American Express Membership Rewards - Is it possible for a Canadian Platinum member to get a US card?

Hi, I was wondering if anyone on this board can help.

I will be on assignment in the US for the next few years. I will be paid in Canada, and the company will pick up livings costs in the US (car, apartment primarily). I am trying to get a US credit card so that I do not incur FX charges for my personal cost (ie. meals). How do I go about doing this as a Canadian. I do have a Canadian issued AMEx platinum card and have i-94 working permit in the US.

I have called the US Amex and they don't appear to know.

I moved to the US about 4 months ago on a TN Visa. I had a Amex card in Canada. They have a service call Global Transfer where they will issue you a US card based on your Canadian Amex history. This was the only way I was able to get a credit card in the US since I have no credit history here. There's a special toll-free number you have to call, which unfortunately I don't recall. Just give Amex Canada a call and they will either transfer you or give you the number to call.

Hi Thyhui, Thanks.. I tried the Canadian Amex reps, and they could not help. I believe your TN Visa means that you are employed by the US company and are paid in the US - therefore Amex may have given you a US based card. I'm not paid in the US, only in Canada and have only the I-94 permit not TN.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Hmm, I guess your situation is a little bit different. If I recall correctly, the requirement to get the US Amex was a US address and a Social Security Number. I'm no immigration expert so I don't know what type of work permit you need in order to get a SSN. When I applied for mine, I just brought them my Canadian passport which has the I-94 stapled in it. My I-94 has a stamp from Homeland Security with TN written on it. Since you are paid in Canadian, you probably have no need for an SSN, so I don't know if they'll issue it to you. But I don't recall them asking me anything regarding where I worked.

I know how you feel because it took me about a month before I got my US Amex and I was paying them a lot of FX fees using my Canadian Amex.

Hopefully this helps you out a bit.

Tim

... Since you are paid in Canadian, you probably have no need for an SSN, so I don't know if they'll issue it to you. But I don't recall them asking me anything regarding where I worked.

...

If the OP dosen't qualify for a SSN, then he can get an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) when he files a US tax return. Although he is Canadian and paid in Canada through Canadian payroll, he may still have a US tax obligation (likely covered by the company depending on his secondment agreement) as his wages may have been invoiced to the US subsidiary by the Canadian company internally. If his company is following the correct procedures, then they should be issuing him a "shadow" W-2 that is a mirror image of his Canadian T4, and either an ITIN or SSN is required.

Since the OP is on an assignement in the US for a few years, depending on his circumstances, he may be considered to be a US resident for tax purposes (and a non-resident for Canadian tax purposes). Note: Canadian does not tax its citizens based on citizenship, but on residency. Although being paid from Canadian payroll, the OP will have no Canadian tax obligation on the non-Canadian portion of his income (this is a simplistic view as there are other factors beyond the scope of this post -eg. if the OP gets stock options, then the allocation between Canadian and non-Canadian can get complicated), and instead be liable for US tax on his worldwide income.

I hope the OP's company will be providing him access to tax professionals to have his tax returns done properly to ensure that double taxation does not occur.

IMHO, if AMEX in the US does a Financial Review, the OP would be in a better position if he had a US tax return to show them.

...trying to get a US credit card so that I do not incur FX charges....

Two possibilities:

1. Information about the mentioned Global Transfers program is here...

http://www.americanexpress.com/globaltransfers/global_card_transfer_en.shtml

2. If that doesn't work, you may be able to apply for an International Dollar Card. This is not a US card, but it is denominated in US Dollars and would avoid the foreign exchange fees...

http://www.americanexpress.com/lacidc/iccsite/american_express_dollar_card.shtml

I'm not paid in the US, only in Canada and have only the I-94 permit not TN.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

The I-94 itself is just a record of your arrival and departure from the US. Most visitors get it, regardless of their status in the country. (There is an exception for Canadian citizens on short-term visits, which is why the average Canadian isn't familiar with its meaning.)

The relevant question is what's your status in the US? The status will be indicated on your entry stamp, either on the I-94 or in your passport. My expectation would be that with such a long-term stay in the US, you'd have to be in some sort of a work status (like L1, TN1, H1B, E1, or E2) regardless of where you are paid. The method of your payment is a technicality; what matters is whether you are engaged in "productive work" on the US soil.

If your status is one of the above, you are entitled to an SSN. If it is not, then something is really weird about your situation, and I have no familiarity with it.

I just recently went through the Global Transfer program to get a US-based AMEX. A few points to note here.

- You need a foreign AMEX that was open for at least 6 months
- Try have some transactions on your Canadian AMEX in the few months coming up to it. They will frown upon transfering a dormant card. I only had a couple of activities in the previous month, the agent was hesitant but she processed it anyways :) ..

- You need a SSN, a US address, and a US checking account. She 3-way'ed BOA to verify my address while I was on the line.

- Know which US card you want. Once the choice is made, it cannot be changed(or so I was told..). I asked for the Blue Sky AMEX originally. Changed my mind mid-call and asked to switch to the AMEX Starwood but she said she could not change it.

- Once she verified all my information, the credit card was approved on the spot. I received my first US credit card within a week. :D Thanks AMEX for having such a great program to help existing customers ease the move into a new country... I have been denied credit anywhere else I applied to. But no card no credit, no credit no card..

Two possibilities:

1. Information about the mentioned Global Transfers program is here...

http://www.americanexpress.com/globaltransfers/global_card_transfer_en.shtml

2. If that doesn't work, you may be able to apply for an International Dollar Card. This is not a US card, but it is denominated in US Dollars and would avoid the foreign exchange fees...

http://www.americanexpress.com/lacidc/iccsite/american_express_dollar_card.shtml

Thanks all for your help.. I have now applied for a US SSN, and once I receive it, I will call AMEX again..

Do you have the Global desk phone number?

Call the U.S. Global Card Transfer team, available between 7am-5pm MST, Monday to Friday.

From North America: 1-800-453-2639
From Abroad: +1-801-945-2048

2. Please have your existing Account details, U.S. home address, U.S. home phone number, U.S. bank details,
passport details, employment details, and Social Security Number or ITIN available.
3. We'll contact you for any additional information.
4. Once approved we will send you your new Card.
5. Call the number on your new Card to transfer Membership Rewards points or if you wish to cancel your old Card.

http://www.americanexpress.com/globaltransfers/global_card_transfer_us_en.shtml

If you have any problems, you might want to consider an International Dollar Platinum or Gold card. In fact, you're probably the ideal cardholder that IDC markets to-- an expat working in another country who is paid in U.S. dollars and paid in a country other than where you are working. The IDC Plat will come with 2 Priority Pass lounge memberships, which the U.S. Platinum does not, and will come with free additional cards for family members, which the U.S. card does not provide free of charge. It will also offer superior travel insurance packages than what is offered in the U.S. card market. The beauty of IDC travel insurance coverage is that you and all additional cardholders are covered on travel, whether or not the trip was charged to the AMEX card. Other than the lack of extended warranty insurance, you might actually like the IDC better. Then if future business ever moves you to Europe, you can as an IDC cardholder add an International Euro card for half the normal membership fee and IDC customer service also has the ability to assist with a pounds sterling card. IDC also does not charge the pesky excise tax fees for converting membership rewards points to airline miles. For an international award ticket, that can easily save you $50 for a points to miles transfer compare to the U.S. MR program.