Strategy to obtain US Amex

[glasszon]

Cool! How old is your account?

10 months, I got my Hilton Aspire card in January this year.

 

[ForestZ]

First of all, I would like to thank members in this forum. I discovered this thread in Aug 2020 when my AU Platinum card AF was due. I decided to do a GT using the methods in this thread and got approval for the Hilton Aspire. I have been using this card more often than my AU reserved card (hope to build a good US Amex history). Great news to know we can expect a FICO score in 10 months (if not earlier).

 

[DC3]

My FICO score just appeared on Amex, it shows my score is 749, is that good?

Your post prompted me to check if I have a FICO score as yet. I have been checking out of interest, every few weeks, but nothing shows. However, a score of 769 has now appeared. I have no idea why the FICO difference of 20. Perhaps frequency of spend? The Aspire is my only US cc at this time, obtained by GT, with a $5,000 credit limit.

I’ve also had the Aspire since January this year, and put several smallish spends of $US20 - $100 each month or two, since the big spend in the first three months.

I use xe to pay the statement balance each month, as I haven’t yet found a more effective way, despite some good advice provided in this thread.

Edited

 

[glasszon]

Your post prompted me to check if I have a FICO score as yet. I have been checking out of interest, every few weeks, but nothing shows. However, a score of 769 has now appeared. I have no idea why the FICO difference of 20. Perhaps frequency of spend? The Aspire is my only US cc at this time, obtained by GT, with a $5,000 credit limit.

I’ve also had the Aspire since January this year, and put several smallish spends of $US20 - $100 each month or two, since the big spend in the first three months.

I use xe to pay the statement balance each month, as I haven’t yet found a more effective way, despite some good advice provided in this thread.

Edited

The 20 points difference might have come about because you use your Aspire card each month, in my report it says the lack of repayment history is one of the negative factors as I haven't used the Aspire card since meeting the sign up bonus due to the $20 fee from paying the card off via xe.

 

[steveyyf]

Might be of interest to those who want to open up a
US account with HSBC. The way to do it so far has been via HSBC Premier. In Australia, the minimum balance required to qualify was $200K or a home loan.

they’ve just announced some changes which can be found at the following link:

HSBC Premier upcoming changes - HSBC AU

We are changing how HSBC Premier works from 23 November 2020.

www.hsbc.com.au

In short:

• Minimum balance reduced to $150k
• Monthly $35 fee scrapped
• Can still qualify by depositing $9k a month and having an Everyday Global account without the minimum balance requirement.
• I imagine can still qualify as a home loan customer.

These changes should make it easier to qualify as Premier if you want to take the HSBC route.

thanks for the info. HSBC premier will be not too hard to get soon. Wondering to open US HSBC bank account remotely does HSBC requires US visa or US ESTA?

 

[steveyyf]

An update on my Chase CSP application using ITIN.

I don't have much luck with SUB. Signed up for 60K SUB and a week later Chase started offering 80K. Thought about letting my app expire but decided to continue with it as I didn't want to waste one credit query. I was approved this morning.

After submitting an app,

- I got 30 days message. This is not bad as it's at least not an auto denial. It just means human has to look at my app.

- A few days later, it changed to 7-10 days messages which normally means either denial or needs verification.

According to this Chase flowchart from reddit,

I should have called them but I was waiting for the letter which never arrived. I decided to call them this week and was told I needed to mail or fax a copy of SSN/ITIN and proof of address which they accepted bank statement (was worried about this before as people reported they only accepted utility bills). I asked about secure upload which was reportedly available. I was told they didn't support it.

2 days after I faxed, I called them again and they still said my docs were not in the system and the agent said I would get a link to upload documents within 24 hours lol

- Before I got a link to upload, the message changed to 30 days again which normally means verification is done and now ready to be reviewed by lending department. Looks like they did get my fax. I was confident at this point as there weren't many cases that got rejected after being asked to submit documents.

I called this morning and was approved while on the phone with them.

If you are using Google Voice, text verification will not work. Each time I called, they tried to verify me by sending text but it failed. I was aware about this. It wasn't an issue as they could verify you with other questions. And 3 our of 4 times, I was asked what county I lived in (just google the city). Thankfully I was prepared as I heard about this before.

Anyway it wasn't as smooth as Amex and Citi but yes Chase still approves ITIN application. I'm now at 3/24 and will be 2/24 early next year. This is my 8th US active card. Will need to start cancelling some of these. In 4 years and a half, I applied for 9 cards and only cancelled one. Most of these are quite worth keeping.

Mine application status for Chase CSP also changed to 7-10 days message. Initially when I submitted the application the message is 30 days. I think now it means I have to call and ask what is required? or wait a bit longer to see the updates? It is now 5 days including the weekend after I submitted my application. I have just over 1 year credit history. The first card is BOA secure credit card. Average credit history is 9.3 months. It is a bit nervous that the google voice will not receive txt message from chase.

 

[blacksultan]

thanks for the info. HSBC premier will be not too hard to get soon. Wondering to open US HSBC bank account remotely does HSBC requires US visa or US ESTA?

No nothing of that sort required for US or other countries . What is crucial is your purpose for opening account - intention to purchase property works for US , UK and canada but not for Singapore or Malaysia !

Post automatically merged: Nov 12, 2020

Mine application status for Chase CSP also changed to 7-10 days message. Initially when I submitted the application the message is 30 days. I think now it means I have to call and ask what is required? or wait a bit longer to see the updates? It is now 5 days including the weekend after I submitted my application. I have just over 1 year credit history. The first card is BOA secure credit card. Average credit history is 9.3 months. It is a bit nervous that the google voice will not receive txt message from chase.

Have you considered free text now account ?

 

[Finale]

Mine application status for Chase CSP also changed to 7-10 days message. Initially when I submitted the application the message is 30 days. I think now it means I have to call and ask what is required? or wait a bit longer to see the updates? It is now 5 days including the weekend after I submitted my application. I have just over 1 year credit history. The first card is BOA secure credit card. Average credit history is 9.3 months. It is a bit nervous that the google voice will not receive txt message from chase.

Give them a call at 1-888-270-2127 and they will let you know. It's either a denial (could be short history, too many cards open etc) or They need a verification. They normally send a letter but I didn't receive it. If you use Google voice, make sure you know the county of your address and it should be fine.

 

[glasszon]

Is anyone thinking about replacing their Amex AU Platinum card with Amex Hilton Aspire + Amex Marriott Brilliant card? As it stands you get Hilton + Marriott diamond status + Priority Pass, the only thing you miss out on is the accor plus membership and AFR subscription, am I missing anything?

 

[pyusha]

Is anyone thinking about replacing their Amex AU Platinum card with Amex Hilton Aspire + Amex Marriott Brilliant card? As it stands you get Hilton + Marriott diamond status + Priority Pass, the only thing you miss out on is the accor plus membership and AFR subscription, am I missing anything?

My card is up for renewal next month and I'm inclining towards cancelling AU Platinum and will hold on to the Reserve card until mid next year.
When the travel's back I might apply/upgrade to US Platinum. For me, AFR is irrelevant, and Accor Plus is not that significant.

Also Priority Pass for the additional card member which won't be possible with Aspire/Bonvoy cards.

 

[glasszon]

My card is up for renewal next month and I'm inclining towards cancelling AU Platinum and will hold on to the Reserve card until mid next year.
When the travel's back I might apply/upgrade to US Platinum. For me, AFR is irrelevant, and Accor Plus is not that significant.

Also Priority Pass for the additional card member which won't be possible with Aspire/Bonvoy cards.

But I thought US Platinum card is worse than AU Platinum card for non-US cardholders?

In Australia you pay $1200 annual fee, in exchange you get $850 travel credit, 1 free night at accor hotel and AFR subscription. US Platinum card costs $550 USD, which is cheaper, but you can't use the credits for uber US rides and shop saks without being in US and the US card doesn't come with travel credit like you do for the AU card.

 

[DC3]

... In Australia you pay $1200 annual fee ....

Some are paying $1450.

 

[Finale]

But I thought US Platinum card is worse than AU Platinum card for non-US cardholders?

In Australia you pay $1200 annual fee, in exchange you get $850 travel credit, 1 free night at accor hotel and AFR subscription. US Platinum card costs $550 USD, which is cheaper, but you can't use the credits for uber US rides and shop saks without being in US and the US card doesn't come with travel credit like you do for the AU card.

They offer $USD200 travel credit if you renew this year. Hope it continues next year but I doubt it. 5x airlines is good even though it's useless for now. I keep mine as I use quite a bit of FHR and can make use of streaming credits. I used airline credit for United travel bank. I used saks credits to buy gift for a friend who receive mails for me. Should be able to get some retention bonus next year as well (30k to 50k).

 

[glasszon]

Some are paying $1450.

Good point, the equation is very different for those who pays $1450, in that case the Amex US card might well be better if you don't mind having to transfer AUD to USD to pay for the account balance.

 

[pyusha]

But I thought US Platinum card is worse than AU Platinum card for non-US cardholders?
In Australia you pay $1200 annual fee, in exchange you get $850 travel credit

$1450 for me. I find the use of travel credits too restrictive. Hotels are almost bit expensive than the official booking channels with no elite benefits applied. That only leaves me with air travel. I'm already sitting on $850 worth of credits expiring April 21, not sure if I want additional $400 next month.
With Aspire I was able to add the funds to United travel bank valid for 5 years, but that's a loophole only until Amex closes it.

 

[steveyyf]

No nothing of that sort required for US or other countries . What is crucial is your purpose for opening account - intention to purchase property works for US , UK and canada but not for Singapore or Malaysia !

Post automatically merged: Nov 12, 2020

Have you considered free text now account ?

Is it a app? Can it receive SMS from chase?

 

[steveyyf]

Give them a call at 1-888-270-2127 and they will let you know. It's either a denial (could be short history, too many cards open etc) or They need a verification. They normally send a letter but I didn't receive it. If you use Google voice, make sure you know the county of your address and it should be fine.

Is this number application status line or recon line? If they reject should I hang up and do the recon straightaway?

 

[Finale]

Is this number application status line or recon line? If they reject should I hang up and do the recon straightaway?

It's recon line. Automated status line won't tell you anything other than wait for a letter in 7-10 days.

 

[ForestZ]

My card is up for renewal next month and I'm inclining towards cancelling AU Platinum and will hold on to the Reserve card until mid next year.
When the travel's back I might apply/upgrade to US Platinum. For me, AFR is irrelevant, and Accor Plus is not that significant.

Also Priority Pass for the additional card member which won't be possible with Aspire/Bonvoy cards.

I downgraded AU Platinum (AU$1450 no retention offer) to Gold in July and Amex allowed me holding on the Reserved Card for free but I need to pay AU$130 ($210 with rewards) AF for Gold. The travel credit for Reserved is no longer appear in my account. I have received my US Hilton Aspire in August (via GT) and am thinking to apply for Amex Marriott Brilliant card before the current promotion ends in Jan 2021. The only thing I am not sure is can I do another GT or I need to apply through the US process for a second card? Is that too soon to apply for the second US card between Aug 2020 and Jan 2021? Thanks

 

[ForestZ]

Good point, the equation is very different for those who pays $1450, in that case the Amex US card might well be better if you don't mind having to transfer AUD to USD to pay for the account balance.

For people who do not need the US Platinum benefits, I heard the US Gold card (US$250 AF) has a very good value because of 4X points for global restaurants. The SUB is very generous (60,000) at the moment. Has anyone gone down this route?