My Journey: ICICI Sapphiro to Emerald Private Metal Upgrade

[Hell_Kitty]

Just wanted to share my recent experience upgrading from ICICI Sapphiro (dual variant, LTF, ₹15L limit) to the Emerald Private Metal card. I’ve had the Sapphiro for over a year now, and for the past 6 months or so, the Emerald PVC was showing up as an upgrade option on iMobile – but only as a paid card. Since I already have Infinia and Amex Plat Charge, I didn’t really feel the need to go for it. But with the launch of iShop and some buzz around EPM lately, the card started to seem more attractive.

I thought I’d give it a shot and tried the usual HDFC-style route – emailed ICICI customer care and even some higher-ups. Every one of them gave me the same response: “Can’t be done via email, please contact your RM/BM.”

Since I hold a salary account with ICICI (in a Tier-2 city), I reached out to my RM. They started the application, raised a case and sent it for approval – but it got rejected. Reason? Apparently, I don’t hold any major “relationships” with ICICI like loans or insurance, so they wouldn’t approve it. Bit of a bummer.
Around this time, I came across a few posts here from people who got approved for EPM even without having any prior ICICI cards or accounts – just by meeting the ₹3L/month salary criteria and applying through a company tied corporate contact. That gave me some hope.
So right after the rejection, I contacted our company tied ICICI corporate manager (via my company’s tie-up), and this time things moved fast. He got it escalated to the state head, and within 5–7 days, the card showed up in my iMobile app. No VKYC needed this time – it was just silently approved.

For context:

• 1st attempt (via RM): Did VKYC but Rejected.
• 2nd attempt (via corporate route): Approved quickly, no VKYC.

With the EPM now in hand, I’ve gone ahead and closed my Amex Plat Charge(saved 41k in renewal fees), which was due for renewal next month. No regrets so far.

Link to my 1st application

Hope this helps anyone stuck in a similar spot!

Thanks Mate for your info about corporate route in your post @mystic

I have a question now about the limit

I am able to see both the cards now in iMobile but the limit isn't shared I believe as both are showing different balances. Maybe it will take sometime to reflect? or I have been approved same separate limit for both and got lucky?

Sapphiro Card:



EPM Card:

 

[kumarvishwas]

I am in the same boat, holding Infinia Metal+Atlas+Yes Marquee at the moment, and trying for EPM, have visited few ICICI branches but all of them just simply denying it.

Would have went through the exclusive corporate route but my organisation has an exclusive tie-up with HDFC for salary accounts so even that is not an option, seems I'll be missing on this card until it pops up in my iMobile upgrade window, find a RM who goes out of the way to help with request or I make a job switch 😀

 

[mystic]

Even my limit is not shared between my Amazon Pay and EPM. Just the value is same.

I have read from other threads that ICICI does not upgrade card, so may be that’s thing about them, they don’t give shared limit for EPM

 

[Hell_Kitty]

I am in the same boat, holding Infinia Metal+Atlas+Yes Marquee at the moment, and trying for EPM, have visited few ICICI branches but all of them just simply denying it.

Would have went through the exclusive corporate route but my organisation has an exclusive tie-up with HDFC for salary accounts so even that is not an option, seems I'll be missing on this card until it pops up in my iMobile upgrade window, find a RM who goes out of the way to help with request or I make a job switch 😀

I closed Marquee too. What a clown card it became in a short span.

 

[kumarvishwas]

I closed Marquee too. What a clown card it became in a short span.

I'll have renewal for Marquee this month and will hold on to it for one more year for the movie benefit, for the 5900 card fee, would get 3000 Amazon Pay voucher and for the remaining 2900 I think I can max that out booking those IMAX/HSBC Gold seats as usually I watch 2-3 movies every month.

Would have dropped it if had got the EPM as it offers almost similar BOGO offer