.g., cycling through credit multiple times per statement period)?

Probably just needs more time. Generally riskier to cycle on personal rather than business cards, but I don't think I've read of any shutdowns of people doing it with Amex. They care the least of any bank.

 

[Tiki]

My Chase Ink Unlimited should arrive here on Friday. I have a $6000 credit limit and need to buy a new (to me) car. How close to the limit can I push it without triggering a fraud alert? This would be at a car dealership in BNE.Can I get away with $5000-5500 USD as a longterm Chase customer in good standing? Will they question this as a business transaction?

 

[maverick1]

I have 2 cards open, amex green since May, and Surpass for 3.5 months now. I spent ~$17k on the surpass (cycled through the credit a couple times) to get the FNC before year end.

I tried to apply for a credit increase, but got denied. Also currently in PUJ for another card. Am I just being impatient and should I give Amex more time to build history or is it something else I'm doing wrong (e.g., cycling through credit multiple times per statement period)?

I'm in PUJ as well and have spent ~US$100k over 9 Amex's over the past 18months. Don't think the notion that if you are spending on all your cards consistently, you will stay out of PUJ...Hasn't worked in my case atleast...

I'm in PUJ for both Biz & Personal cards but have been able to get couple of Hilton NLL cards.
I think there is currently an offer for Hilton Aspire, Surpass & Delta cards. You can try those if you keen on those cards...I haven't been able to get cards from any other issuer due to verification issues with Chase and haven't been able to sort it out so have left it to when I visit the US sometime next year.

 

[levelnine]

My Chase Ink Unlimited should arrive here on Friday. I have a $6000 credit limit and need to buy a new (to me) car. How close to the limit can I push it without triggering a fraud alert? This would be at a car dealership in BNE.Can I get away with $5000-5500 USD as a longterm Chase customer in good standing? Will they question this as a business transaction?

Large purchase on a brand new card, especially at an overseas merchant, is a fairly large fraud flag. When I've done something like that before, they've blocked the card and asked me to call in to confirm the card was being used by me. Your standing with Chase doesn't matter — they're worried someone's intercepted your mail and stolen the card.

Might as well try, especially if you can come back the next day and try again if it's blocked. They won't question the transaction itself.

 

[blacksultan]

I hope it is only this. Not sure if you need to list a US mailing address in the application, which I didn't.

I was really hoping to have all this ready for my trip to the US in Jan

Any update on this ?

 

[Voele]

I'm in PUJ as well and have spent ~US$100k over 9 Amex's over the past 18months. Don't think the notion that if you are spending on all your cards consistently, you will stay out of PUJ...Hasn't worked in my case atleast...

I'm in PUJ for both Biz & Personal cards but have been able to get couple of Hilton NLL cards.
I think there is currently an offer for Hilton Aspire, Surpass & Delta cards. You can try those if you keen on those cards...I haven't been able to get cards from any other issuer due to verification issues with Chase and haven't been able to sort it out so have left it to when I visit the US sometime next year.

Tried the Aspire via Hilton website and via amex website as well as biz gold, but no luck for any of those. I'll be a good citizen for a couple months and try again early next year I guess.

 

[georgie23]

Anyone with a checking account have you got Oct statement yet - this is only my second month of that and my Sep one came on 3rd of Oct and was hoping to have the Oct one by now as a proof of address to show Amex for current application - thought by 5th of month it would be out

 

[Daventry]

Well, I messed up with Citi.

I opened a checking account back in 2022 in person, but I said I lived in the UK and had a friend here who was happy to receive my email (actually it was a forwarding address from PostScanMail).

They opened my account but I didn’t apply for a card until last month. I applied with my ITIN but was immediately rejected and the letter said they couldn’t verify some information.

I noticed on my profile that my residential address was my UK one so I thought that was the reason for rejection. I updated it to my US one last week and today I’ve received a letter saying they’ve reviewed my account and noticed my residential address is a mail forwarder. I have 30 days to update it or they’ll block it from all transactions - right now I can’t transfer out.

I’ve switched back to my UK address, hope at least I can get my $500 back.

The interesting thing is that I’ve been successfully using that US address on Amex and Chase so far. I guess I’ll stick to these and maybe try Capital One or US Bank in the future.