Strategy to obtain US Amex

Oh sorry
i read them as you would only do Section A and C
You want a US postal address on it to show you have a bank account with that address as proof to show other institutions - is that correct?

Could you state you are a self employed and coming too and from AU to US to assess if suitable for work opportunities and have a US residence while there to assess opportunities
 
Last edited:
Finally received my Surpass card. Have confirmed/activated - but don’t seem to find anywhere to select a pin….?
 
Has anyone managed to get a US Amex business card without ITIN/SSN? I am tempted by the 5*50k Marriott FNC sign up bonus on the Amex Marriott business card and have an existing US Amex card via GT, but no ITIN or SSN.
 
Leaving a successful DP for Amex Biz Plat $200 airline credit with Delta as chosen airline.
Booked a domestic ticket refundable for Delta ecredit combined with an existing Delta ecredit and remaining 198 on Biz Plat.

1726710009943.png
 
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.
I will be in the US next month. Did you use a real address or a mail forwarder? Could I have it sent to my hotel? There are no Citi branches near where I will be.
 
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
I applied for CSP after having multiple Amex cards and ITIN for around 15 months and was approved after some verification hassle. My second chase card (WOH) took exactly 30 days to be approved after many phone calls but had no issues with verification. I can't comment on Business cards but looking at applying for one soon.
 
Has anyone managed to get a US Amex business card without ITIN/SSN? I am tempted by the 5*50k Marriott FNC sign up bonus on the Amex Marriott business card and have an existing US Amex card via GT, but no ITIN or SSN.
You can call up to apply without ITIN or SSN. Note be prepared to answer questions about your business.

Business activity, gross income. Etc.
 
I will be in the US next month. Did you use a real address or a mail forwarder? Could I have it sent to my hotel? There are no Citi branches near where I will be.
Real address. No idea, could try. Might also be able to get a replacement card sent there on the basis you're travelling — arguably more likely than getting it sent overseas.
 
I applied for CSP after having multiple Amex cards and ITIN for around 15 months and was approved after some verification hassle. My second chase card (WOH) took exactly 30 days to be approved after many phone calls but had no issues with verification. I can't comment on Business cards but looking at applying for one soon.
That's what I want, but I am 4/24 and want the ability to keep churning biz cards.

I will be looking to apply for the WOH biz card while in the US next week
 
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.
Thanks for the DP

Was it instant approval or did you have to call for verification and submit ITIN docs?
I've heard Citi can be picky.
 
This is interesting…..

I'm sharing a disclosure with you.All additional Card Members must be 13 years of age, and must never have had a defaulted account with American Express. The Additional Card Member's Social Security Number / National ID is not required to submit this request. However, this information must be provided by you or the Additional Card Member within 60 days after the Card is issued, or the Additional Card will be cancelled.
 
It appears that Hilton Honors Amex is a charge card rather than a credit card...
No it isn't, they're all credit cards (I've got Surpass and Aspire, both credit, the base one and business card are too).
 
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 ?
I was asked this to open the account (HSBC Premier US) - I just said I frequently visit the US and my main purpose for needing the account was to pay bills I have in the US. The trigger for asking was because I gave them a US phone number. They then said they needed more time to assess, and I didn't hear anything for a week or so until I got an email confirming the account was open.

HSBC Expat also has my AU address, they asked me for my tax file number, nothing else.

I've left the address in Australia for both. I also have a UK one, which has a UK address, they're all linked in the same Global View thing. For US, I'm 99% certain it's so they can establish whether you're liable to pay US taxes.
 
The one after that is basically ‘why do you have a residential address when you aren’t a US resident’
So I have somewhere to receive mail/bills/somewhere to stay when I am present.

Heaps of people own overseas property...
Post automatically merged:

Finally received my Surpass card. Have confirmed/activated - but don’t seem to find anywhere to select a pin….?
They'll send you a cash advance PIN (or you can view online, I think), but you don't need it - US cards are still signature remember.
 
somewhere to stay when I am present.

Heaps of people own overseas property...
Thanks that's a good idea; only risk being they then ask for a utility bill from the address with my name on it - which would come full circle really in terms of why we all use HSBC !!!

I had planned on putting down that it was my sister's address (which is the truth) where I stay when visiting, but I don't know if they would consider that acceptable...
 
This is interesting…..

I'm sharing a disclosure with you.All additional Card Members must be 13 years of age, and must never have had a defaulted account with American Express. The Additional Card Member's Social Security Number / National ID is not required to submit this request. However, this information must be provided by you or the Additional Card Member within 60 days after the Card is issued, or the Additional Card will be cancelled.
Damn I'm seeing the same, just tried to add an additional card holder for a relative who will be in the US for a month or so who doesn't have an ITIN/SSN.
 

Become an AFF member!

Join Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) for free and unlock insider tips, exclusive deals, and global meetups with 65,000+ frequent flyers.

AFF members can also access our Frequent Flyer Training courses, and upgrade to Fast-track your way to expert traveller status and unlock even more exclusive discounts!

AFF forum abbreviations

Wondering about Y, J or any of the other abbreviations used on our forum?

Check out our guide to common AFF acronyms & abbreviations.
Back
Top