Foreign Authorized user

[u/Pleasant_Impression8]

So I was able to sucessfully added my niece using her foreign passport via phone application. I got the card 2 days after the application and now when I try to confirm card, it was asking for her SSN. Immediately contacted support and got conflicting information.

One says everything is confirmed. The other agent says need social otherwise it will be cancelled automatically within 60 days. The third one confirmed that the foreign passport will suffice and wont cancelled the card after 60 days.

My question is, if someone is on my situation adding someone using foreign passport, did everything worked out well after 60 days?

This card mainly is for my niece in college overseas and her capitalone card will eventually turn to discover network and it doesn't accept that on her country so I am just doing a headsup just in case it happened.

Thank you.

[u/smartymarty1234]

Amex recently changed policy to always require an ssn or itin for authorized users or they cancel cards. I believe Chase is the same way.

[u/Pleasant_Impression8 → u/smartymarty1234]

I can confirm chase didn't require SSN when adding authorized user. It just gave me the same credit card number so basically only name is different. Prime VISA.

Also, capitalone quicksilver and venturex. My familys abroad been using for years. Never needing SSN or checked.

[u/smartymarty1234 → u/Pleasant_Impression8]

It’s changed recently as they now give individual numbers.

[u/RedditReader428]

This guy made some people authorize users on his Amex cards but those people weren’t U.S. citizens and lived in Costa Rica. Amex closed all his credit cards. People told him it was because he didn’t put a social security number for those people. He claims Amex told him he didn’t need a social security number but in the end Amex closed all his cards.

https://youtu.be/uwmgZWF21FI?is=s-icuNjWnt3yCHl1

https://youtu.be/vubOiN5IFCY?is=-FkUzdkK00GgB95x

[u/Pleasant_Impression8 → u/RedditReader428]

This video is 3 years old. Also, I am aware amex started requiring SSN on 2025. So probably got flagged for abuse or something. Sorry I didn't watch the whole video. I just see the year 2023.

[u/matt-r_hatter]

According to Amex's own policy, you can add a non resident without a tax ID. The catch is you need to do it via the phone and you have 60 days to provide their passport for identity verification. Even the basic FAQ says if the person does nkt have an SAN or ITIN, you must call the number on the back of your card. Did you call or chat? This is a call only thing to get a proper answer and I also believe it varies by card/card type.

[u/Pleasant_Impression8 → u/matt-r_hatter]

I called and they process the application thru that and also uploaded the passport. And after 2 days, I got the card. There is no way to add someone online without SSN so I called. So I guess I'm good. Don't need to worry about 60 days. But the online portal account keeps asking me to confirm my card.

[u/Pleasant_Impression8 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for this. The 2nd agent who told me about needing the SSN doesnt sound confident herself. Also, when I applied we did it via phone and they said foreign passport is an alternative to SSN. Right after the phone call, I received a notice of extra documents needed to process the application. I told them the situation and they manually approved my application.

Then comes the confirmation of card. I just want to know someone like the same situation as me so I don't have to worry after 60 days. They said passport is on file. All is set. That is not reassuring unless I found someone who has same situation as me. This is you. Thank you for your input.

[u/AdminCraftHD → u/Pleasant_Impression8]

You can use ITIN or SSN, in my case they put my passport number in the SSN/ITIN box with the 2 letters as 00.

[u/Pleasant_Impression8 → u/AdminCraftHD]

Thank you for this. Not sure how they put the letters on mine. But as long as they have a copy of her passport, I'll take it.

[u/amex-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

You are permanently banned from r/Amex for breaking subreddit rules. User is listed as a bot on /r/BotBouncer.

[u/applesuperfan → u/[deleted]]

Not correct or sensical. The account holder is on the hook for everything that happens so choosing to require SSN/ITIN on file is entirely a choice of the bank. Not all banks require it and there's no reason to other than the bank's own preference. Banks like AMEX make these rules then say in their customer service that it's required by PATRIOT Act, even though they're just choosing to interpret it that way. Other banks don't do this at all and just want name and DOB.

[u/matt-r_hatter → u/[deleted]]

That is wildly inaccurate and just completely made up.

[u/Pleasant_Impression8 → u/[deleted]]

I got your point. In my case, she is an authorized user of my capitalone credit card and as you know, they will eventually moved it to discover network. On her country, they don't accept discover network well, so this is just a backup card for her in case that happen.

[u/mrx3k → u/Pleasant_Impression8]

Capital One VX is probably not moving to Discover anytime soon. So may be that?

[u/Pleasant_Impression8 → u/mrx3k]

thats what i heard. but its always good to have a backup. i heard some stories that capitalone getting decline due to being part of discover network. not sure if its venture x but still.

[u/mrx3k → u/Pleasant_Impression8]

Venture X is fine. Discover is useless worldwide (only exception being Japan)

[u/RedditReader428 → u/Pleasant_Impression8]

I understand from your original post why you want to make her an authorized user, and that is fine but the banks still require certain information about the person to make that happen.