Getting US cards

The first step in your journey to get US credit cards is to have a US mailing address. These cards are only available to US residents, and one way to prove residency is to have a non-commercial US mailing address.

The easiest way to get a US address is to ask a family member or friend if you can use their residential address. Another option is to use a mail-forwarding service, which you can hire for a small fee.

Remember, when obtaining your first Amex US card, make sure that the address you use is not listed as a "Commercial Mail Receiving Agency." You can check this information through USPS. It's important to note that discussions about mail forwarding services are not allowed on public forums, including r/churningcanada.

Once you have a mailing address to prove your residency, you will need to verify the address using a 3rd-party. There are a few ways you can do this.

First, if you have a recurring bill that is charged to this address, that will be sufficient to verify it. You can provide a copy of the bill as proof.

Alternatively, if you have government-issued ID that lists your address, that can also be used for verification.

Another option is to use a bank statement. You can open a bank account with a US-based bank and list your US address as your mailing address. The statements generated from this account will show your US address and can be used as independent verification.

It's worth noting that while opening an account with most US banks would require you to provide independent proof of address, some Canadian-based banks have US divisions that have simplified processes for Canadians to get US accounts. With these banks, you can change your mailing address to any address you want without needing to provide additional verification.

These are the Canadian banks that offer US-domiciled bank accounts:

• CIBC US

  • CIBC US Smart Account (no minimum balance required)

• TD Bank

  • TD Convenience Checking ($100 minimum balance to waive fees, otherwise $15)

  • TD Beyond Checking ($2,500 minimum balance to waive fees, otherwise $25)

• RBC Bank

  • RBC US Direct Checking ($39.50 annual fee, cannot be waived)

• BMO Harris

  • BMO Harris Smart Advantage Account (no minimum balance required)

These accounts are free to open as long as you meet the minimum balance requirement, except for the RBC Bank account. The RBC Bank account is FYF if you apply for an RBC US Bank Credit Card. You don't need to have any existing connection with the Canadian-affiliated banks, but they can link your accounts across different banks to make things easier for you.

Now that you have the necessary things in place, you can apply for your first US credit card. One of the easiest ways to do this is through American Express (Amex). Like the Canadian banks we discussed earlier, Amex operates in different markets and has a process to help new clients enter a region where they don't have any credit history. With your US mailing address ready, you can "move" to the US and become an Amex US client.

There are two ways you can apply for an Amex card in a new region: Global Transfer and Nova Credit.

Global Transfer leverages your existing relationship with Amex in a different region and ports that to a new region. Therefore, you need to have an account in good standing with another Amex division, generally for 6+ months. There is a dedicated team to facilitate this process and using this is basically guaranteed to succeed. If you have not had a relationship with another Amex division for 6+ months, or have since run afoul with them, you would not be privy to this process. You can trigger the Global Transfer process by either signing into your existing Amex account before starting the application in the new region, or reaching out to the Global Transfer team by phone.

Nova Credit leverages your credit history in a different region and ports that to a new region. Therefore, you do not need to have an account in good standing with Amex to proceed. You can trigger Nova Credit by selecting the "I don't have a credit history in the US..." box under Social Security Number, thereby making that field optional. If your account is eligible, you will be redirected to Nova Credit, where they will perform a soft credit check to generate a US-equivalent credit score based on your Canadian credit history, and use that score to apply for the card. 

Global Transfer vs Nova Credit?

• Nova Credit has the advantage of allowing you to apply online and access referral offers and incognito offers. This is especially beneficial if you are playing in multiplayer mode and want to receive referral bonuses. 

• However, Global Transfer does not offer referral or incognito offers, and you cannot be referred through Global Transfer. 

• On the other hand, Global Transfer is very reliable and rarely fails.

• Sometimes, when applying through Nova Credit, you may be asked to provide tax forms, which you may not have. In such cases, you can contact the Global Transfer team to help salvage your application.

• It's important to note that Global Transfer can only be used for your first card application, 

• Nova Credit may be used for subsequent card applications, usually within your first three months of having an Amex US account. 

• Additionally, Global Transfer can be used for business card applications, 

• Nova Credit cannot.

When you apply online, your application is unlikely to be instantly approved. You will receive a message informing you that an agent will contact you to further process your application. To expedite the process, you can initiate the call, bypass the Social Security Number prompt, and provide the reference number for your application. During the call, you may be asked if you are an active duty military member, and you may need to provide your passport for identity verification and proof of address.

To provide proof of address, you can choose from two methods. You can submit a 3rd-party bill or bank statement that has at least 25 days of history on it. If your first bank statement doesn't meet the 25-day requirement, it will be rejected, and you will have 30 days to submit the required document. Alternatively, if you find a helpful agent, they may attempt a 3-way call with your bank to instantly verify your address. The Amex agent will read out your provided address, and the 3rd-party agent will confirm if that address matches the one on your profile. It's important to note that the agent will only make one attempt and may stop if they can't connect or if the queue is too long.

To pay off your US credit card bill, you will typically need USD. If you already earn income in USD and have a USD account, it's best to use those funds to minimize foreign exchange (FX) fees. However, if you don't have USD, you will need to convert your CAD into USD.

There are four main methods to exchange your currency:

1. Online through your bank ($$$): If you have accounts with both the Canadian and US divisions of one of the mentioned banks, you can directly exchange currency between the accounts. This process is usually quick but charges higher fees compared to other methods.

2. Online currency exchange service ($): Online currency exchange services often offer more competitive rates than banks. However, the exchange may take several days, so if you need immediate currency, consider other options. Knightsbridge and Wise are examples of such online services.

3. Norbert's gambit ($): Norbert's gambit is a more complex method involving the stock market. By leveraging identical stocks traded in Canadian and US dollars, you can get closer to the spot exchange rate, but this method requires knowledge and planning. It usually takes several days to complete.

4. Physical currency exchange service ($$): You can go to a traditional bank or a dedicated currency exchange service to exchange your cash. Make sure you have a way to deposit the money into your US bank account.

Additionally, there's a niche method for paying off your Amex US credit card bill. You can input your US credit card number when adding a bill to your Canadian bank account. When you send money to Amex Canada, they will recognize that the account is in the US and convert the amount to USD for Amex US. However, this method takes longer, and you won't know the exact exchange rate used by Amex Canada. To ensure your balance is paid in full, you may need to add a buffer and overpay your bill. Not all banks allow this method, and there have been reports of payment delays. Simplii Financial is one bank known to permit this.

Remember, exchange rates and fees can vary, so it's important to compare options and consider your specific needs before choosing a method to exchange your currency.

To build a good credit history, you must show that you can borrow money and then pay it back on time. This lets lenders know that you will be able to pay back loans in the future. You need to have a balance on your credit card statement and then pay it back by the due date. The bank will report your credit usage to credit bureaus after each billing cycle. If you pay off what you owe before the statement cutoff date, it will look like you haven't used your card at all.

If you want to get a credit card from Chase Bank, you need to have a credit history in the US for at least one year. But you might be able to speed up the process if you have a relationship with Chase, like a bank account. They often have promotions that can help you build your credit history faster.

As mentioned before, you might be able to get approved for more credit cards using Nova Credit. Nova Credit is automatically triggered when you indicate that you don't have a credit history in the US. If you can't trigger Nova Credit or if your credit history with Amex is well-established, you can apply for additional cards. Just like triggering Nova Credit, you indicate that you don't have a US credit history and Amex will check your Amex file to see if you're eligible. Usually, this happens around the 6-month mark, when you can also see your FICO score through Amex.

Sometimes, Amex might show a pop-up message saying that you could be approved for a card, but you're not eligible for the WB. This is often called "pop-up jail." The exact reasons for this are unknown, but Amex has determined that you haven't shown behavior that they consider profitable. This could include opening multiple cards too quickly, not spending enough or frequently enough, trying to get the welcome bonus multiple times, or other behaviors that are explicitly prohibited in the terms and conditions.

If you want to stick with Amex and keep getting more cards, you can repeat the previous step until Amex stops approving you or they stop giving you the welcome bonus. However, if you want to try other banks, you'll need to get a tax ID to help identify your credit file. The easiest way is to have an existing SSN or be eligible to get one.

Another option is to apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) if you need it for filing taxes or other purposes. Once you have an ITIN, you can apply for cards at other banks, whether or not you've attached it to your credit file through Amex.

A reliable method for obtaining your ITIN these days is to visit our page on Getting an ITIN. This page, with example images, was reproduced with permission from u/PM_ME_UR_FAXES on Reddit. They have created a detailed guide that makes it easy to obtain your ITIN without unnecessary extra costs.

The following are banks that permit usage of ITIN for credit card applications:

• American Express

• Bank of America

• Capital One

• Chase

• Citi

• RBC Bank

• TD Bank 

• US Bank (only secured cards)

• Wells Fargo (only secured cards)

Do I put the address under residential address or mailing addres?

• The electronic statement is the equivalent of what would be mailed out to you. The address that appears on there would be the mailing address.

Can I use my USD account from BMO/CIBC/TD/RBC/Scotia?

• No, you can only use an account from a US-based bank to verify your residential address.

Can I add my Amex US card to my existing login?

• No, each Amex division is separate, so you'll need a separate login for each market where you have accounts.

Can I add the card to my Amex mobile app?

• No, there is a separate Amex US app available in your app store. You'll need to create an app store account for the US region to download the right app.

How can I check my US credit score?

• You generally can't check your credit file using an ITIN. However, Amex allows you to view your FICO score on their website or app. Make sure you've selected a personal card, then follow these steps:

  • On desktop, go to Account Services>Payment & Credit Options>View FICO Score.

  • On the iOS app, go to Account>FICO Score