Strategy to obtain US Amex

[DC3]

Yeah it has. I got the your card has been delivered email. Yeah odd that you got a different response. Oh well, I might try calling the number provided if not wait for the 10 days.

It did just show up in MyUS account, so debating whether to spend and get it sent that way.

Just be aware of the dud (“cheap”) option for MyUS forwarding to Oz, mentioned upthread. Best to use a courier such as DHL, etc

 

[mrsquare]

In terms of using the Uber or dining credit on the Gold card, have people been successful in applying that to an Aus account or downloading the US Uber app and using it that way?

 

[blacksultan]

In terms of using the Uber or dining credit on the Gold card, have people been successful in applying that to an Aus account or downloading the US Uber app and using it that way?

No success with using it on an oz account . Can’t even have deliveries to a us address

 

[mrsquare]

No success with using it on an oz account . Can’t even have deliveries to a us address

Unfortunate but not unexpected I guess. Cheers.

 

[http_x92]

22/3 - Hit the $1000 spend on the Hilton No Annual Fee
25/3 - 70k HH Bonus points credited in the HH account
26/3 - Free Night award credited in HH account

Pretty quick.

 

[pyusha]

No success with using it on an oz account . Can’t even have deliveries to a us address

I have/had success with UberEats with deliveries in the US.

 

[http_x92]

RE Uber Eats Credit:

I also noticed that with Uber eats transactions they know there is an AU at the end which means the system knows that the Australian website/app was used anyway. Even if Uber Eats knows it was a US Credit Card used.

 

[blacksultan]

I have/had success with UberEats with deliveries in the US.

From here in oz ? Witt the oz Uber eats app ?

 

[QF029]

From here in oz ? Witt the oz Uber eats app ?

It's the same app a cross countries.

 

[pyusha]

From here in oz ? Witt the oz Uber eats app ?

Yep. Just one app as confirmed by QF029.

 

[pyusha]

My recent experience with MyUS.
Had one of my cards delivered to MyUS last week and I requested same day shipping which was complied to. The package was being prepared for 4 days per the website but the customer care kept on telling it has already been picked up by DHL, but there wasn't any tracking number provided. Despite the so called pickup, the package is now marked as lost yesterday and the MyUS team is working to locate it.

 

[DC3]

My recent experience with MyUS.
Had one of my cards delivered to MyUS last week and I requested same day shipping which was complied to. The package was being prepared for 4 days per the website but the customer care kept on telling it has already been picked up by DHL, but there wasn't any tracking number provided. Despite the so called pickup, the package is now marked as lost yesterday and the MyUS team is working to locate it.

Interesting. MyUS was hacked earlier this month. There were still warehouse/package issues reported on 14/3/22. Not sure if everything is back to normal yet.

 

[pyusha]

My package was logged 2 days late after being delivered to MyUS.
Their website was mentioning delays as late as 28/03. Seems now they have caught up.

 

[mrsquare]

Just spoke with Amex over the phone and got a replacement card sent to my Aus address.

Couldn’t get chat to send the card to an international address. They could only send to an alternate US address.

 

[http_x92]

Got excited when there is a Qantas offer on the Aspire with 1500/200 USD only to realise it has to be a flight originating in the US. The AMEX system also knows which routes you are taking when the transaction gets posted. Dangit.

Maybe 2 one way tickets might work but that would be expensive. Qantas bookings originally in USD is also expensive.

 

[DC3]

Just spoke with Amex over the phone and got a replacement card sent to my Aus address.

Couldn’t get chat to send the card to an international address. They could only send to an alternate US address.

Yes, that’s my understanding. The Card Replacement Team is contactable by phone.

 

[tlam]

You can choose to pay in USD, I just purchased a ticket on the Australian website and will keep you posted if I got the cashback.

 

[mrsquare]

Yes, that’s my understanding. The Card Replacement Team is contactable by phone.

Card arrived very quickly. Was sent out on Sat, and arrived on Mon. Not even local delivery is that quick!

 

[nomad2000]

Hi everyone

I've been reading this long thread for a while now, read the whole pages perhaps twice already. Lots of useful information here, thank you all for sharing.
I've been looking into establishing US credit and getting US bank/credit cards as well.
So I thought I'd share some of my experiences that I've had in the past few weeks.

US business bank account:
- Mercury
- Novel (trynovel.com) -> this is what EINExpress is selling as their Evolve and Trust US Business Bank account, this is free essentially if you wanna register.
- Brex

I've got Mercury and Novel myself.

US personal bank account:
- The easiest option to open one remotely is through HSBC, it's easy to become a premier with HSBC in Australia at the moment, I've called them up to open a new account and requested if I can become a premier right from the beginning, they said do you verbally agree to deposit $9k+ a month and I said yes, they marked my application as premier.
Of course you need to deposit $9k+ a month to keep your status.
But the good thing is all you need to do is just deposit it, once it hits the account you can get it all out.
Call up their international banking center once you become AU Premier and they will help you open a US account, mine was done in like 6 days or so.

I'd like to open up a BoA and Capital1 360, but still waiting for my ITIN and not planning to go to US anytime soon.

US credit card:
- Easiest option is through your AU Amex relationship and through GT.
I found out that GT is easier to get approved for than Nova credit generally.
I got 2 cards in a space of 5 days both through GT. For the second card I just needed to call in using the phone number on my profile so they could verify me. No bank statements or anything needed.
- HSBC Premier US mastercard which you can get through your US relationship manager, change your HSBC US account address to US to establish credit through that. I'm still waiting for my card to be approved though.
- I wanna open more cards but I still dont have my FICO score or any other credit cards, I guess once my ITIN comes in, I'll get a couple secure cards through Capital1, USBank or Citi (they allow ITIN online I hear) to expedite the process.

US Phone:
- I found this cool service, relatively cheap ($15/mo) and they got ESim so if you got a new phone that supports Embedded Simcards you can get connected instantly. They're on TMobile network and have Wifi calling so you dont need coverage in AU, can make/receive calls and texts on wifi. I've had success with Amex short codes and responding to those messages not sure about others though, so YMMV. But its a real wireless service.
Mint Mobile. Here's my referral link if you wanna register: Mint Mobile | Wireless that's Easy, Online, $15 Bucks a Month


Hope someone finds these useful.

I'd be happy to know if anyone else has got suggestions to expedite the US credit history building and any type of remote US bank account opening etc for me.



Thanks
Cheers

 

[DC3]

Hope someone finds these useful.

Thank you for posting. And, welcome to AFF, this being your first post