Strategy to obtain US Amex

For my neighbours in Torrance, a data point:
  • First Chase card sent via USPS not received in mailbox at all
  • Replacement card requested after 10BD and sent via rush courier. Took 3 days from replacement being requested to Planet Express sending out a notification of receipt
  • Requested package forwarding via "Planet Mail Express" (~USD 16) and a tracking number was generated within 24 hours, but actual courier pick up took another business day.
  • It appears that the package then took around 11 days to get to Australia
  • After getting to Australia, there were no further tracking updates; the package was simply in the letterbox some 8 days later (no signature required).
In short, if using the slowest/cheapest delivery option with Planet Express, expect the delivery to take ~3 weeks.
Did you do the form 1583? I think they need that to receive letters like from USPS. I printed mine out and had it notarized when I was in the States and emailed it to Planet Express. But I haven't changed it on the banks yet.
 
Did you do the form 1583? I think they need that to receive letters like from USPS. I printed mine out and had it notarized when I was in the States and emailed it to Planet Express. But I haven't changed it on the banks yet.
Yep I have a notarised 1583 with them - though not sure if that affects the receipting, as I've had at least one letter received in the mailbox before the 1583 was done, so I assumed the check is being done at the time the letter is requested to be forwarded?
 
For my neighbours in Torrance, a data point:
  • First Chase card sent via USPS not received in mailbox at all
  • Replacement card requested after 10BD and sent via rush courier. Took 3 days from replacement being requested to Planet Express sending out a notification of receipt
  • Requested package forwarding via "Planet Mail Express" (~USD 16) and a tracking number was generated within 24 hours, but actual courier pick up took another business day.
  • It appears that the package then took around 11 days to get to Australia
  • After getting to Australia, there were no further tracking updates; the package was simply in the letterbox some 8 days later (no signature required).
In short, if using the slowest/cheapest delivery option with Planet Express, expect the delivery to take ~3 weeks.
Can't Chase forward your card to Australia? Are they that hard? Cap 1 didn't as well.
 
This was my first application with them so I didn't want to push the boundaries too much - will try when I get onto the next one!
Chase will readily expedite subsequent cards to Aus. Just request shortly after approval and make sure you mention "rush" or "expedite" otherwise they may send it via normal post which could take 3 weeks. Happened with my recent Chase Ink Business card. Hadn't received it in a week with no tracking number so I called again and they cancelled the second one and generated another one which arrived at my Aus address 3 days later via FedEx a couple of days before travelling overseas.
 
Chase will readily expedite subsequent cards to Aus. Just request shortly after approval and make sure you mention "rush" or "expedite" otherwise they may send it via normal post which could take 3 weeks. Happened with my recent Chase Ink Business card. Hadn't received it in a week with no tracking number so I called again and they cancelled the second one and generated another one which arrived at my Aus address 3 days later via FedEx a couple of days before travelling overseas.
so you are saying for subsequent cards only we should expedite it, Not as 1st chase card right?

Also, I was rejected for Chase - however when I called recon 1 of the question I was asked at verification was "What was the county name of your address" I was caught by surprise and had no idea . Luckily I was in front of my computer and quickly google it and gave the answer. Phuuu.
 
so you are saying for subsequent cards only we should expedite it, Not as 1st chase card right?

Also, I was rejected for Chase - however when I called recon 1 of the question I was asked at verification was "What was the county name of your address" I was caught by surprise and had no idea . Luckily I was in front of my computer and quickly google it and gave the answer. Phuuu.
IIRC I had my first Chase card sent to MyUS address which had the mail subscription to avoid another round of verification. There maybe dp's of others getting their first card sent overseas but I had many issues receiving verification codes during the approval process so didn't want to go through that again. Getting the next 2 cards from Chase sent to Aus was straightforward and no need to wait 10 days like Amex.
 
The US Plat card offers Priority Pass Select. The Australian card just offers Priority Pass. The PP website says the ‘Select’ product is offered to US financial institutions that provide PP as part of the financial product package.

Does anyone know if the ‘Select’ product is different to the product we have access to here via Amex; better, worse, same but different name. There seems to be about 300 lounges difference (1300 v 1600) is the advertising blurb that accompanies the US & Aus products
 
so you are saying for subsequent cards only we should expedite it, Not as 1st chase card right?

Also, I was rejected for Chase - however when I called recon 1 of the question I was asked at verification was "What was the county name of your address" I was caught by surprise and had no idea . Luckily I was in front of my computer and quickly google it and gave the answer. Phuuu.

No one is really suggesting that things should be done a specific way. More of a recommendation for those less risk adverse.

It seems reasonable to act like a US resident to a bank for your first card. You can obviously afterwards move overseas or go travel afterwards but you will appear less suspicious. Hence it's recommended that you don't have your first card sent to Australia if you've never had any history with the bank.

This isn't to say that it's fool-proof. You can still get flagged for fraud but it's just the little things that we try to do to avoid going through the litany of verification.

Edit: For those in Torrance, I've actually never missed a USPS letter once so it's a little strange. I just received my WoH and a few months back my C1 VX so I wonder what's going on there.

Regarding my comments above, I don't want to come across like a broken record but the consistent advice is to take it slow. The entire game is a marathon not a sprint. I see posters keep pushing to get certain cards soon and it leads to unnecessary complications. I starting my journey only in 2021 and only in the past year did I really start churning but I still kept it at a slow pace. It's very clear from DPs on line that aggressive velocity or abnormal spending patterns will lead to shut downs, FR or restrictions. My #1 rule is to seem as average as possible and fly under the radar. I know some of you guys have heaps to spend but don't rock your own boat.
 
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Got approved for the Gold without SSN/ITIN. This is my second card - 2 months after my GT for Surpass. They just asked for passport details instead of SSN. Only got the 90k offer despite following a 100k referral link but not gonna argue with that.
 
DP for whoever interested. So I requested for all my mails I got since signed up with Global Mail to be sent to AU. Selected FedEx International - Paid $55 approx. Received a package after 1 week.
Interesting

I'm just looking to set up a Global Mail account but I've never lived in the US and don't have an SSN or ITIN. Will this be a problem? I also don't have a previous USPS address from which to forward; likewise - a problem?

Is it compulsory to go through the whole form 1583 thing or only if you expect USPS mail? Bit concerned about the whole Notary thing
 
Global mail
- living in Australia is fine
- SSN or ITIN is irrelevant
- no previous USPS is fine - don't need to redirect anything
- 1583 is so that they can receive the mail on your behalf - they just want a passport and a bill (eg rego or insurance) to your AUS address to prove you are who you say - it take about 5 mins done online - this is so they can receive all mail for you on your behalf - the notary thing is only to prove your ID - nothing else - I have done it now about 6 different times - I think they get paid per notary so they will want you online for less than 2 mins if they can help it

Is there something particular about the notary that worries you?
 
Maybe being a little naive here but if anyone is interested ....

I was travelling at the beginning of this year when I received a directed offer (100k) to upgrade my US Gold to US Platinum. I accepted and given that I was genuinely travelling asked the CSR to send my card to my UK address.

Unbeknown to me until this week the CSR changed the address in my Amex profile to the place I was temporarily staying at in the UK.

I applied for an additional card for my son - nothing happened for a week and when I phoned to investigate they will not approve new cards (even as a Supp to an existing account) to accounts with an address outside the US. He just said to apply for an Amex in the UK. I suggested that was not a viable option.

I have been trying to register for Priority Pass and keep encountering an error screen

We're Sorry

We're unable to load this page at this time. Please try again later.

If you need immediate assistance, please call the number on the back of your Card.​
I can't find any reference in the T&Cs requiring a US address. I spoke with online chat this morning and he encountered the same error. I'm guessing it's the address outside the US issue again.

So it would appear that there are a number of benefits not available to cardholders once the move abroad or repatriate their card to their actual home address (no probs if you are not seeking anymore US cards)

Anyone have any work-arounds or is it just a matter of changing my address back to a US one again?

I can live without both of these things but I guess i'm just a little frustrated that I'm being denied some of the benefits that I'm paying for. So the change back to a US address will just be a measure of the inconvenience vs card value & utility ;) if that is the only option
 

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