This post mainly records my timeline and costs as a Canada resident applying for U.S. credit cards and an ITIN, for anyone going down the same path.

1. Before We Start

As Canada’s neighbour, the U.S. market is several times larger—and banks fight much harder for customers. To pull people in, U.S. banks constantly push welcome offers and card perks. Some U.S. cards are also especially useful from Canada. For example, Air Canada’s Chase co-branded card is stronger than Air Canada’s Canadian co-brands. My guess: Air Canada (basically a monopoly at home) wants more customers outside its home market.

Typically, the first card can be a Global Transfer Amex, because you do not need a U.S. tax ID (SSN/ITIN). After that you slowly build credit history, apply for an ITIN, and unlock more Amex cards and/or other banks. If you do not want other banks, you may not need an ITIN—ITIN expires after three years. As you can already tell, U.S. credit cards are a long but interesting process. Do not rush it.

2. 2023: First Amex Denied, ITIN Denied

What I had on hand at the time:

  • Some U.S. income, with Form 1042-NR
  • Passport
  • TD Canada All-Inclusive chequing
  • Three years of Canadian Amex history

10.26 Used Sprint tax software to file tax info, plus $25 for them to help apply for an ITIN (honestly not useful). Total cost: US$65

10.27 Went to a Passport Centre for a certified true copy of my passport — C$45

11.5 Opened a TD NA (TD USA) Convenience Checking account online with a Canadian address, no SSN/ITIN

Also opened a TD Canada Trust Borderless chequing account (I already had All-Inclusive) and deposited US$140.

11.6 Opened a 24/7 Parcel virtual mailbox. Charged US$80 credit on a card; after emailing them, got Frugal’s discounted rate of US$70

11.7 Called to transfer US$150 from TD CT to TD NA; landed in two or three days

11.9 Mailed W-7, 1042-NR, true copy, and other docs to the IRS office — two U.S.-destination stamps $2.40

11.28 First TD statement still showed the Canadian address

12.1 Still no debit card, so requested another one (no online banking yet; every phone question was KYC-style—loans in recent years, where you last got credit, etc.—so be ready)

12.9 Received two debit cards, set up online banking, and saw the 11.28 statement had posted

12.10 Applied online to change the TD address; same-day denial (did not want to call—the questions are too annoying)

12.19 Applied online again to change the TD address; same-day denial (still did not want to call—the questions are too annoying)

12.20 Called Cross Border to change the address. Got transferred to the Cross Border special line. Three account questions (recent activity, how many accounts, and so on). They were going to send a phone verification code, then realized I was a Canada resident and skipped it. Gave the address directly. Agent said wait 2–3 days. When I logged in, the address had already changed.
Follow-up: On changing TD USA to a U.S. address:
In the first month, online Message, TD USA, and TD Canada Crossborder could not change the address. You need to contact TD USA Crossborder — U.S. Cross Border 1-866-358-6593

12.26 Online TD NA statement showed the new U.S. address

12.28 Got a letter back from the IRS saying they needed the passport and a signed W-7; my guess is the passport copy was not embossed

12.30 Applied for Hilton Honors via Global Transfer on the Amex U.S. site, logged into the Canadian Amex account, and the final step went pending

3. 2024: Things Start Looking Up

1.3 Printed the Passport Canada note that there is no embossing, plus another certified true copy, and mailed them back to the IRS.
This time at Canada Post: $25 for tracked express, plus a large envelope for $3.

1.5 Called Amex Global Relations about the 12.30 application. They told me to submit Form 4406-C (??? WTF)

1.6 Called again about the application status. Told to submit 4506-C or a tax return.

1.10 Called again—same answer. They even suggested I go open a gas-station credit card first to build credit. ???

Checked americanexpress.com/upload: it said upload required documents, but did not say which ones.

1.15 Received an Amex letter via the mail-forwarding company asking for Form 4506, name, and proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, etc.). (Each forward costs about US$4. Every failed online upload gets you another denial letter, so be careful.)

1.16 Checked americanexpress.com/upload again; it specifically asked for proof of address. Uploaded the TD USA statement.

1.18 Received a TD letter via mail forward asking for proof I am not a U.S. tax resident—otherwise interest is withheld at 25%.
Editor’s note: I was not planning to keep much money there anyway. Tax it if you must.

1.20 Checked americanexpress.com/upload: said they had already replied about my application by letter or email

1.23 Received several forwarded Amex US letters, all saying I needed to submit Form 4506-C. After each submission, if it fails, you get about a month to resubmit; if you miss that window, the application expires. Each forward is US$4–5—still a bit painful.

So I let it expire after 30 days. I was not going to keep resubmitting documents.

In February I was planning a U.S. trip. On 2.10 I called about the ITIN application—told it had failed, and I could not even understand what they said was missing. (If you have never done U.S. taxes, put the call on speaker, open Google Meet, start a meeting, and turn on captions.)

2.25 Walked into a random Chase branch with passport and TD USA statement and opened an account. Told them how many days I was in the U.S. last year and this year (for tax purposes). Set online username/password on the spot—needed a U.S. phone number for the verification code. I used Google Voice, verified with TextNow.

2.25 Booked an ITIN appointment at the local city IRS office for the next day.

2.26 Prepared ITIN materials. This time I applied by reporting US$86 of gambling income. If you want to try this route for an ITIN: click here

2.28 Tried Amex Global Transfer again—exactly one month after the last failure. Called Amex US; they asked for name and address proof. You can do a three-way call with TD USA (one chance only). TD asks personal questions and sends a phone verification code; mine failed to arrive, and I was told I could upload a bank statement, pay stub, utility bill, etc. at americanexpress.com/upload. Of course I uploaded the TD USA statement.

3.4 After the weekend, Amex US Global Relations called. Because I had applied three times, there were three application reference numbers (wrong address on one, hit back on another). They asked for proof of address. I said I had already submitted it under another reference number. She checked again, said the docs were fine, and told me to wait for an email. Shortly after, an email arrived asking me to accept the application. Officially approved for my first Amex US card……

Happy Side Find

On this U.S. trip I also found a good way to move CAD → USD. Get a Crypto.com prepaid Visa (Icy White / Rose Gold or higher), Wealthsimple, Wise, or another prepaid card with no FX fee. Load CAD, then withdraw cash at ATMs inside the U.S. You get the Visa mid-market rate and only pay the ATM fee. Rough notes from incomplete stats: withdrawing with a non-bank card—WaFd lets you take $800 per pull at $2, and you can do it multiple times; Chase seems capped around $500 with a $3.50 fee; BoA allows $1,000/day with a $4 fee. Definitely better than exchanging at a bank. A bit better than Wise FX conversion too—but once you need more than $1,000, multiple ATM fees add up, so it becomes almost a wash.

To be continued……

2024.4

Good news: around 4.15 I received the ITIN—faster than expected, under two months. Keep that paper safe, like a Canadian SIN.

4.24 Amex US had a huge Marriott welcome offer (details here). Could not resist applying for the Amex Marriott Bevy via the site referral link—denied.

4.26 Applied with Nova Credit; status showed processing.

4.29 Called regular Amex, gave the ref number; they could not help, transferred to a colleague, who told me to submit Form 4506…… inwardly cursing—how is it 4506 again? With Nova and an ITIN there is no way to have a 4506. What is Amex doing? Wait 30–60 days, I guess…… On the call they also hinted I could try another card. Not plaster—no need to keep testing.

Looks like U.S. cards are still a long game. Take it slow!

P2 used Nova Credit, then called to verify, and got approved……

2024.8

8.12 Marriott big-brain 185K welcome offer is back (spend $6K in the first 6 months)! Apply here P2 used GT again, no ITIN/SSN. Result: Pending.

Next afternoon on a weekday, called in, bounced through three departments. First asked if I applied myself, then whether I had a driver’s licence, U.S. passport, etc.—said no—then other cards, last five of the card number and CVV, and whether I wanted to proceed (it would hit credit). Of course yes. Then told I was approved. Hoping to finish the 185K spend soon!

For P1, tragedy: Nova Credit would not redirect to the Nova Credit site, then they asked for 4506-C. Logging into the U.S. account and applying said credit history was too short; GT also failed. Keep waiting……

2024.9

Bored, and more than six months after the first U.S. Amex, tried for the Chase Aeroplan card. Called a few times; they asked for a W-9. Said I did not have one—I do not file U.S. taxes. Then told to verify identity at a branch. Happened to be connecting in Los Angeles, so left the airport, found a branch, and submitted passport etc. A few days later another call asking for ITIN. A few days after that, something about the scan being unclear—anyway, failed. About a month from application to failure.

2024.11

Applied for Chase Aeroplan again. Again told to upload passport, ITIN, proof of address, etc. This time I did not scan myself—went to a branch and had the teller scan and fax.

Two days later, still nothing. They said they never received it.

Went back to a Chase branch, found someone who seemed to know what they were doing—on the phone while helping, and sent an internal email to upload my documents.

Two days later called again, received a push notification on my phone, confirmed, and a little later—approved.

Takeaway: finding a staffer who knows the process matters a lot. Needs some patience and luck.

2024.12

12.4 Applied for Gold via a link—$6,000 spend for 100,000 MR. Self-served uploading ITIN and passport online. 12.8 Got an email approving the card, asking me to accept the offer, and confirming the 100,000 MR offer.

2025.1

New Year’s Day, 1 January, P2 applied for the Chase Aeroplan Mastercard. Called for status—told two weeks. After two days it became 7–10 days; transferred to a person, who said denied: too little deposit, credit history too short. Then asked for reconsideration. A few odd questions—why open so many Amex accounts and not use them?—then said they would fill out a form. Two days later Chase had already sent an anti-fraud email suspecting identity theft. Called status again—another 7–10 days—then transferred to a person, explained the situation. They were going to text, then asked for an app push notification instead. Confirmed within five minutes; approved about ten minutes later.

2025.2

Booked a Bank of America checking appointment. When I arrived, the staffer had me do it on my phone. Result would come the next day. Sure enough—failed.

Booked again, different person, done in five minutes—but the account-opening bonus was gone. Also opened an Alaska Airlines co-branded card. When the card was issued, I had not provided an AS membership number.

End of February the card arrived—with my AS membership number printed on the back. Tried two Apple Pay charges and an online purchase. Card locked…… First call got hung up on, then the account locked and online banking inaccessible. Called again and was told I had to unlock in person.

2025.3.29

Drove to the U.S. to unlock BoA, and along the way applied for Chase CSP with the 100k offer. Not approved on the spot—decision in two days.

Kept calling those two days: 2 weeks

2025.4.1

April Fools’ Day—logged into the Chase app and found an extra card. CSP approved, with no notification at all (maybe I cannot receive their texts?).