invisible

Just want to share an experience - last month together with wife was at Bali for short holidays. After landing and getting out from the bus (BTW, it was shortest bus ride ever - 50m) and getting into the building we cleared customs/immigration in less that five minutes due to the fact that we did not need visa and we have ABTC cards.

Totally, I checked, from the moment we stepped into the building and to the moment we were in the car with our driver on the way to the hotel - seven minutes passed.

Compare this 1.5h processing time last year at Yogyakarta when had to stand first to VoA line, then on passport control and finally to pick up our luggage. Lesson learned - have visa in the passport or go to visa free countries, have ABTC on hand and have no checked luggage. Things are MUCH better with this arrangement.

Merlinrnr

Newbie question: what is ABTC?

invisible

APEC Business Travel Card

Available for those who have Global Entry as well. If you plan to go to Asia and especially - if you already have GE, take my advice - get it now, it will greatly simplify entrance/exit experience.

Merlinrnr

Thanks for the info. Going in September and November. Hope I can get it by then.

ijgordon

Hmm, first I've heard of this. I suppose getting one in two weeks is out of the question...

invisible

Usually it takes about 5 month to get it if your interview center is at SFO. You might be luckier at other places.

dtsm

If you already have GE card, should take less than 2 wks, at least for me. ymmv

Jaimito Cartero

Actually Indonesia is visa free for many countries now. I've used the APEC card at CGK last year, but it shaved just a few minutes off. Unless you go to countries with huge lines, I wouldn't recommend it.

invisible

Could you explain, what is a disadvantage having it?

Regarding lines - it saved me standing for 70min line in Shnaghai and 45min wait time in Saigon last year.

rizayosia

Not advising that you should or should not apply for the APEC card, but just would like to clarify that Indonesia is visa free for many countries now (only if you enter and exit from specific ports though, including Bali airport).

invisible

I think we are distinguishing between 'lines for for VoA' vs. 'Lines for passport control'. While fisa free status will free you up for VoA lines, ABTC will free you up waiting 30-60 minutes for passport check as I've mentioned above.

pilotsnoopy

good day everyone,

how do you bring/indicate your partner along the APEC/Diplomatic lane since we are supposed to go thru passport control 1 by 1?

Jaimito Cartero

SQTraveller

Bali was the only place I had a problem with this. No other country has stopped me bringing other people. It has happened twice which is not a huge sample size I grant you.

SQTraveller

Agreed ABTC makes things so much easier. Not just reducing waiting time, but also means I don't need to pay for visas to go into certain countries.