In order to earn a welcome bonus for a new Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve card, you can’t currently have a Sapphire card open. Luckily, there’s an easy solution: cancel your current Sapphire card or product change it to a Freedom card. Then wait “a few days”. I was curious about exactly how long “a few days” was, so I tested it out. The answer: 2 days.
On Wednesday, at around noon, I called Chase to product change my Sapphire Reserve card to the Freedom Unlimited card. I then logged into my Chase account and saw that the card already showed up as a Freedom Unlimited. So, I began the experiment right away…
Attempt 1: 30 minutes after product change
Approximately half an hour after product changing, I applied for the Sapphire Preferred card. Chase immediately denied the application with the assertion that I “already have a Chase Sapphire® credit card.” 
The good news was that there was no credit inquiry, so it didn’t hurt to keep trying…
Attempt 2: Next day, less than 24 hours later
I tried again the next morning (Thursday) at 9am. Same result. Denied. No credit inquiry.
Attempt 3: Next day, more than 24 hours later
I wondered if it was necessary to wait at least 24 hours, so I tried again at about 2pm. Same result. Denied. No credit inquiry.
Attempt 4: Two days from product change
On Friday at 3:30pm, two days after I had product changed, I tried again. Chase finally processed the application. I wasn’t approved instantly, but they did run a credit check with both TransUnion and Experian.
It was disappointing that I wasn’t instantly approved, but I expect that I’ll be approved after review. If not, with past denied applications I’ve had great luck calling Chase’s reconsideration line to ask them to reconsider.
Final Answer: 2 Days
It took 2 days for Chase’s systems to acknowledge that I no longer had a Sapphire card after product changing. I can’t promise that it’s always exactly 2 days, but I expect it to be around that long in most cases. The good news is that if you apply too soon, there’s no harm. Chase won’t run a credit inquiry if they think you still have the old card.
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About a month ago I closed my CSP after around eight years because the 100K offer was just too good. The plan was to apply after 30 days (that’s how long to wait per OMAAT).
I applied and went pending, no surprise since I have around a half dozen each personal and business cards. To my surprise I was declined due to Chase having issued me as much credit as they feel comfortable with for my income. I was surprised as I figured the credit from the closed card (around $7,000) would be enough to cover the new card. Negative, Ghostrider.
I called up recon to ask about this and they said that they couldn’t do anything and when I asked about reshuffling credit from sock drawer cards like Marriott I was told that the only cards I could move available credit from were Freedom cards. I found this surprising but said to go ahead and transfer credit from one of my two $5K limit Freedom cards. They tried but were not permitted to go below $5K on either card. Then I tried moving credit from one of my business cards but they said that was not permitted either.
After that I ended the call. The lady had genuinely tried to help but couldn’t do anything. A day later I reached out to Chase to lower my credit on one of my business cards by $10K and today asked them to close another business card with a $10K limit. I plan on reapplying for the CSP in a few days. With any luck the $20,000 reduction in credit they’ve extended to me will make a difference. I’m guessing that the economic uncertainty has Chase tightening down credit they’re extending to limit their liability.
If anyone has any suggestions or insight I’d be happy to hear them.
This may sound nuts, but I decided against applying for a CSP (CSR holder since 2017) mostly because I am taking a flight back from Spain transiting through PHL this fall and I can’t wait to try a Sapphire lounge for the first time. As someone living on the West Coast it’s been difficult to plan a trip that involved an airport with their lounges so I’m looking forward to it.
If it was somehow possible to immediately change back to a CSR after earning the bonus I probably would have done it, but everything I’ve read online says you have to wait 12 months.
Good luck to you, Greg! Hope you’re ultimately approved.
All Priority Pass memberships allow you entry to the Sapphire Lounge 1x per year. You only need the CSR if you want unlimited visits or guests who don’t have their own PP.
What you could do is product change your csr to a freedom card. Wait a few days, apply for csp. Then from what I read, you can product change back the freedom card back to a csr. I’m gonna apply this weekend since I product changed it this past Monday. I have a few trips that were booked with my CSR for later this year and want it for the travel protections. I plan on product changing my Csp to a freedom card after one year. Or cancelling it. Not sure yet.
Greg, as you value the CSR, is there one in P2’s wallet?
Greg – some say it makes a difference for time frame if you cancel vs product change, but you don’t think so? Thanks for testing this.
i just did the product change today and asked the rep about it. They mentioned 24hrs , but you have experimented it and got the exact answer.
Now someone help me clarify on the below.
I have 2 cards which were opened on May 22 , 2023 and May 21 2023 and closed later.
Do i have a chance to get a chase card, before these dates ?
That’s less than 24 months since last cards. Assuming you earned sign up bonus on one of those, you’ll be ineligible now since the rule js 48 months since last bonus.
I was asking about the 5/24 overall cards. Those 2 cards from May 2023 are not Chase cards.
Aah… your original comment never clarified that…. You won’t be approved until after May 22nd, but Chase is known ro relax the 5/24 rule sometimes. Nobody knows when. Also, if you apply on May 23, chances are that the system auto denies your application and you’ll have to call recon and have someone manually review your 5/24 status (assuming that the only reason for decline). Conventional wisdom has recommended waiting until beginning of next calendar month for system to recognize your 5/24 status automatically.
Greg is a mind reader. I was debating if I should ask this very question in the community. What an incredibly helpful data point. Thanks!!
I wonder if this works the same way to test if you are past the 48 month mark for a Sapphire card. My P2 got the 100k bonus on the SP just about 4 years ago but I’m not sure to the month or day (opened 3/23/21, but I may have been slow meeting min spend). Does anyone know if you get a similar message (and no hard credit pull) if you are ineligible for this reason?
Yes, you will get a denial if you haven’t hit the 48 month mark. Why not just look at your statements online to find out or call?