US credit cards from Germany

US SPRINT is for you if you simply want your first US AMEX — without SSN, without ITIN, without LLC. US STACK fits if you want to stack multiple US cards and build a US credit score. US EMPIRE is for you if you want to build a US LLC with US business banking, business cards, and full US infrastructure.

Correct — US SPRINT shows you the passport path. You use your existing German AMEX (at least 3 months old, 6 are ideal) as a reputation bridge and apply for a US AMEX (typically Green for $150/year) without needing an SSN/ITIN. Explained step by step in the handbook.

Because Green is the fastest, cheapest, and least stressful entry. $150/year instead of $895, lower spend requirement, the same 1:1 transfers, the same exclusive partners (Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca), the same 0% FX fees. Once you have a US AMEX history, you can upgrade to Gold ($325) or Platinum ($895) at any time — often even with a welcome bonus for the new card. The bonus from the upgrade later is often higher than the direct Platinum bonus now, and the risk on the first US AMEX is significantly lower.

Yes — even the free PAYBACK AMEX (€0/year) qualifies for Global Transfer. The requirement is a clean card history of at least 3 months (6 are ideal), not a high card status. You don't have to upgrade to Gold or Platinum for this. Details and step-by-step in the US SPRINT handbook.

No. German and US AMEX are technically completely separate cards — separate login, separate app, separate statements. With correct usage (consistent identity, correct address, on-time payment) your German AMEX and your German MR account remain unchanged. You gain something, you lose nothing.

In theory, the mailbox provider sees the card number + CVV when scanning your US card. In practice, abuse at reputable providers is very rare — they operate hundreds of thousands of mailboxes, and a confirmed fraud case would ruin them commercially. More important than switching providers: activate the card immediately after the scan and check account transactions. Your German AMEX is not affected by such an incident — the accounts are separate.

Yes. Once you have your first US AMEX, you can repeat the GT process for any additional AMEX card (Hilton, Gold, Platinum, Business, etc.). You no longer have to do the full verification because you already have a US account. This way you can build a portfolio of 4-5 AMEX cards even without an ITIN. Welcome bonuses are not guaranteed, however (YMMV — see handbook).

Yes — once you have a US AMEX with Membership Rewards, you can have DE MR transferred to the US MR account (by phone via the AMEX hotline). The leverage is large: in Germany you transfer MR to Avios at a 5:4 ratio (1,000 MR = 800 Avios), in the US it's 1:1. Plus a quiet bonus: AMEX converts the transfer at the current exchange rate — with a stronger euro you even get more US MR out than you put DE MR in. Frequency/limits are not officially documented (YMMV) — details and phone script in the handbook.

AMEX Green, Gold, and Platinum are technically charge cards in the US — no fixed credit limit, full balance due monthly, NO credit utilization reporting. Real credit cards (Chase Sapphire, Capital One, AMEX Blue Business Plus) have a fixed limit and report utilization to the credit bureaus. For your FICO score this matters: charge cards build payment history (35%) + length of credit (15%), credit cards additionally utilization (30%) + credit mix. Whoever takes the Sprint path gets only AMEX (charge cards) — the score rises slowly. Whoever wants fast score building needs the Stack path with ITIN, because ITIN opens access to real credit cards.

US SPRINT: typically 4-8 weeks (US address + phone number + application + verification). US STACK: ~3-4 months, because the ITIN application at the IRS takes several weeks. US EMPIRE: ~4-6 months for a complete LLC + EIN + banking + cards. All realistically explained in the handbook.

In the handbook you'll find a complete cost breakdown — US address, phone number, banking, ITIN service, possibly LLC filing. The amount varies depending on the chosen setup and providers. Plan realistically with ongoing setup costs in addition to the purchase price.

In the US EMPIRE handbook the most important states are compared (Florida, Wyoming, New Mexico, and others) — with pros and cons depending on the use case. You decide yourself which state fits your situation best.

We do not provide tax or legal advice. As a German tax resident you should generally be guided by a qualified tax advisor. In the handbook we explain the structural aspects of a US LLC — the individual tax assessment belongs in the hands of an advisor.

VIP MENTORING is done-with-you: 6 months of personal 1:1 guidance (6 × 60 min calls), a direct Telegram line, guidance through the US setup, AMEX GT approval, ITIN and LLC structuring. Includes all 3 handbooks (Sprint + Stack + Empire). You don't have to do anything on your own.

Yes — you can buy the next handbook at any time. The paths are independent and do not necessarily build on each other. If you bought Sprint and later want ITIN stacking, you buy Stack as an add-on.

Yes, the GT path for existing customers continues to work. In November 2025 AMEX introduced the SSN requirement for new customers — the GT path as an existing-customer reputation transfer, however, remains available. We show you current plan A and plan B strategies.

Several plan B strategies are documented in the handbook: alternative approval hotlines, easy-approval cards as backup, escalation paths. A reject is not the end — we show you all the documented ways out from the community.

Yes — and we go through them openly. Main risks: AMEX can theoretically close accounts in case of discrepancies, the approval rate is lower since Nov 2025, mailbox address vs. physical address gets asked. In the handbook you'll find all current risks and how to minimize them.

Since these are digital products that are provided immediately after purchase, your statutory right of withdrawal expires with the first provision of the download (§ 356 para. 5 BGB). With the purchase you confirm immediate performance of the contract in the checkout process. This applies analogously to all other digital products from MEILENKÖNIG.

Immediately. After a successful Stripe payment you receive an email within a few minutes with the personal download link. The link is valid for 72 hours — if expired, get fresh links yourself anytime via your account at meilen-koenig.de/konto.