amazon now requires US based visa?

[koen]

A few years ago I started developing an application using the amazon api to retrieve information about amazon products. Now I want to make use of this api again but things seems to have changed a lot in the years that passed. Following the product advertising api it seems that I need to become an associate/register with amazon payments. This requires an US based visa. I don't know if I'm lost in the wilderness that the Amazon Web Services have become and that I'm wrong or that this indeed has changed. I wouldn't know why I would need a US visa. Can I still be an amazon affiliate through using their product api without this?

[sonjay]

Are you talking about a Visa credit card, or a work visa?

[koen]

Sorry, a visa card.

[sonjay]

I don't recall being asked for a Visa card when I registered with Amazon's affiliate program. And I don't see any credit card information in my Amazon Associates account settings. But it looks like I used the same email address to register as I use on my Amazon account that I buy stuff with, and that account does have a Visa card attached to it, so I can't be certain whether or not my Amazon Associates account is linked to my Visa card.

But I can't imagine why they would need a Visa card -- it's an affiliate program; they pay you, not the other way around. What they need in order to pay you is your preferred payment method, and your bank account info (if you choose to be paid via direct deposit).

Are you sure you're attempting to sign up for the right program? You're not on the page to register as an Amazon seller?

[koen]

Thanks for keeping with me.

I was following the product advertising API. Under the section 'How Do I Make Money Using the Product Advertising API?' it reads 'You need to get an Amazon Associates account and [text left out]. For more information about getting an Amazon Associates account, see Becoming an Associate [=link].' This link leads to the affiliate program page. There's also a guide with same name and layout but a different version that says 'To become an Associate 1. Register with Amazon Payments at ' leading to a link where it says I need a US based visa card.

I'll try the first version (without visa) and see how far I get.