Personal credit cards?

[Forester]

head to the actual bank myself and check their offerings,

A more detailed info will be much appreciated then

Would you evt. mind sharing the jurisdiction of the bank even now?

I can confirm that the cards from Kazakhstan can be obtained without residency. If you want a physical card, you may want to go there to pick it up.

Quite some US cards can be obtained without any residency requirements (all that accept ITIN). A local address is an advantage as most systems only work domestic. You may want to use some hotel to live.

Don't you need an IIN from NJSC/PSC first, to open an account there?

Just for the explanation to the general public, @cryptofriendly talks about Kazakhstan
NJSC is NJSC State Corporation "Government for Citizens" and PSC their contact centres. (BTW, does anyone know what PSC stays for? I guess it's an acronym, in Russian it is /romanized/ CON, it means Centre for servicing citizens... [Центр обслуживания населения] )

 

[comdoc]

Capital One offers credit cards for non-US residents with ITIN; no foreign transaction fees with my Quicksilver card.

 

[Nigital Domad]

Capital One offers credit cards for non-US residents with ITIN; no foreign transaction fees with my Quicksilver card.

Do they still need a US address though?

 

[daniels27]

BTW, does anyone know what PSC stays for? I guess it's an acronym, in Russian it is /romanized/ CON, it means Centre for servicing citizens... [Центр обслуживания населения]

@Forester yes. Public Service Center
https://gov4c.kz/en/press-center/news/343610/

Happy New Year. And Happy Birthday to all our birthday fakers
https://www.offshorecorptalk.com/members/?key=todays_birthdays
I also like this day, as I am getting a lot of discount vouchers for my very special day!

 

[daniels27]

Do they still need a US address though?

In principle yes. The are some quirks, but even then you'll be better if with a working US address.

 

[diro]

What is the best debit / credit card if you fly with different airlines, living on different hotels 20 - 25 times a year being a European citizen ? I mean in regards to cashback, miles or get something back ?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

What is the best debit / credit card if you fly with different airlines, living on different hotels 20 - 25 times a year being a European citizen ? I mean in regards to cashback, miles or get something back ?

Amex (platinum or centurion)
Here you find some benefits of booking hotels through platinum: https://hotel-booking.americanexpress.com/en-gb/fhr/welcome
Amex Rewards points can be converted into hotel/airline programs, there are experts that advise on the most advantageous ways to do so. Flyertalk used to be a good resource.

 

[JosephLL]

Seems like a rebranding of https://ultimopay.io/, exact same services and fees.

Is this service legit? There is no supported country list provided. Where are they registered?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Is this service legit? There is no supported country list provided. Where are they registered?

100% legit. They operate from Laos.

 

[cryptofriendly]

100% legit. They operate from Laos.

Got a SIM today, gonna visit the banks tomorrow.

According to the official bank regulations, a resident status is required now, which costs about $600.

So, for most people using a service provider like mentioned above is pretty much the same cost, if one doesn't actually want to get residence as well.

I wouldn't dare to try to avoid it by bribing the bank staff with $100 to turn a blind eye to the requirements, no, I'd never do something like that!

But I guess that the service providers might do exactly that to skip that requirement..
Or have a family member/a really good facilitator working at the bank.

A tip here: If one wants to avoid gold-diggers and bar-girls in SEA, and is looking for some of the smartest and prettiest girls for marriage instead, the bank tellers are some the best choices. Unfortunately it's not a well kept secret anymore, and they are very much in demand.

 

[diro]

Amex (platinum or centurion)
Here you find some benefits of booking hotels through platinum: https://hotel-booking.americanexpress.com/en-gb/fhr/welcome
Amex Rewards points can be converted into hotel/airline programs, there are experts that advise on the most advantageous ways to do so. Flyertalk used to be a good resource.

That means you need to get this card through your bank ? it is not possible to apply for the platinum or gold card on Amex directly they say?

Are all major airlines accept Amex ?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

That means you need to get this card through your bank ? it is not possible to apply for the platinum or gold card on Amex directly they say?

It seems so

Are all major airlines accept Amex ?

Yes. They also used to have special discounts, like free companion tickets. I don’t know if it’s still the case.

 

[Nigital Domad]

Got a SIM today, gonna visit the banks tomorrow.

According to the official bank regulations, a resident status is required now, which costs about $600.

So, for most people using a service provider like mentioned above is pretty much the same cost, if one doesn't actually want to get residence as well.

I wouldn't dare to try to avoid it by bribing the bank staff with $100 to turn a blind eye to the requirements, no, I'd never do something like that!

But I guess that the service providers might do exactly that to skip that requirement..
Or have a family member/a really good facilitator working at the bank.

A tip here: If one wants to avoid gold-diggers and bar-girls in SEA, and is looking for some of the smartest and prettiest girls for marriage instead, the bank tellers are some the best choices. Unfortunately it's not a well kept secret anymore, and they are very much in demand.

This is still you chasing down the rebrand of the Ultimopay.io bank, right? Just want to make sure since we are all eager to see how well this works out for you (and by eventual exntesion: us!)

Also, what is best service provider to help secure the local residency you mention? Someone here on OCT - or better to do by travelling in country?

 

[daniels27]

That means you need to get this card through your bank ? it is not possible to apply for the platinum or gold card on Amex directly they say?

It seems so

Sorry, you cannot get the American Express from then directly anymore?
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/platinum/

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Sorry, you can get the American Express from then directly anymore?
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/platinum/

I don’t know, I have an ICC and I got it directly from Amex in 1999. But I’ve heard that today you can only get it through a bank.

 

[daniels27]

I don’t know, I have an ICC and I got it directly from Amex in 1999. But I’ve heard that today you can only get it through a bank.

Yes. That's correct, they do not issue ICC cards directly anymore.
https://www.americanexpress.com/icc...intlink=icc-en-vac-personal-platinum-16072019

Was still possible until they stopped it just recently.

Wait 1999. That's when I was a kid.

 

[nobel]

I don’t know, I have an ICC and I got it directly from Amex in 1999. But I’ve heard that today you can only get it through a bank.

You still have the ICC today? I was canceled from ICC because they no longer support direct customers. Very sad.
Also, hotel benefits with Amex is just a scam. Direct bookings are always cheaper without an agency.

 

[daniels27]

You still have the ICC today? I was canceled from ICC because they no longer support direct customers. Very sad.
Also, hotel benefits with Amex is just a scam. Direct bookings are always cheaper without an agency.

He has US ICC. I think they let current cards run for now. UK ICC was for different countries (I think EU revolt for example Switzerland was on the US ICC). As far as I know the main problem is when you change your country, you may become ineligible.

Once was to handle this is keeping it addressed alive (which I was recommending until @Martin Everson told us about the consequences he had in UK).

 

[JohnnyDoe]

You still have the ICC today?

Yes, both eur and usd Centurion.

Also, hotel benefits with Amex is just a scam. Direct bookings are always cheaper without an agency.

You need to check direct booking price, Amex will always match it. Plus you get the FHR benefits (room upgrade, late checkout, credits etc) and a VIP note on your reservation. As well as travel insurance.

 

[cryptofriendly]

This is still you chasing down the rebrand of the Ultimopay.io bank, right? Just want to make sure since we are all eager to see how well this works out for you (and by eventual exntesion: us!)

Also, what is best service provider to help secure the local residency you mention? Someone here on OCT - or better to do by travelling in country

Using my charms at a smaller branch, I was successful in opening the account today, even w/o residency.
It took an hour though, it's a very sleepy town - even getting a SIM card took 45 minutes yesterday - and I'll receive the card next week. Changing money is still better on the black market though, got a tens of millions of kip from a friendly gold shop for my dollars. So in the end, doing it the 'local way' one can get the card for $20 (plus $20 per year afterwards), and luckily I am still able to persevere without an official residence anywhere.

Regarding residency, you can find agencies that help with the process in every bigger city, some even offer their services on FBIbook. But you must be here on the ground to actually get it, at least to 'activate' the visa and receive an id card. Surprisingly, the fee varies from province to province and ranges between $390-$590 per year.

Opening a business is possible as a sole foreigner as well, minimum investment requirements vary from kind of business, to open a restaurant (as a foreigner without local partner) one is required to invest minimum around $15K (depends on exchange rate). Having said that, there might be other in-official fees involved afterwards (cops/gov. people ask for handouts), as I have heard from some entrepreneurs.

Gonna head to the riverside for some coffee now, missed the night-market delicacies yesterday.