解答于 2026年8月

For your current U.K.-based spending, choose the no-fee Hilton Honors Amex by default, or Delta Blue instead if Delta miles are more useful to you.

I am based in the UK and ready to apply for a US Amex via Global Transfer. Since the Green card is discontinued and the Gold card has a high annual fee with credits mostly usable only in the US, which US Amex card makes the most sense for me to get?

摘要

You do not need to absorb Gold's $325 fee to get a U.S. Amex that works sensibly in Britain: Hilton Honors and Delta Blue both have no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. The real trade-off is whether you prefer Hilton points, Delta miles, or transferable Membership Rewards.

Your best route depends on whether you want low-cost overseas use, a particular travel currency, or continued .

Hilton Honors Amexbest default

This is the strongest default while you remain in the U.K.: no annual fee, no , and 3X Hilton Honors points on other eligible purchases. The 5X restaurant, supermarket and gas categories are U.S.-only, so expect 3X on ordinary U.K. spending.

Delta SkyMiles Blueairline option

Choose this instead if Delta miles are more useful to you than Hilton points. It has no annual fee or foreign transaction fee, earns 2X at restaurants worldwide and on Delta purchases, and earns 1X elsewhere.

Blue Cash Everydayafter U.S. move

This is a poor match while your spending is mainly in the U.K. because it charges 2.7% on foreign transactions and its 3% bonus categories are U.S.-only. Reconsider it only after most of your spending moves to the United States.

Gold for points continuitypoints niche

Use this niche route only if keeping transferable is worth the $325 annual fee to you. It avoids foreign transaction fees and earns 4X at restaurants worldwide, but the U.S.-restricted Uber and Dunkin' credits are weak value while you live in Britain.

Request the exact card you want before accepting another product, because Amex does not publish the Global Transfer phone channel's card inventory.

阅读完整说明

Watch out for

You need a U.S. setup firstEven though you are applying from the U.K., Amex's U.S. process tells you to have a U.S. home address, U.S. home phone number, U.S. bank details, passport and employment details, plus an SSN or ITIN available. If you do not yet have those items, you are not ready for this U.S. application route.
Not every Amex relationship qualifiesYour existing card must be issued by American Express, you must be the primary cardholder, and you must have held it for at least three months; the account must also be open and in good standing. Corporate cards and cards issued by another bank are excluded.
Protect your U.K. pointsHilton Honors and Delta Blue earn Hilton points and Delta miles, not . Amex says existing Membership Rewards points can move only to a new card enrolled in that program; otherwise, redeem them before cancelling your existing card.
Blue Cash is costly in the U.K.Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee, but it charges a 2.7% . Its 3% supermarket, online-retail and gas rewards are also limited to U.S. purchases, each capped at $6,000 per year before dropping to 1%.
Do not overvalue Gold's creditsGold costs $325 a year. Its Uber Cash is usable on U.S. orders and rides, and its Dunkin' credit applies at U.S. Dunkin' locations; those credits should not be counted at face value while you remain U.K.-based, although the card has no foreign transaction fee and earns 4X at restaurants worldwide up to $50,000 per calendar year.

下一步

These steps let you apply through Global Transfer without choosing an expensive or overseas-unfriendly card by mistake.

Before choosing a U.S. card

Confirm your Global Transfer eligibility

Do not use this route if your only card is a corporate card or an Amex-branded card issued by another bank; Amex excludes both. A voluntarily cancelled card can qualify only if it was cancelled within the last three months.

条件要求

An American Express-issued card in your name as primary cardholder
At least three months of card history
Account open and in good standing

Before calling

Gather the U.S. application details

Prepare every item Amex lists for the U.S. application. Being physically in the U.K. does not replace the U.S. address, phone and bank details required by the published process.

条件要求

Existing Amex account details
U.S. home address and home phone number
U.S. bank details
Passport and employment details
SSN or ITIN

Choose before the application

Select your reward route

Request Hilton Honors as the default $0-fee, no-foreign-fee card. Request Delta Blue instead if airline miles suit you better; use Gold only if Membership Rewards continuity and worldwide restaurant earning justify $325 a year.

条件要求

Hilton Honors account if choosing Hilton
Delta SkyMiles account if choosing Delta Blue
A decision on any existing Membership Rewards balance

When ready to apply

Call the U.S. Global Transfer team

Call 877-621-2639 Monday through Sunday, 8:00 to 23:00 Eastern Time, and request the exact product. Amex says it may contact you within a week for identification or other information and aims to deliver the card within two weeks after receiving required documents, subject to approval and acceptance.

条件要求

All prepared application details
Exact requested card name

Before closing the U.K. card

Protect your Membership Rewards before cancelling

If the new card is enrolled in Membership Rewards, call the number on the back of your existing card to transfer the points. Hilton Honors and Delta Blue are not Membership Rewards cards, so redeem the points before cancelling the existing card; if you keep that card open, Amex says its annual fee continues.

条件要求

Current U.K. Membership Rewards balance
New U.S. card's reward-program confirmation

过来人

You are not the first to go through this. Here is how it went for others who asked the same thing.

US Amex as non resident

u/xVenom126r/amex2026年8月15日

New non-resident here. I was approved of a Green without US credit history. I did it via Global Transfer, where I had prior Amex relationship back home. That may be the only way to get an Amex without US credit history.

法律依据

The answer is based on American Express's U.S. Global Card Transfer page and its current U.S. product and benefit pages.

American Express U.S. Global Card Transfer

This sets the existing-card eligibility rules for a U.S. Global Transfer application.

American Express U.S. Global Card Transfer

To be eligible for a new Card in the U.S., your existing Card must be issued by American Express, you must be the primary Cardholder, and have held the Card for at least 3 months. Your Card Account must be open and in good standing at the time you apply for a new Card in the U.S. If the Card was previously cancelled by you, it must have been cancelled within the last 3 months. American Express Corporate Cards and American Express Cards issued by Banks other than an American Express Bank are not eligible through this Card application process.

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American Express U.S. Global Card Transfer

This lists the details Amex tells a U.S. Global Transfer applicant to prepare.

American Express U.S. Global Card Transfer

Please have your existing Account details, U.S. home address, U.S. home phone number, U.S. bank details, passport details, employment details, and Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number available.

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American Express U.S. Global Card Transfer

This gives the dedicated personal-card phone line, its hours, and Amex's stated delivery aim.

American Express U.S. Global Card Transfer

For Personal Card apply by phone: Call 877-621-2639, available Monday - Sunday from 8:00 - 23:00 (EST). Once the application has been successfully submitted, we may contact you within a week for identification documentation or any additional information. Upon approval and acceptance, we will send you your new Card (we aim to have it to you within two weeks of receiving any required documents).

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American Express U.S. Global Card Transfer

This explains when existing Membership Rewards points can transfer and what to do before cancelling a non-transferable account.

American Express U.S. Global Card Transfer

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.

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Hilton Honors American Express Card terms

This establishes the Hilton card's core cost and its ordinary-spend earning rate.

Hilton Honors American Express Card terms

There is no annual fee for the Hilton Honors American Express Card. The Hilton Honors American Express Card does not have foreign transaction fees. Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases. Card members can earn 5X Points on purchases made directly with U.S. Restaurants, U.S. Supermarkets and U.S. Gas Stations.

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Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card terms

This establishes Delta Blue as the no-fee airline alternative and gives its earning rates.

Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card terms

There is no annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles ® Blue American Express Card. The Delta SkyMiles ® Blue American Express Card does not have foreign transaction fees. 2X miles at restaurants worldwide. 2X miles on Delta Purchases. 1X miles on all other eligible purchases.

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Blue Cash Everyday Card terms

This shows why Blue Cash Everyday is unsuitable for regular U.K. spending despite having no annual fee.

Blue Cash Everyday Card terms

The American Express Blue Cash Everyday ® Card has no annual fee. Yes, the American Express Blue Cash Everyday ® Card charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% on each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars. Card Members can earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Card Members can earn 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Card Members can earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).

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American Express Gold Card terms

This establishes Gold's annual cost, overseas-fee treatment and two main earning categories.

American Express Gold Card terms

The annual fee for the American Express ® Gold Card is $325 for a Basic Card. Enjoy every trip abroad with no foreign transaction fees from American Express with the American Express ® Gold Card. 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.

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American Express Gold Card benefit terms

This confirms that two prominent Gold credits are geographically focused on the United States.

American Express Gold Card benefit terms

$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Get $10 in Uber Cash each month when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account. You can use your Uber Cash on orders from your favorite restaurants and rides with Uber in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin’ Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.

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These are American Express's official terms as shown on the cited pages when retrieved on 2026-08-28; card terms and availability can change.

This is general information about official processes, not legal advice, and SettleKit is not a law firm.

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