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
Aug 22, 2014, 12:23 am
#256
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 929
APEC digital signature visit "appointment"
When I applied at GOES for APEC, it seemed to me that I had to make an appointment for completing the application with the digital signature. Appointments at my home domicile were 3 months out, but that was OK as I would not need it in the interim. On the day of my interview, I had to drop someone off at the airport, so I tried to go standby. I checked in saying I had an APEC appointment later that day. The officer reported that they only had one no show the previous day. I waited for a couple of hours but then had to go to a meeting.
Upon return for my appointment, I received a call from the GE office as I was parking prior to my appointment asking when I would be there. When it was my turn, I was informed that as a current GE member, I did not have to wait and could walk in anytime. It was only 5 minutes to complete the signature and establish why I needed APEC for business reasons. Hope this helps someone else, and this n=1 advice proves true.
Sorry if this is a duplicate in the long thread (which I should have studied before I went to the airport).
Upon return for my appointment, I received a call from the GE office as I was parking prior to my appointment asking when I would be there. When it was my turn, I was informed that as a current GE member, I did not have to wait and could walk in anytime. It was only 5 minutes to complete the signature and establish why I needed APEC for business reasons. Hope this helps someone else, and this n=1 advice proves true.
Sorry if this is a duplicate in the long thread (which I should have studied before I went to the airport).
Aug 22, 2014, 11:02 pm
#257
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1M, AA 0.9M, DL 0.5M
Posts: 16
In case you're thinking of heading to SFO for a walk-in signature collection for ABTC then 8am to 3pm is your window. This includes Wednesdays when the office is open late until 6:30pm (as I had the misfortune to find out at 3:10pm).
Aug 23, 2014, 8:36 pm
#258
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
Went for my GE and APEC appointment today. The appointment was tough to get. Often you only see openings 2-3 months in advance. I had a mid month appointment, but was waiting on my passport to be returned from getting a China visa.
Some Saturday appointments popped up, so I changed it. If you want a different appointment, make sure to check the GOES website frequently.
The office is on the first floor, behind luggage carousel 6/Bondurant racing display in terminal 4. You wait outside the office, in standard airport seats until they call you.
They wanted a drivers license, passport and the GOES approval letter. Took digital fingerprints, asked some questions, pretty easy, overall. For APEC, they only had one signature pad. I had to change desks, still easy.
Even after waiting a few minutes, I was done in 10 minutes.
Some Saturday appointments popped up, so I changed it. If you want a different appointment, make sure to check the GOES website frequently.
The office is on the first floor, behind luggage carousel 6/Bondurant racing display in terminal 4. You wait outside the office, in standard airport seats until they call you.
They wanted a drivers license, passport and the GOES approval letter. Took digital fingerprints, asked some questions, pretty easy, overall. For APEC, they only had one signature pad. I had to change desks, still easy.
Even after waiting a few minutes, I was done in 10 minutes.
Aug 24, 2014, 3:39 pm
#259
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Total opposite of my experience at SEA 2 weeks ago. Walked in, was told by not one, but three officers that under no circumstances that I could walk in.
So I took the 10 minute drive up to the office at King County Airport. In and out in 20 minutes, card received 3 days later.
If you're in the Seattle area, go to the King County Airport, your life will be easier.
Just used it at ICN. Officer didn't bat an eye, didn't look at it at all, just cleared me through.
So I took the 10 minute drive up to the office at King County Airport. In and out in 20 minutes, card received 3 days later.
If you're in the Seattle area, go to the King County Airport, your life will be easier.
Just used it at ICN. Officer didn't bat an eye, didn't look at it at all, just cleared me through.
Applied US card Monday, SEA. Walk in. Nice saign saying no walk ins. I and the staff ignored it. 10 minute wait. 10 minutes of slow typing, 2-3 questions, signature capture, a bit more typing. Out in less than 20 minutes total. Card arrived Thursday.
Applied for NZ card ~3 weeks ago. Just got letter asking me to visit NZ for an interview on Monday... that isn't going to be happening!
As an aside for the US card - has anyone tried using it as ID for TSA ID checks? It's not on the TSA list, but I'm interested to see how they treat it. Shall find out tomorrow for ORD, I guess.
Applied for NZ card ~3 weeks ago. Just got letter asking me to visit NZ for an interview on Monday... that isn't going to be happening!
As an aside for the US card - has anyone tried using it as ID for TSA ID checks? It's not on the TSA list, but I'm interested to see how they treat it. Shall find out tomorrow for ORD, I guess.
Aug 24, 2014, 4:34 pm
#260
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
Aug 24, 2014, 9:22 pm
#261
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
Anyone use the US card into Indonesia? Out of interest (& whether I should remember to have cash on me!) wondering if they just processed you in or if they still wanted the cash for VoA?
Aug 25, 2014, 7:41 am
#263
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
Last edited by Jaimito Cartero; Aug 28, 2014 at 9:34 am
Aug 26, 2014, 1:30 pm
#264
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 112
Wait, are you saying NZ asked you to do an interview as part of your NZ ABTC application? That is the first I have heard of such a practice.
Aug 26, 2014, 3:15 pm
#265
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
Yup. I imagine it was because they don't get too many applications from NZ passport holders not living in NZ, but that's just pure speculation on my part.
Aug 27, 2014, 8:20 am
#266
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 112
Hmm, interesting. Conducting interviews would bring them more in line with U.S. practices. Maybe I can get some more details from the NZ govt.
Aug 27, 2014, 3:56 pm
#267
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
Aug 28, 2014, 7:41 am
#268
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 112
Aug 28, 2014, 11:27 am
#269
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
Email from them overnight (I do like the response times from NZ govt depts!) and I have misunderstood their letter. They just had some follow up questions on the info I had sent on the application. All dealt with (hopefully...!) via email back to them.
Aug 28, 2014, 12:07 pm
#270
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 112
Thanks for clearing that up. Glad to hear you don't have to go to NZ just for an interview, and that some governments actually reply to citizen inquiries in a timely manner.