Jun 23, 2014, 10:17 pm
Last edit by: Boraxo
US/Canadian-issued ABTC can only be used to access the APEC/Crew/Diplomat lane. It does not replace/waive any visa requirements. Chinese embassy webpages mentioning visa not being required is for ABTC with CHN endorsed on the back. No US/Canadian-issued ABTC will have that endorsement.
The button to renew your US/Canadian ABTC will appear in your profile 30 days before the card expiration date.
Locations confirmed up and running:
AUS
BOS (Logan) only one of the two signature pads was working (late nov 2014)
BOS (Logan) still only 1 signature panel working, and a bit of confusion, but it all worked out (Jan 2015)
CVG (Minneola Pike)
EWR
IAD signature capture working in GE enrollment center; walk-in accepted after appointments accommodated - I was in the office for less than two minutes
IAH (outside security in E, no word on inside security GE office yet)
JFK (walk-in accepted; entrance directly across from Central Diner on arrivals level, T-4)
LAS
LAX
Long Beach, CA (downtown CBP Seaport offices, not LGB airport); posted as No Walk In, but may accommodate just the signature capture
MIA
MCO
ORD
PHX (Terminal 4, behind #6 baggage carousel)
SEA (Nexus office)
SFO (walk-in)
TUS (walk-in accepted)
Washington, DC/Reagan Bldg. walked in, only person there, signature captured, walked out, all within 5 minutes
YYZ (Nexus office)
YVR (Nexus office)
Usage Experience Updates:
BKK - 11/11/14 - success, 03/19/17 - success, 05/10/17 - success
CGK - 02/20/15 - denied (exit), 05/10/17 - success (exit), 08/20/17 - success (entry)
CRK - 10/28/16 - success, but only 30 days, not 59 days for no-endorsement US issued ABTC.
CTU - 03/18/16 - denied -(APAC lane has limited hours)
CUN - 12/30/17 & 12/27/19 - success (with family) but difficult to enter express lane due to pushback from line monitor
DMK - 9/20/17 inbound - success, had to go under lane ropes; use Official/Diplomatic, not Crew. No APEC markings.
DPS - 03/08/15 - success but with pushback (exit)
GMP - 09/18/14 - success, 03/18/15 - success (arrival)
HKG - 09/21/14 - success, 02/28/15 - success, 02/29/15 - success (exit), 3/18/17 success, 3/19/17 - success (exit)
HKT - 12/23 - success on entry - sign says +1 allowed and "THA" endorsement required, but didn't even check the back of card. On departure the APEC lane was not staffed
HND - 07/30/14, 03/30/23 - success - lane in clearly marked
ICN - 09/13/14 - success, 03/24/25 - success (departure)
KUL - 03/10/16 - success
MEX - 06/28/15 - success, 7/11/17 - success
MNL - 11/27/2015 - success (T1) (business visa not necessary for U.S. citizens) 59 days (depends on agent training. Most give 59, some give only 30, (Oct 2018))
NRT - 12/1/2014 - success both inbound and outbound immigration (visa not needed); 9/25/17 - inbound success
PEK - 07/25/14 - success (T3)
POM - 11/01/15 - denied, PNG immigration has a sign saying "only endorsed ABTC cards"
PVG - 07/24/14 - success (T2)
PVR - 11/2018, 4/2021 success (with family),4/2023 fail
SGN - 09/04/2014 - success (visa on arrival), 02/15/2017 - denied (visa on arrival)
SHA - 11/10/2014 - success
SJD - 6/2017 & 6/2018 - success (with family)
SIN - 2/3/2016 - denied, 5/3/2017 - success; 9/16/17 - success at APEC lane
TPE - 07/24/14 - success (T2), 9/30 - success (T1), 10/12 - Denied (T2), 02/24/2015 - success (T1), 5/11 & 5/13 - success (T1)
YUL - 11/2014 - success inbound (repeatedly into 2016 via dip line)
YVR - 06/2015 - success inbound
YYZ - 07/2016 - Success inbound
SCL - 04/02/2017 - Success inbound
LIM - 12/04/2017 - Success inbound
China land crossings from HK:
Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau, Huanggang, Shenzhen Bay - 09/29/14 reported - success
China Train crossings from HK:
Dongguan and Guangzhou - 09/29/14 reported - success
Hung Hom (Hong Kong's International Train Station) - 04/30/15 - success in both directions
China Seaports from HK/Macau:
Shekou, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Baoan and and Macau/China ferry terminal in Hong Kong - 09/29/14 reported - success
[On all above China-HK crossings look, to use ABTC to enter/exit China, look for the "Special" counters]
For CGK: Go to line marked 3 on left side just before main immigration hall. If you get to line in main hall you've gone too far. Do not use crew line.
Locations confirmed up and running:
AUS
BOS (Logan) only one of the two signature pads was working (late nov 2014)
BOS (Logan) still only 1 signature panel working, and a bit of confusion, but it all worked out (Jan 2015)
CVG (Minneola Pike)
EWR
IAD signature capture working in GE enrollment center; walk-in accepted after appointments accommodated - I was in the office for less than two minutes
IAH (outside security in E, no word on inside security GE office yet)
JFK (walk-in accepted; entrance directly across from Central Diner on arrivals level, T-4)
LAS
LAX
Long Beach, CA (downtown CBP Seaport offices, not LGB airport); posted as No Walk In, but may accommodate just the signature capture
MIA
MCO
ORD
PHX (Terminal 4, behind #6 baggage carousel)
SEA (Nexus office)
SFO (walk-in)
TUS (walk-in accepted)
Washington, DC/Reagan Bldg. walked in, only person there, signature captured, walked out, all within 5 minutes
YYZ (Nexus office)
YVR (Nexus office)
Usage Experience Updates:
BKK - 11/11/14 - success, 03/19/17 - success, 05/10/17 - success
CGK - 02/20/15 - denied (exit), 05/10/17 - success (exit), 08/20/17 - success (entry)
CRK - 10/28/16 - success, but only 30 days, not 59 days for no-endorsement US issued ABTC.
CTU - 03/18/16 - denied -(APAC lane has limited hours)
CUN - 12/30/17 & 12/27/19 - success (with family) but difficult to enter express lane due to pushback from line monitor
DMK - 9/20/17 inbound - success, had to go under lane ropes; use Official/Diplomatic, not Crew. No APEC markings.
DPS - 03/08/15 - success but with pushback (exit)
GMP - 09/18/14 - success, 03/18/15 - success (arrival)
HKG - 09/21/14 - success, 02/28/15 - success, 02/29/15 - success (exit), 3/18/17 success, 3/19/17 - success (exit)
HKT - 12/23 - success on entry - sign says +1 allowed and "THA" endorsement required, but didn't even check the back of card. On departure the APEC lane was not staffed
HND - 07/30/14, 03/30/23 - success - lane in clearly marked
ICN - 09/13/14 - success, 03/24/25 - success (departure)
KUL - 03/10/16 - success
MEX - 06/28/15 - success, 7/11/17 - success
MNL - 11/27/2015 - success (T1) (business visa not necessary for U.S. citizens) 59 days (depends on agent training. Most give 59, some give only 30, (Oct 2018))
NRT - 12/1/2014 - success both inbound and outbound immigration (visa not needed); 9/25/17 - inbound success
PEK - 07/25/14 - success (T3)
POM - 11/01/15 - denied, PNG immigration has a sign saying "only endorsed ABTC cards"
PVG - 07/24/14 - success (T2)
PVR - 11/2018, 4/2021 success (with family),4/2023 fail
SGN - 09/04/2014 - success (visa on arrival), 02/15/2017 - denied (visa on arrival)
SHA - 11/10/2014 - success
SJD - 6/2017 & 6/2018 - success (with family)
SIN - 2/3/2016 - denied, 5/3/2017 - success; 9/16/17 - success at APEC lane
TPE - 07/24/14 - success (T2), 9/30 - success (T1), 10/12 - Denied (T2), 02/24/2015 - success (T1), 5/11 & 5/13 - success (T1)
YUL - 11/2014 - success inbound (repeatedly into 2016 via dip line)
YVR - 06/2015 - success inbound
YYZ - 07/2016 - Success inbound
SCL - 04/02/2017 - Success inbound
LIM - 12/04/2017 - Success inbound
China land crossings from HK:
Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau, Huanggang, Shenzhen Bay - 09/29/14 reported - success
China Train crossings from HK:
Dongguan and Guangzhou - 09/29/14 reported - success
Hung Hom (Hong Kong's International Train Station) - 04/30/15 - success in both directions
China Seaports from HK/Macau:
Shekou, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Baoan and and Macau/China ferry terminal in Hong Kong - 09/29/14 reported - success
[On all above China-HK crossings look, to use ABTC to enter/exit China, look for the "Special" counters]
For CGK: Go to line marked 3 on left side just before main immigration hall. If you get to line in main hall you've gone too far. Do not use crew line.
US/Canadian Issued APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC): Updates, Experiences, Q&A
Jul 8, 2014, 12:07 pm
#121
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: CX Diamond, AA Gold, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 497
There are no appointments at LAX for weeks. How is the walk in process for just signature capture of APEC with conditional letter for those that have experienced it. I was at LAX last week, but they were already closed at 9PM
Jul 8, 2014, 4:53 pm
#124
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: Global Entry, APEC, United Premier Silver, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 13
LAS
I am new to FlyerTalk and couldn't figure out how to edit the wiki, but CBP in Las Vegas now has the signature pad up and running, got everything all taken care of today after 3 visits.
Jul 8, 2014, 7:43 pm
#125
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: BKK
Programs: AA Plat, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,395
Eta: I now see that another helpful member added your datapoint shortly after you posted. Thanks for the info!
Jul 9, 2014, 4:13 am
#126
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot Am, MU Pt
Posts: 3,092
I will be in JFK today for my signature collection. I also want a new picture as mine is really crap, but from a previous post it appears they don't redo the picture? My concern is if I get a APEC card with a weird picture, they won't accept it.
Jul 9, 2014, 4:25 am
#127
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot Am, MU Pt
Posts: 3,092
I think splitting up the previous thread into policy and updates was a good idea. The original thread was quite old and it was only revived due to the fact that we could apply for the cards now. There are a few number of posts in that thread and frankly it's hard to run through all the pages. I've personally read through the entire original thread before it was split up and it was a hassle trying to go through conflicting information.
Anyways I am doing my signature collection today and I fly back to Shanghai on the 21st, so I would definitely be interesting people's experiences using this card in Asia without having to go through the thread that has updates on getting the signature. I don't need information on getting my signature collected when I already have a card or policy changes, in the other two threads.
Perhaps people can post insights here on how they've used the card, the issues they've encountered (for example the lack of visa waivers for US card holders), and so on. I will definitely be able to update people on how well it works as well.
Anyways I am doing my signature collection today and I fly back to Shanghai on the 21st, so I would definitely be interesting people's experiences using this card in Asia without having to go through the thread that has updates on getting the signature. I don't need information on getting my signature collected when I already have a card or policy changes, in the other two threads.
Perhaps people can post insights here on how they've used the card, the issues they've encountered (for example the lack of visa waivers for US card holders), and so on. I will definitely be able to update people on how well it works as well.
Jul 9, 2014, 7:31 am
#128
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,752
I asked three times, but they said there was no option that allowed them to do so. I knew that wasn't true since they could go into the Global Entry screen and change it there, but they showed no interest in doing so.
Jul 9, 2014, 7:56 am
#129
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,242
That was my concern as well, but the agents at LAX couldn't care less.
I asked three times, but they said there was no option that allowed them to do so. I knew that wasn't true since they could go into the Global Entry screen and change it there, but they showed no interest in doing so.
I asked three times, but they said there was no option that allowed them to do so. I knew that wasn't true since they could go into the Global Entry screen and change it there, but they showed no interest in doing so.
They would appear to have the option but leave it up to individual agents' discretion.
Jul 9, 2014, 8:12 am
#130
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,689
U.S. Citizen APEC ABTC Entry Card Experiences
The enrollment experience thread will cease to be useful a couple of months down the line once CBP agents are up to speed. Probably is a good idea to merge this thread in at some point.
Jul 9, 2014, 10:15 am
#131
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot Am, MU Pt
Posts: 3,092
That was my concern as well, but the agents at LAX couldn't care less.
I asked three times, but they said there was no option that allowed them to do so. I knew that wasn't true since they could go into the Global Entry screen and change it there, but they showed no interest in doing so.
I asked three times, but they said there was no option that allowed them to do so. I knew that wasn't true since they could go into the Global Entry screen and change it there, but they showed no interest in doing so.
I asked if I could take a picture and the lady told me I had to retake it because my old one looked like a joke (it does). She even showed me the picture she took and let me retake until I was happy with it. I will finally have a proper picture. I can't imagine my old picture on the APEC card; they'd probably think it's a fake.
She also told me the Global Entry card is useless for air travel and if anyone asks me to produce it, they're on a power trip.
With regard to signature pads, it looks like they only have one signature pad that they pass around. Since there aren't many people who come in for this APEC card, it's not an issue.
Did you also get the nice lady with the accent?
Jul 12, 2014, 10:49 am
#133
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
You might want to do the wiki on the other thread. Right now that wiki has updated status of which facilities accepting applicants to complete the electronic signature.
I agree with Seawolf, a few months from now, posts will be on actual experiences in each APEC country.
I agree with Seawolf, a few months from now, posts will be on actual experiences in each APEC country.
Jul 13, 2014, 1:03 am
#135
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,752
I see application for a card as a distinct different issue from usage of a card, but it is not my call.