Amex asking for 1040 tax return?

[Amanda and Evan 0]

Hi everyone,

My husband had great credit in Canada, maybe not enough, but no bad marks. He had an Amex and a MC for over 10 years, no late payments, used often enough and always paid in full.

Once he moved here to the US and we got married, he tried to switch the Amex over. They wouldn't switch his card, he has to apply for another one. They said they wouldn't approve him until he had a job. He got his GC, got a job. Now they're saying they want a copy of his last three 1040 tax returns. Helloooo? He just moved here! He has never filed taxes in the US.

Has anyone encountered this? I don't even know what to do at this point. It seems impossible without a 1040 to send them. How is everyone else doing it?

Thanks

[mtlguy 59]

i know. it's retarded: the fact that Canadian credit cannot be transferred to the US.

anyhow, don't bother with amex. just apply for a secure credit card and start building his credit. on the US side that is!

[NikLR 13,232]

this is exactly why I opened an RBC account in both Canada and the USA. I waited until I had a job then applied for a credit card here. They checked my Canadian credit (which turns out to be fantastic considering I've never owned a house and I had my student loans go to collections when I was in my early 20s) and whammo, credit card approval. It was low limit, like 3k but only has 9.9% financing which is fantastic.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Since the OP's husband is already in the US - the secured card will be the easiest route.

Many of us with great credit in Canada could not get a credit card otherwise because we have non existent US credit history. It feels pretty demeaning to have to start at the bottom again but if he starts now, his credit rating will be solid in a year and he'll start getting offers from other companies for better cards. I started with a secured card then applied for a normal card (and closed the secured card) because I got some offers in the mail.

Eventually I've transitioned to a card with our bank which makes payments and viewing the balance super easy.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Capital one used to have a Credit card for people just coming to the USA with no credit history. Give them a call!! or check out their website!

[NikLR 13,232]

Option is also to contact RBC USA and see if they will check Canadian credit for a credit card without a bank account with them.

[Amanda and Evan 0]

Thanks everyone. I can add him as an authorized user on my cards, but my real question is about how others on this forum seem to have gotten their Amex switched. They even state on their website that they will do it.

http://www.americanexpress.com/global-card-transfers/united-states.html

I don't know if we just got some dense person at Amex handling his account? I wish I could just handle this (like immigration stuff) because he'll let it sit there for months!

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

Hi everyone,

My husband had great credit in Canada, maybe not enough, but no bad marks. He had an Amex and a MC for over 10 years, no late payments, used often enough and always paid in full.

Once he moved here to the US and we got married, he tried to switch the Amex over. They wouldn't switch his card, he has to apply for another one. They said they wouldn't approve him until he had a job. He got his GC, got a job. Now they're saying they want a copy of his last three 1040 tax returns. Helloooo? He just moved here! He has never filed taxes in the US.

Has anyone encountered this? I don't even know what to do at this point. It seems impossible without a 1040 to send them. How is everyone else doing it?

Thanks

Id probably say you got someone dense or unfamiliar with the process, I'd try again and cite this straight from the website -

• • Process takes 7-10 working days
• • You may only transfer one Card to the United States, until you have built up local credit history
• • We may request documents for ID purposes and address verification.
• • Membership Rewards^® points can be transferred to your new Card if it is enrolled in the Membership Rewards program. Otherwise, please redeem the points before you cancel your existing Card.
• • If you wish to keep your existing Card, you will continue to be billed any annual fees you are currently paying.
• • To be eligible for a Card transfer, your Card must be issued by American Express. You must be the Basic Cardholder, and have held the Card for at least 12 months. Your Card Account must be open and in good standing at the time of the transfer request, or if the Card was previously cancelled by you, it must have been cancelled within the last 3 months. (Corporate Cards, International Dollar Cards and Global Network Cards are not eligible for Card transfers in the U.S.)

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

Hi everyone,

My husband had great credit in Canada, maybe not enough, but no bad marks. He had an Amex and a MC for over 10 years, no late payments, used often enough and always paid in full.

Once he moved here to the US and we got married, he tried to switch the Amex over. They wouldn't switch his card, he has to apply for another one. They said they wouldn't approve him until he had a job. He got his GC, got a job. Now they're saying they want a copy of his last three 1040 tax returns. Helloooo? He just moved here! He has never filed taxes in the US.

Has anyone encountered this? I don't even know what to do at this point. It seems impossible without a 1040 to send them. How is everyone else doing it?

Thanks

Id probably say you got someone dense or unfamiliar with the process, I'd try again and cite this straight from the website -

• • Process takes 7-10 working days
• • You may only transfer one Card to the United States, until you have built up local credit history
• • We may request documents for ID purposes and address verification.
• • Membership Rewards^® points can be transferred to your new Card if it is enrolled in the Membership Rewards program. Otherwise, please redeem the points before you cancel your existing Card.
• • If you wish to keep your existing Card, you will continue to be billed any annual fees you are currently paying.
• • To be eligible for a Card transfer, your Card must be issued by American Express. You must be the Basic Cardholder, and have held the Card for at least 12 months. Your Card Account must be open and in good standing at the time of the transfer request, or if the Card was previously cancelled by you, it must have been cancelled within the last 3 months. (Corporate Cards, International Dollar Cards and Global Network Cards are not eligible for Card transfers in the U.S.)

[Amanda and Evan 0]

We called them, and what they really wanted is a transcript from the IRS stating that he has no previous tax information, so we're faxing the request to the IRS today. We also need to fax them our bank statement with his name and our address. So it can be done! Thanks!

[NikLR 13,232]

Yay!

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

yay...good to know. I have an amex myself that I'll need to do this for eventually.