you said the ge credit is $100 so I'm asking is it $100 even if I paid $50 and if I only paid $50 does that mean I got the wrong thing?
Technically, AmEx will reimburse your $100 GE application fee.
Practically, I have read reports of AmEx giving a full $100 reimbursement triggered by the US Customs Nexus
$50 application fee. But, as you seem to be pointing out, YMMV.