Which country to move Amex cards to, and how?

[web]

Hello all,

I’d appreciate some input on the following from anyone familiar with transferring Amex cards between different countries of residence.

I’ve been on an adventure for the past couple of months and now live in Hong Kong. However, immediately upon starting a job there, I have been posted to Canada for 6 months. I hold a UK Platinum Amex at the moment but that’s not providing much value on account of my trips approaching the limits for travel insurance, being penalised 3% for spending in HKD/CAD, and BA Gold taking care of most lounge access requirements.

I’m aware of the Amex global transfer scheme, but it seems most of the Brighton agents aren’t. The best they could give me was just to try applying in another country and indicate during the application that I currently hold a UK Amex. This raised a few questions:

– Other countries have different annual income eligibility criteria — e.g. HK is 1,000,000 HKD which is more than double the UK equivalent. Would this be waived for a longstanding UK Platinum card holder?
– Should I transfer to Canada for 6 months, and thereafter to HK? The benefits/fees are different with both, but I’m willing to each product so I can actually spend in the local currency. This assumes my current posting counts as “residency” in the eyes of Amex.
– Would I be eligible for the welcome benefits & dining credit afresh for each new country I transfer to?

I’m also considering https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/travel/rbc-british-airways-visa-infinite.html which might be a good replacement for my BA Amex.

At the end of the day, I’m not really looking to maximise churning, I just want an Amex card that I can use without penalty wherever I currently live, and that provides benefits relevant to that region. Crucially, I also don’t want to fall foul of Amex’s auditing rules and have all my cards closed because I don’t meet the criteria for whatever country issued them.

Thanks in advance!

[louie]

It’s some years since I did this – and I took an HSBC card out at the same time through their international programme so might be confusing the two (and anyway, things might have changed), but….

– the point of the global transfer scheme is really to transfer your credit record to the new country, so your long history would stand in your favour. My income dropped hugely when I moved as I had no job to go to but to be honest I can’t remember what income I used nor what the requirements were for the card I applied for, so I can’t help about the income criteria being waived.
– I would say yes, to avoid foreign exchange fees. IME Amex consider you eligible if you have a legal right to work in the foreign country.
– IME, you are treated as a new (to Amex) cardholder and thus entitled to the same benefits as any other new cardholder, including sign up bonuses.

Other than the global transfer programme, I don’t think Amex thinks globally so falling foul of some rule in one country would be unlikely to have an impact on cards in other countries.

Hope that helps.

[shanghaiguizi]

Oh, I’m in the same boat. Moved to Malaysia from the UK.

My BAPP expires in Nov and it’s definitely not going to get renewed. Aside from my hatred of BA, I have the Barclaycard world elite Mastercard for earning avios. I also have HSBC premier so not too bothered about cards, but….many of the Malaysian Amex cards come with complimentary green fees at golf clubs around Asia, and that’s definitely a benefit I could use.

I reached out to Amex Brighton as their list of International relationship countries isn’t very long, and Malaysia isn’t on it. I was advised that Amex themselves couldn’t do anything and that I’d need to contact the issuing bank in Malaysia. I contacted Maybank and was told I need to open a current account to get the Amex credit card. I already have a current account with HSBC, so just gave up.

I’m now deciding whether to downgrade the BAPP to a gold card just to keep a credit line open in the UK, or whether I should just close the BAPP and be done with Amex for this chapter of my life.

[BBbetter]

1) HUACA until you find a knowledgable agent. I believe you can even do it online.
2) Global transfer lets the Amex entity in new country use your credit history with Amex in the old country. It doesn’t relax the income criteria. You could be asked to provide income evidence, along with work permit etc, so be prepared to be rejected. Why not apply for a less premium card if the main aim is to avoid fx fees?
3) you will get the regular sign up bonus but not any enhanced bonus that needs to be applied through a specific channel. You will get the card specific offers like dining credit.

[QFFlyer]

I have Amex cards in the UK, US and Australia. Firstly don’t bother talking to anyone in Brighton, there’s no point. The best way to do it is to login to your UK account online, then switch to the other country’s Amex site and just apply for the card, putting in your current card number where it asks for an existing Amex number. It’s usually as simple as that – US was instant approval, Australia waited for Amex UK to make a decision for them (essentially, Amex UK said yes to the application).

Yes you will be eligible for SUBs in each country as a new customer, subject to all relevant requirements (e.g. US is once per card, per lifetime, in theory; AU is no other AU Amex for 18 months).

Whether you move the card to Canada or HK is down to your circumstances and the cards available. Income requirements I have read of being relaxed for the Platinum in some countries (for example where it was historically invite only), but this is not my personal experience and the data point is several years old.

Finally note that you don’t move your card, the old one stays open unless you choose to close it (so bear that in mind as you might end up with several lots of annual fees to pay, which may not be worth it if you’re just after the Platinum).

There is a thread on Flyertalk on Global Transfer which is worth reading.

[SamG]

My experience in Singapore was same as @QFFlyer, it asked in the online application. But Singapore is very used to extending credit to newbies, I think I still needed a letter from my employer as I didn’t have 3 payslips which was the same as any other local bank so not sure how useful it was!

Need to check the local products, in Singapore the Plat was expensive – ~£1k iirc but came with a lot of perks and a hefty sign on

[John]

If you’re after Avios or Asia Miles then just get one or more of the HSBC HK credit cards. 2% forex fee but generally up to 6% rebates on foreign spending (need to use app to register for these). They have 25% avios bonuses around the same times as the HSBC UK card

Canada I’m not sure you would be able to get credit if you are only a short-term resident