Best US Business Cards for Airline Miles as a Non-Resident
Airline miles on a US business card sound great until you hit the wall every non-resident founder hits: no SSN, no US credit history. Here is what actually works, and the order you need to do things in.
The real obstacle isn't the card, it's the credit file
Most of the flashy US business cards you see reviewed for airline miles, Chase Ink Business Preferred, Capital One Spark Miles, were built for people with an SSN and years of US credit history behind them. As a non-resident founder you will not have either, at least not at the start. That does not mean miles are off the table. It means you need to be realistic about which cards will consider you, and build toward the rest.
The good news is that an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) does not require a US visa or residency. It exists specifically for people who need a US taxpayer number but are not eligible for a Social Security Number, which is exactly the position most non-resident founders are in.
Why transferable points matter more than the airline logo on the card
The smartest approach for a non-resident founder is not to chase a card tied to one airline. It is to earn a flexible points currency, like American Express Membership Rewards, that you can move to whichever airline partner gives you the best value on a given route. This matters even more when your travel is transatlantic and split across alliances rather than loyal to a single US carrier.
| Card | Points currency | Notable transfer partners | Non-resident feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Business Platinum / Gold | Membership Rewards | Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), ANA, British Airways Avios, Avianca LifeMiles, Emirates | Most realistic first step. Amex will sometimes weigh an existing international Amex relationship instead of demanding US credit history. |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | Ultimate Rewards | United, British Airways Avios, Flying Blue, Southwest | Excellent points value, but Chase underwrites hard on SSN and US credit history. Usually a later-stage card, not a first card. |
| Capital One Spark Miles | Capital One Miles | Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, Wyndham, Turkish Miles&Smiles | Similar problem to Chase: ITIN alone is rarely enough without an established US credit profile. |
| Brex Card | Brex Rewards points | Selected airline and travel partners (program details change, check current list) | Underwrites on business cash flow, not personal credit or SSN, so it is often the most accessible starting point for a funded LLC. |
Note that fintech banking cards like the ones tied to Mercury, Wise, or Relay are built primarily for banking and spend control, not for stacking airline miles. They are worth having for the operational side of your business, but do not expect a rewards program to rival the cards above.
The realistic order of operations
If you are starting from zero, this is the sequence that actually works, rather than trying to jump straight to a miles card and getting declined.
- Form the US LLC. Wyoming is the common low-cost, privacy-friendly default state for non-resident founders, though the right state depends on where you plan to do business.
- Get the EIN. Non-residents apply via Form SS-4, typically by fax or mail since there is no SSN to use for the online system.
- Get the ITIN. This is what lets you appear as an individual on card applications and, later, tax filings.
- Open a US business bank account remotely. Mercury, Wise, and Relay all support this without a US visit for most founders.
- Build a visible banking and spend history. Real deposits, real vendor payments, a growing balance. This is what fintech underwriters like Brex actually look at.
- Apply for your first Amex, ideally leaning on an existing international Amex relationship if you have one.
- Only then pursue Chase or Capital One, once you have a US credit file with some history behind it.
This is also exactly the sequence Founders Credit sets up for founders as a done-for-you service, the LLC, EIN, ITIN, and business bank account, so the card applications later actually have something solid to point to.
Do not skip the compliance side
A foreign-owned single-member LLC has to file Form 5472 along with a pro-forma Form 1120 every year, even if the company had zero revenue. This is an information return, it does not calculate tax on its own, but skipping it carries a penalty of $25,000 per missed filing. None of this affects your card applications directly, but it is part of keeping the business itself in good standing, which matters if a card issuer or bank ever reviews your business later.
Transfer partners worth knowing
Once you have a flexible points balance, a handful of programs consistently offer good value for European-based founders flying transatlantic or within Europe.
- Flying Blue (Air France/KLM): useful within Europe and to the US, frequent promo transfer bonuses.
- British Airways Avios: strong for shorter hops and for oneworld partner redemptions.
- ANA and Avianca LifeMiles: often better value than the airline's own program for long-haul business class.
Glossary
ITIN: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, issued by the IRS to people who need a US tax number but are not eligible for an SSN. No visa or US residency required.
EIN: Employer Identification Number, the tax ID for your LLC itself, obtained via Form SS-4.
Form 5472: the annual information return a foreign-owned single-member LLC must file alongside a pro-forma Form 1120, even with no income. Missing it risks a $25,000 penalty.
Charge card vs credit card: a charge card (some Amex products) typically has no preset spending limit and must be paid in full monthly, while a credit card carries a revolving balance and credit limit.
Transferable points: rewards currencies like Membership Rewards or Ultimate Rewards that can be moved to multiple airline or hotel loyalty programs, giving you flexibility instead of locking you into one airline.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident actually get approved for a US business credit card?
It is possible but not guaranteed, and it usually happens in stages. Fintech cards like Brex, which underwrite on business cash flow rather than personal credit, tend to be the most accessible starting point. Traditional bank cards like Chase or Capital One generally expect an established US credit history, which takes time to build.
Do I need a US visa to get an ITIN?
No. An ITIN is issued to individuals who need a US taxpayer number but are not eligible for a Social Security Number, which includes most non-resident LLC owners. Immigration status is not a requirement.
Which is better for airline miles, a fixed airline card or a transferable points card?
For most non-resident founders, transferable points cards like American Express Membership Rewards are more useful because you are not locked into one airline's award chart. You can compare Flying Blue, Avios, or ANA depending on which route gives better value at the time.
Does forming the LLC and getting an EIN and ITIN guarantee I'll get a rewards card?
No card issuer offers guaranteed approval, and no legitimate service can promise specific odds. What the LLC, EIN, ITIN, and a US business bank account do is give you the documentation and banking history that card issuers actually look for, which puts you in a realistic position to apply.
Can Founders Credit help me get a specific miles card?
Founders Credit sets up the foundation, US LLC formation, EIN, ITIN, and a remote US business bank account, that most card applications require. Card approval itself is always decided by the issuer based on their own underwriting.
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