Strategy to obtain US Amex

[djchuckles]

Wow, Congratulation, I got rejected by FICO score low and multiple other reasons

That’s rough - I’m pretty sure i still don’t even have a FICO score! But maybe I do by now - still can’t get it from any of the bureaus though

My journey is newer than most :

Aug HSBC Premier
Sept Amex Surpass
Nov Amex Gold
Jan Hilton Aspire
Feb Amex Business Gold

That will be it for at least 3 months now (gotta focus on the ABG spend).

But then come Aug will try Chase

Post automatically merged: Today at 10:57 AM

I recently did an ABG application and instant approval but I have an Amex Checking and it had about 800 in it.
Maybe didn’t get asked for a bank account as have an Amex checking

Interesting - i have Amex Biz Checking albeit it empty currently - but it did hold $5k for 60+ days so maybe that helped

 

[Grrr]

That’s rough - I’m pretty sure i still don’t even have a FICO score! But maybe I do by now - still can’t get it from any of the bureaus though

My journey is newer than most :

Aug HSBC Premier
Sept Amex Surpass
Nov Amex Gold
Jan Hilton Aspire
Feb Amex Business Gold

At what point did you apply using an ITIN ?

 

[djchuckles]

At what point did you apply using an ITIN ?

Ah good question

I got a Maza ITIN which was dated Oct but i only received Dec. So i used that for Aspire and ABG.

 

[Grrr]

So i used that for Aspire and ABG.

So 2 cards and 3 months with an ITIN. Maybe it does take 6 months for a credit score to show up…

 

[zainman]

That’s rough - I’m pretty sure i still don’t even have a FICO score! But maybe I do by now - still can’t get it from any of the bureaus though

My journey is newer than most :

Aug HSBC Premier
Sept Amex Surpass
Nov Amex Gold
Jan Hilton Aspire
Feb Amex Business Gold

That will be it for at least 3 months now (gotta focus on the ABG spend).

But then come Aug will try Chase

Post automatically merged: Today at 10:57 AM

Interesting - i have Amex Biz Checking albeit it empty currently - but it did hold $5k for 60+ days so maybe that helped

So the AMEX Surpass and AMEX Gold were without ITIN? Meaning GT?

 

[djchuckles]

So the AMEX Surpass and AMEX Gold were without ITIN? Meaning GT?

Surpass was GT

For Amex Gold i put my passport number plus two zeros for SSN - that referred obviously and after speaking to them on phone and validating info they approved

 

[pyramidforce]

That’s rough - I’m pretty sure i still don’t even have a FICO score! But maybe I do by now - still can’t get it from any of the bureaus though

My journey is newer than most :

Aug HSBC Premier
Sept Amex Surpass
Nov Amex Gold
Jan Hilton Aspire
Feb Amex Business Gold

That will be it for at least 3 months now (gotta focus on the ABG spend).

But then come Aug will try Chase

Post automatically merged: Today at 10:57 AM

Interesting - i have Amex Biz Checking albeit it empty currently - but it did hold $5k for 60+ days so maybe that helped

Two questions
1. How did you get approved for so many cards
2. How do you have so much money to spend for the SUBs

 

[djchuckles]

Two questions
1. How did you get approved for so many cards
2. How do you have so much money to spend for the SUBs

Ha. Can’t answer the first. But for second I just put as much as I can through them.

I’ve barely started the Aspire spend (maybe $1k in) so will pause using that card for next 3 months to do ABG.

Already got SUB for Surpass and Gold.

 

[pyramidforce]

Any issue with Amex blocking large transactions and/or repeat transactions?

Not sure what looks worse, paying 5k through DEFT or paying 500x10 through DEFT, etc

 

[djchuckles]

Any issue with Amex blocking large transactions and/or repeat transactions?

Not sure what looks worse, paying 5k through DEFT or paying 500x10 through DEFT, etc

Haven’t really had anything large yet or repeated. They did ask me to pay down the Gold when I got to about 3k.

Hoping they don’t let the ABG as hoping to put as much as I can of the $15k on 0% APR for 6 months

Post automatically merged: Today at 12:15 PM

The weekly rent to deft could easily be seen as a business payment. Plus with moving forex it’s never exactly the same amount twice (in USD)

 

[levelnine]

Not sure what looks worse, paying 5k through DEFT or paying 500x10 through DEFT, etc

Amex has no problem with repeat transactions, especially on business cards. Large transactions might be more likely to hit a fraud flag.

 

[scibo10]

Another DP for C1.

I submitted the above ID documents to C1 and called their fraud line to see if they received them. The agent I spoke with confirmed the docs were received but stated that she needs four months' worth of bank statements (which I provided) and that it's unlikely that my AU passport will be accepted as it's not a State-issued ID or DL. I was advised that they would call me back.

So it's not looking good. For anyone worried about the Chase 5/24 rule, perhaps don't start with C1 as your first card outside the Amex system.

Just an update on this. I got my account unlocked and have been using the card successfully for a few months now.

What I needed to provide to unlock the account was as follows:

- AU passport via a special link sent to my email
- ITIN (although I had already provided this in my application)
- BofA statement confirming US address
- 3 months worth of payslips (accepted AU payslips)
- 3-way call with BofA to confirm US address
- SEC code on the back of my C1 card