Strategy to obtain US Amex

[kpc]

Let's see what people think Just thought about it after coming back from a holiday and had to go through pages ha

I think a FAQ type guide would be very useful and helpful...this thread is way too loong now!

 

[djchuckles]

I thought the verdict was you need to wait at least 3 months between GT 1 and 2

Someone above claimed to do 3 a few weeks apart….

 

[georgie23]

Question for people who have branched out to get Chase cards

I have Green card (13 months) Platinum (1 month) ITIN (11 months) and want to get cracking with Chase.
Have people had more success with Business Chase or Personal Chase as their first Chase
I am looking at Chase Preferred or Reserve VS Ink Preferred

Many thanks

 

[djchuckles]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Apple Card? Is it a worthy addition as a no fee keeper card?

 

[Grrr]

Someone above claimed to do 3 a few weeks apart….

Pretty sure the cadence was 3 months between GT 1 and GT 2, then as quick as you like after that

 

[Finale]

just to add a DP. Did my first GT a few weeks ago (Hilton Surpass). Just tried to submit another through the GT page for Green and got knocked back. In AU I have Plat Charge, Edge and Ultimate QF and have been a member since 2011. I think this firmly lends weight to the view that GT doesn’t help a jot on the 2nd or subsequent applications. Will now wait until ITIN arrives or 3 months (whichever comes quickest)

If you use ITIN and do not have 6 month credit history, there is quite a chance that Amex will request 4506c. If you want another card quick before 6 months, I think second GT will give you more chance.

 

[Ko0l]

I am looking at Chase Preferred or Reserve VS Ink Preferred

My ink preferred application has gone through pretty easily.

 

[Ko0l]

If you use ITIN and do not have 6 month credit history, there is quite a chance that Amex will request 4506c. If you want another card quick before 6 months, I think second GT will give you more chance.

I've read dps of amex requesting 4506c for people applying for their 2nd card through GT shortly after the first one as well.

 

[georgie23]

My ink preferred application has gone through pretty easily.

Thank for that info
Do you also have personal or went straight to Ink

 

[levelnine]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Apple Card? Is it a worthy addition as a no fee keeper card?

What is the appeal for you? Most points chasers don't bother with it because the cash back isn't that good (there's better options) and it doesn't earn transferrable currencies.

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On the topic of GT, 4506C forms, opening checking accounts & applying for credit cards, it's important to remember that the backend processes of US banks are incredibly antiquated and messy. They are orders of magnitude worse than Australian banks, and Australian banks are far from beacons of organisation. Indeed, a lot of the more advanced churning strategies rely on exploiting loopholes that exist as a result of the disorderly way US banks are run.

What it means for people starting out is that no two people will have an identical experience. It is important to recognise that, if you're going to churn US cards, there's a lot of trial and error (there's generally little harm in trying something again in a few months if you are unsuccessful at first — indeed, US banks expect it) and the experiences of others are only a proximate guide to what will happen to you.

 

[Ko0l]

Do you also have personal or went straight to Ink

It was my first ever credit card applied with an ITIN. It went super smoothly. They basically requested for docs, I've uploaded and approved after a phone call the next day.

Previously only had amex credit cards through GT.

 

[georgie23]

It was my first ever credit card applied with an ITIN. It went super smoothly. They basically requested for docs, I've uploaded and approved after a phone call the next day.

Previously only had amex credit cards through GT.

Thanks great info cheers

 

[DC3]

just to add a DP. Did my first GT a few weeks ago (Hilton Surpass). Just tried to submit another through the GT page for Green and got knocked back. In AU I have Plat Charge, Edge and Ultimate QF and have been a member since 2011. I think this firmly lends weight to the view that GT doesn’t help a jot on the 2nd or subsequent applications. Will now wait until ITIN arrives or 3 months (whichever comes quickest)

Oh, yes. Patience Grasshopper.

None of us knows for sure what triggers this.

 

[BTS_FAN]

Hi,
I need AA Miles so tempting to apply for Citi AA Business, I don't want the personal version due to 5/24
I have 16-17 months credit history which includes Amex Platinum, Amex Hilton, 2 Chase cards
Any Citi AA Business here? Please share your approval DP.

 

[levelnine]

Hi,
I need AA Miles so tempting to apply for Citi AA Business, I don't want the personal version due to 5/24
I have 16-17 months credit history which includes Amex Platinum, Amex Hilton, 2 Chase cards
Any Citi AA Business here? Please share your approval DP.

Myself and P2 both have the Citi AA biz card. It is one of the easier Citi cards to get approved for. You're more likely to be approved if you have less than 2 HPs within the last 6 months. Beyond that, Citi's approval process is random — sometimes people with very good credit records get denied. If you do get denied, wait 3 months and try again.

 

[Grrr]

In response to changing their HSBC US address to a US address, has anyone been asked to fill out their "W-8 Attachment X (Written Explanations of US Connections)" form ?

They ask you to explain why you have a US residential address, when you are certifying that you are not a US resident/citizen

The options are
- student with a visa
- teacher with a visa
- diplomat
- spouse of any of the above
- other (essentially professional athletes visiting for charitable event etc)

They want documentary evidence of visas etc

Any suggestions on what the best thing to do here is ?

 

[Tiki]

Myself and P2 both have the Citi AA biz card. It is one of the easier Citi cards to get approved for. You're more likely to be approved if you have less than 2 HPs within the last 6 months. Beyond that, Citi's approval process is random — sometimes people with very good credit records get denied. If you do get denied, wait 3 months and try again.

Did they send it to you in Australia?

 

[levelnine]

Did they send it to you in Australia?

I did not try as I was going to be in the US soon after application. Given how incompetent Citi is, I wouldn't rate my chances as being high. You also need the physical card to do in-store purchases — using a digital wallet will result in a fraud lock on your card.

 

[georgie23]

Why can't you put that its for mailing reasons to get to you

 

[Grrr]

Why can't you put that its for mailing reasons to get to you

That question is fine (it’s about mailing addresses).

The one after that is basically ‘why do you have a residential address when you aren’t a US resident’