Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Finale]

I got my first card early 2016 so almost 5 years but it doesn't matter as the card doesn't even exist now lol I really don't have much luck with these signup bonuses. Good to know it's possible in 5 rather than 7 years.

I'm a bit out of touch with GT/Nova these days and going to get my partner into the US game. I still see some DPs that Amex might need an address verification for the first card. Should we try GT or Nova (to avoid that)? I also heard some people applied for 2 cards using Nova on the same day and both got approved. Not sure if there is any benefit to do one before the other. Thanks.

 

[Finale]

The boring verification with online team - how did they verify you? are they changing the way to verify you when your gv cannot receive sms?

Same as other calls. For the other question, when I tried to sign up, the website definitely found my info but couldn't proceed which could be the issue with GV.

 

[blacksultan]

I got my first card early 2016 so almost 5 years but it doesn't matter as the card doesn't even exist now lol I really don't have much luck with these signup bonuses. Good to know it's possible in 5 rather than 7 years.

I'm a bit out of touch with GT/Nova these days and going to get my partner into the US game. I still see some DPs that Amex might need an address verification for the first card. Should we try GT or Nova (to avoid that)? I also heard some people applied for 2 cards using Nova on the same day and both got approved. Not sure if there is any benefit to do one before the other. Thanks.

I got told when I applied that if you had a Credit history in the US you couldn’t apply via gt or nova credit anymore . So no subsequent Amex applications via this route after a few months

 

[Finale]

I got told when I applied that if you had a Credit history in the US you couldn’t apply via gt or nova credit anymore . So no subsequent Amex applications via this route after a few months

Thanks blacksultan. It will be the first card but my partner already has a history from having an additional card. Guess we just have to try. Will report back later. We got 4 cards in the past few months with a couple more to come (both AU and US) and trying to meet min spend now. Might try next month.

 

[steveyyf]

Yes there was a bit of a drama on that part lol I couldn't set up online account. The system just kept giving me an error. It found my info as the error was different when I tried using wrong info. It could be that it couldn't send sms to GV. If you run into the same issue, call and ask for "Online Team" and they will set it up for you (of course after another boring verification lol). The code will be sent to your email.

Hi Finace, I just called Chase and they cannot send me sms. The rep asked to call back after 1 hour and speak to the security team to unlock my account. so my account is locked after two attempt to register online. Did you get to speak to the security team?

 

[Finale]

Hi Finace, I just called Chase and they cannot send me sms. The rep asked to call back after 1 hour and speak to the security team to unlock my account. so my account is locked after two attempt to register online. Did you get to speak to the security team?

No I didn't and I tried at least 20 times over 3 days lol I talked to a security (or fraud) team when I tired to make $2k transaction and card was locked because of that. It was so boring dealing with Chase.

 

[steveyyf]

No I didn't and I tried at least 20 times over 3 days lol I talked to a security (or fraud) team when I tired to make $2k transaction and card was locked because of that. It was so boring dealing with Chase.

so hard to deal with them. how did you manage to unlock the card?

 

[Finale]

so hard to deal with them. how did you manage to unlock the card?

Called and confirmed I used the card.

 

[Finale]

For those with ITIN, normally when applying for a checking account online, if you says you are not a US citizen, even though you have ITIN, the banks normally won't let or tell you to apply in person or ask for IDs you might not have ie state ID.

However, Capitalone will let you apply with ITIN (at SSN field). I just opened one succesfully (Capital one 360). From what I read, Cap1 normally does a soft pull on your credit file so you may need to have a credit history. One thing I'm not sure is whether the ITIN has to be in your credit file as well. Cap1 can normally access your credit file without ITIN as I got many pre-approved offers from them before I obtained ITIN.

After I submited the application, they asked me to call. They just need to verify my identity by sending a link to my email to upload a photo of my passport. I could do that either while on the call or after hanging up. Decided to do it while on the call and then I could continue the app straight away. It was pretty easy.

 

[tlam]

For those with ITIN, normally when applying for a checking account online, if you says you are not a US citizen, even though you have ITIN, the banks normally won't let or tell you to apply in person or ask for IDs you might not have ie state ID.

However, Capitalone will let you apply with ITIN (at SSN field). I just opened one succesfully (Capital one 360). From what I read, Cap1 normally does a soft pull on your credit file so you may need to have a credit history. One thing I'm not sure is whether the ITIN has to be in your credit file as well. Cap1 can normally access your credit file without ITIN as I got many pre-approved offers from them before I obtained ITIN.

After I submited the application, they asked me to call. They just need to verify my identity by sending a link to my email to upload a photo of my passport. I could do that either while on the call or after hanging up. Decided to do it while on the call and then I could continue the app straight away. It was pretty easy.

Thanks for the heaps up. I don’t have a bank account with them but they keep sending me the pre-qualified offer cards in the mail and I didn’t apply any. My priority is the Citi card, then Chase and others.

 

[tlam]

I actually don’t need another bank account but just tried the Cap1 and got the account within 10’, it was very easy. No monthly fee, so no need to maintain the balance like Citi. Thanks

 

[Finale]

Thanks for the heaps up. I don’t have a bank account with them but they keep sending me the pre-qualified offer cards in the mail and I didn’t apply any. My priority is the Citi card, then Chase and others.

Their cards aren't bad after they added airlines transfer. However, it was a little deceptive. They advertised ie 100,000 bonus miles but those were Capital one miles. Airlines transfer ratio will be either 2:1.5 for most or 2:1 (SQ and EK). They are at the bottom of my list as well.

I just added the info here as I think there are a couple of members who have ITIN but no bank account.

Post automatically merged: Nov 28, 2020

I actually don’t need another bank account but just tried the Cap1 and got the account within 10’, it was very easy. No monthly fee, so no need to maintain the balance like Citi. Thanks

No verification at all? Lucky!

 

[tlam]

Their cards aren't bad after they added airlines transfer. However, it was a little deceptive. They advertised ie 100,000 bonus miles but those were Capital one miles. Airlines transfer ratio will be either 2:1.5 for most or 2:1 (SQ and EK). They are at the bottom of my list as well.

I just added the info here as I think there are a couple of members who have ITIN but no bank account.

Post automatically merged: Nov 28, 2020

No verification at all? Lucky!

I called the number 1877 383 4802, the lady was very helpful and friendly. She texted me the link to my mobile and captured the passport.
Then she transferred me to another lady and she asked me to go to website capitalone.com/finish
She provided me the application ID and I typied the last 4 SSN and submitted and the account opened immediately.

I created the username and password for my online account and that’s all.

 

[Finale]

I called the number 1877 383 4802, the lady was very helpful and friendly. She texted me the link to my mobile and captured the passport.
Then she transferred me to another lady and she asked me to go to website capitalone.com/finish
She provided me the application ID and I typied the last 4 SSN and submitted and the account opened immediately.

I created the username and password for my online account and that’s all.

Oh ok I did the same then

 

[PointsLife1]

Their cards aren't bad after they added airlines transfer. However, it was a little deceptive. They advertised ie 100,000 bonus miles but those were Capital one miles. Airlines transfer ratio will be either 2:1.5 for most or 2:1 (SQ and EK). They are at the bottom of my list as well.

I just added the info here as I think there are a couple of members who have ITIN but no bank account.

Post automatically merged: Nov 28, 2020

No verification at all? Lucky!

Success!!! Thank you all who just submitted this information.

I actually tried Capital One a few weeks ago but I think my downfall was trying to add funds straight away from TransferWise and it denied me.

Just followed instructions now and a few nerve racking moments, first the operators said only SSN over the phone until I said the application said ITIN and so he said ok I will try and then he continued, second issue is multiple attempts of text message but Text Plus does not seem to work so said my phone is very old and could we use email and that worked to verify passport. Small but not a major issue now is I can log onto Capital One on the laptop but with the App it wants to verify again using text message. Might be time to change mobile app providers, lots of different options and what works for Capital One?

Next step it to load funds and used TransferWise 50USD which I had sitting in there and also 100USD Citi Global which is now the preferred option.

Very Excited as was about to go down the HSBC Premier route or think how long it would take to get to the States in the future to open in branch.

 

[tlam]

Just followed instructions now and a few nerve racking moments, first the operators said only SSN over the phone until I said the application said ITIN and so he said ok I will try and then he continued, second issue is multiple attempts of text message but Text Plus does not seem to work so said my phone is very old and could we use email and that worked to verify passport. Small but not a major issue now is I can log onto Capital One on the laptop but with the App it wants to verify again using text message. Might be time to change mobile app providers, lots of different options and what works for Capital One?

GV worked well for me.

 

[PointsLife1]

GV worked well for me.

Do you need to VPV in order to set up google voice for text messaging in US?

 

[tlam]

Do you need to VPV in order to set up google voice for text messaging in US?

I have a relative in the US and she helped me to verify GV account years ago.

 

[PointsLife1]

For those with ITIN, normally when applying for a checking account online, if you says you are not a US citizen, even though you have ITIN, the banks normally won't let or tell you to apply in person or ask for IDs you might not have ie state ID.

However, Capitalone will let you apply with ITIN (at SSN field). I just opened one succesfully (Capital one 360). From what I read, Cap1 normally does a soft pull on your credit file so you may need to have a credit history. One thing I'm not sure is whether the ITIN has to be in your credit file as well. Cap1 can normally access your credit file without ITIN as I got many pre-approved offers from them before I obtained ITIN.

After I submited the application, they asked me to call. They just need to verify my identity by sending a link to my email to upload a photo of my passport. I could do that either while on the call or after hanging up. Decided to do it while on the call and then I could continue the app straight away. It was pretty easy.

Any luck for you @ Finale with receiving sms messages from Capital One?

 

[Finale]

Any luck for you @ Finale with receiving sms messages from Capital One?

I also use GV and can receive SMS fine. I think Google got more strict now and you need a number with their big 4 or big 5 carriers.