Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Finale]

easier if you have Personal or Business checking accounts with them. Maybe an LLC or business with ITIN can get you a foot in the door.
Got my CSP last year a great work horse card. But I’d expect some changes with new Chase Freedom Flex card that is about to be released.

I tried to open a checking account with them when I was in the US last year and they said I needed to give them utility bills. The banker even told me to ask my friend to put my name in the bill for like a month or something. I was stupid and didn't try another branch as I heard later that some branches accept bank statements just fine. I lost interest in Chase cards for quite some time after Citi and Amex started giving more bonus. I think I should try to start a relationship with them soon as they seem to make things more and more difficult to get approved.

Good news, I’ll also apply for Citi as soon as I got ITIN and Chase will follow. Hopefully, he is successful, Chase Sapphire Reserve is my dream card for all expenses in Australia. I may cancel my Amex Plat card if I can get CSR.

I used to think the Reserve was a dream card but not anymore. Citi Premier now offers 3x for Air travel, hotels, Grocery, gas station and restaurant. While it probably doesn't cover more travel categories like Reserve, it only costs $95. Reserve will cost $250 after a travel credit and no bonus on grocery.

 

[tlam]

I used to think the Reserve was a dream card but not anymore. Citi Premier now offers 3x for Air travel, hotels, Grocery, gas station and restaurant. While it probably doesn't cover more travel categories like Reserve, it only costs $95. Reserve will cost $250 after a travel credit and no bonus on grocery.

Ah I just know that they now offer 3 points on restaurants and supermarkets, is that worldwide or just in the US? I like CSR because it offers 3x point on restaurants worldwide. Citi Premier is now a better choice.

 

[Finale]

Ah I just know that they now offer 3 points on restaurants and supermarkets, is that worldwide or just in the US? I like CSR because it offers 3x point on restaurants worldwide. Citi Premier is now a better choice.

Im not sure about gas as I don’t drive but the rest works worldwide. been using it for grocery here but still use prestige for 5x restaurant and air travel. Unfortunately Prestige lost 4th night free using concierge (considered as booking direct) or these two would be a perfect combination for me.

 

[PointsLife1]

Im not sure about gas as I don’t drive but the rest works worldwide. been using it for grocery here but still use prestige for 5x restaurant and air travel. Unfortunately Prestige lost 4th night free using concierge (considered as booking direct) or these two would be a perfect combination for me.

Brilliant news @ Finale and agree that the Premier is probably the best card now for Aussies playing the game.

Shame that Amex only counts US for bonus categories unlike Citi and Chase otherwise we wouldn’t have to jump so many hurdles.

Now that we are playing the US game is it possible to also MS like the Yanks?

 

[blacksultan]

the Amex green and gold cards Offer. Bonus points for non - US as well.

QUOTE="PointsLife1, post: 2157931, member: 77495"]
Brilliant news @ Finale and agree that the Premier is probably the best card now for Aussies playing the game.

Shame that Amex only counts US for bonus categories unlike Citi and Chase otherwise we wouldn’t have to jump so many hurdles.

Now that we are playing the US game is it possible to also MS like the Yanks?
[/QUOTE]

Brilliant news @ Finale and agree that the Premier is probably the best card now for Aussies playing the game.

Shame that Amex only counts US for bonus categories unlike Citi and Chase otherwise we wouldn’t have to jump so many hurdles.

Now that we are playing the US game is it possible to also MS like the Yanks?

 

[deuterx]

Guys just a quick update, my US Citi Prestige limit has been increased by $4,5K to $30K
I asked for a limit increase, my Citi Prestige has seen little action so this increase was rather small. I opened the card last year. No ITIN.

Tomorrow i have to do my Amex credit limit increase which i will ask for $5K as i'm approaching Proof of income territory for the increases.

I think i will downgrade Prestige next year to Premier when i upgrade Hilton to Aspire.
Think, i can get a better value maybe with the Aspire than Prestige?

 

[PointsLife1]

How did you apply without ITIN?

Prestige also their best card so you have done well.

 

[deuterx]

I applied in branch. It is actually advertised that you can apply without an ITIN in branch, i have a US account with Citi since a couple of years so they just took my passport details.

I have have had AA Platinum, Double Cash and Prestige.
Currently only have Prestige and Double Cash, as i downgraded my AA Plat to DC. I used the AAdvantage Platinum as my first USA card, this generated score and after 10 months with it i applied for Citi Prestige. Citi Prestige was the goal card.

 

[PointsLife1]

I applied in branch. It is actually advertised that you can apply without an ITIN in branch, i have a US account with Citi since a couple of years so they just took my passport details.

I have have had AA Platinum, Double Cash and Prestige.
Currently only have Prestige and Double Cash, as i downgraded my AA Plat to DC. I used the AAdvantage Platinum as my first USA card, this generated score and after 10 months with it i applied for Citi Prestige. Citi Prestige was the goal card.

Great journey to the Prestige and kicking myself I never opened a checking account over the years.

Do you use a mail forwarding address or have friends/family to assist?

 

[blacksultan]

I applied in branch. It is actually advertised that you can apply without an ITIN in branch, i have a US account with Citi since a couple of years so they just took my passport details.

I have have had AA Platinum, Double Cash and Prestige.
Currently only have Prestige and Double Cash, as i downgraded my AA Plat to DC. I used the AAdvantage Platinum as my first USA card, this generated score and after 10 months with it i applied for Citi Prestige. Citi Prestige was the goal card.

Did you open the checking account in a branch as well ? Is it fairly easy ?

 

[tlam]

I applied in branch. It is actually advertised that you can apply without an ITIN in branch, i have a US account with Citi since a couple of years so they just took my passport details.

I have have had AA Platinum, Double Cash and Prestige.
Currently only have Prestige and Double Cash, as i downgraded my AA Plat to DC. I used the AAdvantage Platinum as my first USA card, this generated score and after 10 months with it i applied for Citi Prestige. Citi Prestige was the goal card.

I got Citi US checking account for years, do you think I just call them to apply a credit card without ITIN? Last time, I applied online and got a decline.

 

[Finale]

Guys just a quick update, my US Citi Prestige limit has been increased by $4,5K to $30K
I asked for a limit increase, my Citi Prestige has seen little action so this increase was rather small. I opened the card last year. No ITIN.

Tomorrow i have to do my Amex credit limit increase which i will ask for $5K as i'm approaching Proof of income territory for the increases.

I think i will downgrade Prestige next year to Premier when i upgrade Hilton to Aspire.
Think, i can get a better value maybe with the Aspire than Prestige?

I got my first card at Citi the same way by applying in branch. I think it was called application for gloabl customer or something like that. I consider downgrading Prestige this year so I can fit more cards in. The only good thing about Prestige now is 5x restaurant. I'm not sure if 2x more points will be worth $245 more.

Now that we are playing the US game is it possible to also MS like the Yanks?

Manufactured Spending? People are doing it but I'm not interested as I heard banks shut down the accounts especially when trying to meet minimum spend. I saw the forum on Flyertalk and some blogs wrote about it.

 

[deuterx]

Great journey to the Prestige and kicking myself I never opened a checking account over the years.

Do you use a mail forwarding address or have friends/family to assist?

I opened the account a lot of years ago because of a Citigold promotion. The account doesn't have much special and I'm considering moving my money for a Bank of America Platinum Honors account and another part to Charles Schwab (if they let me open the acct)

Nope, no forwarding. I have a second home in the US and family assist too

Did you open the checking account in a branch as well ? Is it fairly easy ?

I opened in branch, was a piece of cake. It took me around 10 minutes. I don't remember much and procedures might have changed as the account opening was 10 years ago.

I got Citi US checking account for years, do you think I just call them to apply a credit card without ITIN? Last time, I applied online and got a decline.

I am not sure, I have never tried over the phone for Citi. I believe not, that for Citi you have to obligatory go personally in branch if without an ITIN.

I'll let some people a tip. If you already have a Citi card you don't like you can product change it over the phone to any other Citi card.. for this you can be anywhere in the world and just use your phone, speak to a rep, of course you won't be asked for ITIN if attempting a Product Change. Then, the new card will be sent to any international address you like. Example: Citi sent my Prestige next day air pre-covid to Spain when I requested a replacement. It was DHL and in 24 hours or less I already had my card! That was top notch.
They have also sent my Double Cash to here. My billing address is my USA home but replacements can be sent fast and worldwide.

I got my first card at Citi the same way by applying in branch. I think it was called application for gloabl customer or something like that. I consider downgrading Prestige this year so I can fit more cards in. The only good thing about Prestige now is 5x restaurant. I'm not sure if 2x more points will be worth $245 more.

Yes! "Global Client" I have a photo of the information page of the Global Client cards or what I was given in 2019. I will downgrade Prestige as I soon as I find something better. Could be Aspire or Platinum but crunching the numbers. I think Prestige is easier to carry than US Plat, as most promos/bonus for the Platinum are US based. I have to wait until next year so I can see a more clear course of action. Will probably get new cards from Bank of America, that I plan to better apply in person (Probably Premium Rewards, or a plain Travel Reward as backup card for whatever I main)

Manufactured Spending? People are doing it but I'm not interested as I heard banks shut down the accounts especially when trying to meet minimum spend. I saw the forum on Flyertalk and some blogs wrote about it.

I am a flyertalk member too from 2008 hehe. No MS for me, all legit and nice.

Oh BTW I just got an increase on Amex today for $35K! Good thing is I can keep growing my card forever now without POI as I crossed the deared $34,900 that was when most accounts get stopped from increases because they ask the 4605-T form. Never have been asked a POI and I think it never will as once acct reached 35K pretty much is good to go in $5,000 increments to keep growing without the Tax form, and then the only ceiling will be your income/maximum exposure that Amex wants to give you.

 

[glasszon]

Oh BTW I just got an increase on Amex today for $35K! Good thing is I can keep growing my card forever now without POI as I crossed the deared $34,900 that was when most accounts get stopped from increases because they ask the 4605-T form. Never have been asked a POI and I think it never will as once acct reached 35K pretty much is good to go in $5,000 increments to keep growing without the Tax form, and then the only ceiling will be your income/maximum exposure that Amex wants to give you.

Congrats, so for those of us who don't want a FR because we don't have US income, we should aim to keep the total credit limit with Amex US under $35k?

 

[deuterx]

Congrats, so for those of us who don't want a FR because we don't have US income, we should aim to keep the total credit limit with Amex US under $35k?

In theory $34.9K is the maximum safe from Proof of Income, not $25K that is reported in much of internet. Anywhere from $30-34.9 would be safe and what would i recommend the most. Crossing $35,000 is a little more tricky as accounts can be stopped at $34,900 and some others are like given the green light where once they have hit the magic number of $35K as long as you keep asking the system on $5K increments it will never ask you for any forms. On myfico.com forums some users have reported following this technique and grown the card up to $60K on $5K increases.

Being asked the form is not the same as FR. FR is something different, but for us that don't live in the USA i think its better not to even ever get the 4605-T form that is harmless, but could increase chances of FR if asked and not provided.

When Amex asks you this 4605-T form that is not much than a Proof of Income, it is optional to provide. You can just ignore it and continue asking for credit limit increases etc and nothing has ever happened to anybody, but i prefer not to ever even see a hint of this form.

It is kind of tricky to say if an account should push past $35K.
For example if i were to go from $30K --> $40K and i was approved, i am not sure if future subsequent credit limit increases will be free of a Proof of Income.

What in the forums only others have successfully tried is level the account at $35K on the dot and then keep 5 on 5 increments and that should work for a long time in the long run. I don't know for example would i had $40K on the dot and ask 5 in 5 increments if it would work as nobody has tried it. It sounds silly, and i could be wrong but from the data points i have seen... it could look like the account has to "touch" $35,000 on the dot.. that number so like then the Amex system continues giving credit limit increases without spitting the Proof of Income form verbiage.

Idk, there are so many variables... I'm just replicating the same limits progression as the person who was successful in bringing it to 60K. By chance my card and his started the same: 10K--->30K--->35K.

 

[blacksultan]

Thought the curve card might be of interest to those here For US vi/ Mc . Combine all vi / Mc into one card . Save on forex fees .
currently available only to EEA and Uk residents .
But waiting list for US open now .
I have placed a referral link in the referrals forum .

 

[deuterx]

Thought the curve card might be of interest to those here For US vi/ Mc . Combine all vi / Mc into one card . Save on forex fees .
currently available only to EEA and Uk residents .
But waiting list for US open now .
I have placed a referral link in the referrals forum .

I have one, i have not used it much lately but it's there. I have my US cards loaded into it but i could try sometime using my Double Cash with it to see if it triggers the 3% FTF. What do you use it the most for?

 

[blacksultan]

I have one, i have not used it much lately but it's there. I have my US cards loaded into it but i could try sometime using my Double Cash with it to see if it triggers the 3% FTF. What do you use it the most for?

I use it for free cash atm withdrawal for debit funded cash transactions (higher surcharge for credit ) and free forex transactions. What’s the 3 % ftf ?

 

[blacksultan]

I have one, i have not used it much lately but it's there. I have my US cards loaded into it but i could try sometime using my Double Cash with it to see if it triggers the 3% FTF. What do you use it the most for?

Most of the Aussie credit cards incur a forex fee as its processed in the uk . I meant I use it to withdraw cash interest free from cc .

 

[deuterx]

I think my Citi Priority account let's me withdraw cash free worldwide but unlike Schwab the ATM which i am taking out from may have a fee. Schwab refunds this, Citi does not.

I have not used withdrawals much, it's easier for me to "wire" from US account to EU and withdraw the money in Euro with any bank account i have atm. Revolut does the conversion. My wire is just topping up instantly from my Citi debit card to Revolut via Apple Pay. It codes as purchase, and it is instant. My citi debit card doesn't have any fees or anything and just codes it as a cash withdrawal.

3% FTF is Foreign Transaction Fee. Is the surcharge that usually US cards get charged for being swiped abroad. All of my cards have no fee, except the Double Cash (2% cashback, plus relationship multiplier). I use the Double Cash strictly when i am in US soil , otherwise it lives in the drawer.