Strategy to obtain US Amex

[DC3]

I’ve been thinking about applying for the Green card through GT, while already holding the Aspire (GT) over the past 12 months. I have a MyUS address (Sarasota). My concern has been with reports of only one Amex card through GT, although I recall a post where two cards were approved through this method.

However, I will put this on hold and wait for the dust to settle, based on the recent development, above.

 

[DC3]

... So I called again the next day and offered a myus address and was on hold for a few minutes before the operator said that this address was also appearing on their system as a mail forwarding address ...

On re-reading your post, I was wondering what address you used at MyUS. Was it 4283 Express Lane, or something else? It’s just that 4283 Express Lane hasn’t been an issue so far.

Edited

 

[mrsquare]

With a My US address by any chance?

Yes, sorry should have been clearer about my application. Used the MyUS address and TextNow as number service.

MyUS worked fine, didn’t flag anything. TextNow also seems to receive texts from Amex fine. Wasn’t any verification texts from CSO or anything but confirmation of Amex Account Alerts.

 

[mrsquare]

On re-reading your post, I was wondering what address you used at MyUS. Was it Express Lane, or something else? It’s just that Express Lane hasn’t been an issue so far.

I used the Express Lane address provided by MyUS.

 

[DC3]

... TextNow also seems to receive texts from Amex fine ...

I used the Express Lane address provided by MyUS.

Well, 10 out of 10 there.

 

[nj12]

Almost all of us started with Sarasota and I use PostScanMail now out of California. Not sure if the charge card variety makes any difference (Green, Gold, Platinum) Not 100% but most started with Aspire or Brilliant and then Green.

On re-reading your post, I was wondering what address you used at MyUS. Was it Express Lane, or something else? It’s just that Express Lane hasn’t been an issue so far.

Yes I did wonder if that was the right choice going with Green first, Aspire might have been the way to go initially. The operator indicated only issue was the address and said that income and employment details weren't an issue for global transfer. I remember now that I didn't include suite no. in the initial application using Postscan mail address which was also a Californian address so that could be another reason. Yes Myus was also express lane Sarasota so it's strange it didn't go through.

MyUS worked fine, didn’t flag anything. TextNow also seems to receive texts from Amex fine. Wasn’t any verification texts from CSO or anything but confirmation of Amex Account Alerts.

That's interesting. I'm pleased it worked out well for you though. I'm thinking now because the postscan mail address I used online appeared to be flagged they also somehow further scrutinised the myus address I offered them.

I don't have the screenshot but my initial online application seemed to be an instant rejection. Each time I called up they asked for application no. which I said I didn't have as it was a global transfer and I never received one so they looked it up using my name and us address. They said it's waiting to be finalised so not rejected but just waiting on physical address.

So seems like my mistake might have been using the postscan mail address for the initial online application. Should have used myus address there. Hindsight...

 

[PointsLife1]

Yes I did wonder if that was the right choice going with Green first, Aspire might have been the way to go initially. The operator indicated only issue was the address and said that income and employment details weren't an issue for global transfer. I remember now that I didn't include suite no. in the initial application using Postscan mail address which was also a Californian address so that could be another reason. Yes Myus was also express lane Sarasota so it's strange it didn't go through.


That's interesting. I'm pleased it worked out well for you though. I'm thinking now because the postscan mail address I used online appeared to be flagged they also somehow further scrutinised the myus address I offered them.

I don't have the screenshot but my initial online application seemed to be an instant rejection. Each time I called up they asked for application no. which I said I didn't have as it was a global transfer and I never received one so they looked it up using my name and us address. They said it's waiting to be finalised so not rejected but just waiting on physical address.

So seems like my mistake might have been using the postscan mail address for the initial online application. Should have used myus address there. Hindsight...

The PMB #?

That could be it maybe as I didn’t use it over the phone a couple of occasions thinking surely PMB (personal mail box) is a dead giveaway. Then they said can you repeat and added PMB# and they could verify.

Which California address did you choose and why? I heard they are based in Anaheim so went California as quick to deliver plus wanted a cool beach address

I also did the full USPS 1583 verification, did you do that also? Costs extra to get started.

 

[DC3]

The thing that I have difficulty in understanding is how Amex concluded that 4283 Express Lane is a mail forwarding address, when all indications are otherwise. Mysterious.

 

[nj12]

Which California address did you choose and why? I heard they are based in Anaheim so went California as quick to deliver plus wanted a cool beach address

I used 532 N. Magnolia Ave,
Anaheim. I completed the usps1583 with online notary service also. Even without PMb the address on USPS displays N for commercial mail receiving agency so not sure what other search function Amex agent was using to input this address for it to show as a mail forwarder.

he thing that I have difficulty in understanding is how Amex concluded that 4283 Express Lane is a mail forwarding address, when all indications are otherwise. Mysterious.

I gave them that same express lane address with suite no. xx_x-xx_. She seemed to add the suite no. as one number not with the dash Otherwise I can’t think of anything else I did differently. I don’t think pushing the issue with another phone call Is wise given the likelihood of notes on my application already.

 

[marki]

Just received an email from transferwise saying the US bank details have been changed and it looks like the new US bank account from transferwise is a real bank account that allow direct debits, anyone wants to give it a shot? That would solve the problem of trying to setup a US bank account from Australia.

That’s what I did

Post automatically merged: Jan 29, 2021

The thing that I have difficulty in understanding is how Amex concluded that 4283 Express Lane is a mail forwarding address, when all indications are otherwise. Mysterious.

They have a data base but are ok to change the address to Australian after that.

 

[jbmemories]

Finally got the US platinum card approved and hopefully sent here to Aus when it arrives to the address in the US!

Ended up using the GT route and was surprisingly quick like some here have said.

I guess the next question now is paying the balance.
Although there's many different ways to do it (like opening HSBC Premier or a US bank acc), for those just sticking to the Aus route, is the Citi Global (USD Currency) & Revolut (or XE?) the way to go?
Seeing how some people were mentioning setting up the payment filling out the payment details :
"FEDWIRE-021000021.ACCOUNT NAME ACCOUNT NUMBER"

Am I missing why we should use Fedwire code instead of their SWIFT Code? Are there further details left that I need to actually setup before transferring?

That’s what I did

Post automatically merged: Jan 29, 2021

@marki have you had any success paying off your balances with Transferwise AU (USD) account?

Transferwise will also reduce the Revolut -> Citi Global double setup.

 

[albyd]

Assuming MyUS’ days are numbered will Amex go through their database and ‘purge’ us all or will it just affect us next time we want to apply for an Amex card?

Any other banks where this might be an issue?

 

[glasszon]

Assuming MyUS’ days are numbered will Amex go through their database and ‘purge’ us all or will it just affect us next time we want to apply for an Amex card?

Any other banks where this might be an issue?

It's impossible to say, Amex US can get very aggressive in closing down accounts (ask those who did self referrals or getting financial reviewed).

I would say the best thing is to keep an eye out at Canadian blogs about Amex US applications, Canadians apply for Amex US cards much more frequently than us here and there are blog posts dedicated to it, I imagine if this is an issue they would flag it and propose alternatives.

 

[PointsLife1]

It's impossible to say, Amex US can get very aggressive in closing down accounts (ask those who did self referrals or getting financial reviewed).

I would say the best thing is to keep an eye out at Canadian blogs about Amex US applications, Canadians apply for Amex US cards much more frequently than us here and there are blog posts dedicated to it, I imagine if this is an issue they would flag it and propose alternatives.

Although mrsquare seems to have done the same thing and it worked at much the same time. Was just thinking also that you can’t get the Amex Green anyway to MyUS as it’s just a standard letter and not a package type like Brilliant or Aspire.

 

[glasszon]

Although mrsquare seems to have done the same thing and it worked at much the same time. Was just thinking also that you can’t get the Amex Green anyway to MyUS as it’s just a standard letter and not a package type like Brilliant or Aspire.

I think you can get Amex Green to MyUS if you are willing to pay for the mail subscription, but yeah, it's possible the agent realised it was a mail forwarding address rather than the system and we need more datapoints to know for sure.

On that note, besides Amex Platinum, Marriott Brilliant and Hilton Aspire card, what other Amex cards are delivered via courier? Maybe we should keep a note on what cards to avoid as they are delivered via mail instead of courier?

 

[mrsquare]

That’s what I did

Post automatically merged: Jan 29, 2021

They have a data base but are ok to change the address to Australian after that.

Is there a recommended period to wait following Card approval before requesting for a change to an Australian / international address? I note that someone upthread posted a FT link where someone suggested 10 business / days or circa 2 weeks maybe?

Assuming MyUS’ days are numbered will Amex go through their database and ‘purge’ us all or will it just affect us next time we want to apply for an Amex card?

Any other banks where this might be an issue?

I hope not! I just applied for my Bonvoy Brilliant using MyUS like PointLife1 has pointed out and haven’t encounter any issues so far (fingers crossed).

 

[mrsquare]

That's interesting. I'm pleased it worked out well for you though. I'm thinking now because the postscan mail address I used online appeared to be flagged they also somehow further scrutinised the myus address I offered them.

Thanks, I must have gotten lucky there. Suspect you might be right whereby they might have taken a further look at the MyUS address due to Postscan one coming up as a mail forwarding provider’s details?

Hopefully it doesn’t trigger system wide checks.

 

[PointsLife1]

Also a fantastic deal has presented itself on US AMEX cards, go to offers and they have the Motley Fool spend $99.00 and receive $99.00 return but you can also shop through the AA shopping portal and receive 7400 AA miles. I did it yesterday on my Bonvoy Brilliant and Amex sent an email already saying Great News! You just used your Amex offer and my AA shopping has 7400 miles already.

 

[glasszon]

Also a fantastic deal has presented itself on US AMEX cards, go to offers and they have the Motley Fool spend $99.00 and receive $99.00 return but you can also shop through the AA shopping portal and receive 7400 AA miles. I did it yesterday on my Bonvoy Brilliant and Amex sent an email already saying Great News! You just used your Amex offer and my AA shopping has 7400 miles already.

Or if you want points with other US couriers, I found this website showing a list of couriers you can get the bonus points with and the amount:

The Motley Fool Cashback (70%) Miles/Points Reward (14900 (<s>3700</s>) mi.) Comparison by CashbackMonitor

The Motley Fool Cashback Mile/Point Reward Comparison by Cashback Monitor: Hoopla Doopla(70%), Giving Assistant(50%), Citi Bonus Cash Center($150), American AAdvantage(14900 (<s>3700</s>) mi.), United Mileage Plus (ua cc)(11600 (<s>2900</s>) mi.), Chase UR (Freedom)(15000 (<s>3800</s>) pt.), ...

www.cashbackmonitor.com

 

[PointsLife1]

Or if you want points with other US couriers, I found this website showing a list of couriers you can get the bonus points with and the amount:

The Motley Fool Cashback (70%) Miles/Points Reward (14900 (<s>3700</s>) mi.) Comparison by CashbackMonitor

The Motley Fool Cashback Mile/Point Reward Comparison by Cashback Monitor: Hoopla Doopla(70%), Giving Assistant(50%), Citi Bonus Cash Center($150), American AAdvantage(14900 (<s>3700</s>) mi.), United Mileage Plus (ua cc)(11600 (<s>2900</s>) mi.), Chase UR (Freedom)(15000 (<s>3800</s>) pt.), ...

www.cashbackmonitor.com

The Citi Bonus Cash Centre would be interesting if you ended up getting paid $80 to take out the subscription.