Non-resident founder, US LLC doing $10M+/yr — how do I get into AMEX Business?
Hey all, hoping someone here has been through a similar setup.
Quick context: I'm Italian, based in Dubai, running a US LLC that moves north of $10M a year across Mercury, Chase, Wise and Slash. No SSN, but I have an ITIN. Solid business, zero AMEX history — and frankly it's starting to feel ridiculous that I can't get a card from a company that should be falling over itself for spend like this.
I've started building a US credit file (Kikoff for now, adding Self and a secured card soon), but I know that's slow. What I'd really like is to get the AMEX relationship going now and let the personal credit catch up later.
A few things I'd love input on:
- Anyone here actually approved for AMEX Business as a non-resident with ITIN? Did you apply online, by phone, or open Business Checking first to warm up the relationship?
- Which Business card is realistically the easiest first approval when revenue is strong but personal credit is thin? Blue Business Plus? Business Gold? Something else?
- Worth trying to get a Business Relationship Manager on the phone before applying, or is that a waste of time at this stage?
If anyone has a referral they want to share, happy to use it — just DM. And if anyone has a direct line into AMEX or knows someone who can make a warm intro, I'm fine paying for the introduction. Otherwise even just data points would help a lot. Thanks.