Should I wait to apply for a new Chase Sapphire prefered

[Anonymous]

so once I pay down my balances, how long before I should be applying for the Amex card, Should I wait 30 days? Then I suppose I will have to wait 2 months and probably another 3 months before I can apply for the Sapphire sicne there will be an inquiry on my report right?

Sorry for the naive questions.

[xiownthisplacex]

After paying it down, wait until the balance doesn't show on your report anymore.

I have a Chase United with 5k limit and I applied for the CSP and was denied because they didn't want to give me 2 cards with a 5k limit. So I asked to reduce my United to 3k and that way I got the CSP. A few months after that, got my United back to 5k

[FrugalRican]

You need to find the statement dates for your cards are.

Whatever the latest of those statement dates are, apply for an AMEX about 2 to 3 days after, so that way, they report the 0 balances to the CRA's by then and you'll look much better to AMEX. Then go for the CLI 61 days. A lot of people say approval date (it was 61 days after approval for me), some say activation date. I waited 63 days after approval to be on the safe side.

If you're not buying a house in the next 6 months - 1 year, I wouldn't worry about inquiries.