APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SJC/SFO (previously BNE, SIN, SHA/PVG)
Programs: UA GS/MM, Marriott TE, National EE, Global Entry/TSA-Pre, APEC BTC
Posts: 162
APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)
anyone had any experience applying for the Australian APEC Business Traveller Card? I'm preparing my docs now and just wanted to get any insight that is out there.
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
Very very hard to qualify in past couple of years due to the other APEC countries complaining that Aussies had >50% of all APEC issued cards. Now it is limited to C-level of sufficiently large trade revenue companies. Much easier to get it in NZ for example. More power to you if you qualify.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,512
Thats just not true. As long as you have business in asia, can show that you do and will travel and are C level or nominated by C level as having a BDM component in your job you should be OK. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 75
You need a clean criminal record, and evidence of regular short-term travel to a range of APEC countries (eg itineraries over the past 12 months) for the purpose of trade etc, and a fee of $150. Can take up to three months to get all country approvals but they will issue interim cards as approval come through.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
When I applied there was a backlog and they were openly stating that it would take a long time, but...
I sent in my application end of February (posted from Australia). My card was approved by Australia (after police background check, etc) in late August. My interim card was sent one month later (after being approved by about 4 countries that I had selected). This card is ONLY good for entry into the countries that have approved you at the time it's printed. My final card was sent on the 28th of November - 9 months after my initial application was mailed.
So far the card hasn't saved me getting any visas yet - although if it had been processed faster it would have saved me a Chinese visa and also meant I could have made a trip to Russia that I didn't end up making due to the time it would have taken to get a visa.
However I have used it to access the "fast lane" when going through immigration in many countries, including Thailand, China (with my temporary card that didn't have China listed, but with a visa), the USA (3+ times), and Canada and the time saved from that alone is worth every cent I paid for the card! In many countries (Thailand and China at least) you can also use the fast lane though immigration when exiting the country.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,693
I got it pretty easily at IAH second half of last year, only delay (mild) was in getting an appointment. Is OP not US-based? With GE and proof of necessity shouldn't be too bad at all (unless I'm missing something).
#8
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,512
OP is applying through Australia so those processes would apply.
Mine was first half last year, think it was about 4 weeks from application to approval (from Aus) and then about 10 weeks to get all the countries. You can track it on the website and they'd come through in clumps every couple of weeks, for me Japan was the last about 2-3 weeks after everyone else. That was about the same timeframe as my boss who got it a year earlier.
Mine was first half last year, think it was about 4 weeks from application to approval (from Aus) and then about 10 weeks to get all the countries. You can track it on the website and they'd come through in clumps every couple of weeks, for me Japan was the last about 2-3 weeks after everyone else. That was about the same timeframe as my boss who got it a year earlier.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Where you are based has nothing to do with it - it's all down to citizenship. I'm based in the US, but had to apply through Australia.
Somewhat unrelated, but the US and Canada issued APEC cards are very different to those issued by other countries. These cards are much easier to get (if you have Global Entry you just need to ask for one and you get it), but they do NOT provide visa-free travel. The only benefit to having one of the US/Canada issued cards is that you can use the APEC line at immigration - but normal visa requirements for the country still apply.
Somewhat unrelated, but the US and Canada issued APEC cards are very different to those issued by other countries. These cards are much easier to get (if you have Global Entry you just need to ask for one and you get it), but they do NOT provide visa-free travel. The only benefit to having one of the US/Canada issued cards is that you can use the APEC line at immigration - but normal visa requirements for the country still apply.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,693
Where you are based has nothing to do with it - it's all down to citizenship. I'm based in the US, but had to apply through Australia.
Somewhat unrelated, but the US and Canada issued APEC cards are very different to those issued by other countries. These cards are much easier to get (if you have Global Entry you just need to ask for one and you get it), but they do NOT provide visa-free travel. The only benefit to having one of the US/Canada issued cards is that you can use the APEC line at immigration - but normal visa requirements for the country still apply.
Somewhat unrelated, but the US and Canada issued APEC cards are very different to those issued by other countries. These cards are much easier to get (if you have Global Entry you just need to ask for one and you get it), but they do NOT provide visa-free travel. The only benefit to having one of the US/Canada issued cards is that you can use the APEC line at immigration - but normal visa requirements for the country still apply.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SJC/SFO (previously BNE, SIN, SHA/PVG)
Programs: UA GS/MM, Marriott TE, National EE, Global Entry/TSA-Pre, APEC BTC
Posts: 162
Correct, I'm an Australian citizen based in the US with Global Entry. As I cannot apply in the US as an Australian citizen, I need to apply in Australia and it does seem more difficult than the US. I have all my documentation ready and will submit next week. Will let you all know about timing.
#12
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,693
Correct, I'm an Australian citizen based in the US with Global Entry. As I cannot apply in the US as an Australian citizen, I need to apply in Australia and it does seem more difficult than the US. I have all my documentation ready and will submit next week. Will let you all know about timing.
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,403
Where you are based has nothing to do with it - it's all down to citizenship. I'm based in the US, but had to apply through Australia.
Somewhat unrelated, but the US and Canada issued APEC cards are very different to those issued by other countries. These cards are much easier to get (if you have Global Entry you just need to ask for one and you get it), but they do NOT provide visa-free travel. The only benefit to having one of the US/Canada issued cards is that you can use the APEC line at immigration - but normal visa requirements for the country still apply.
Somewhat unrelated, but the US and Canada issued APEC cards are very different to those issued by other countries. These cards are much easier to get (if you have Global Entry you just need to ask for one and you get it), but they do NOT provide visa-free travel. The only benefit to having one of the US/Canada issued cards is that you can use the APEC line at immigration - but normal visa requirements for the country still apply.
#14
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,693
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SJC/SFO (previously BNE, SIN, SHA/PVG)
Programs: UA GS/MM, Marriott TE, National EE, Global Entry/TSA-Pre, APEC BTC
Posts: 162
Update. I submitted the application while back in Australia, (arrived at their offices feb 16th) and then followed up with an email. Got an auto response stating that processing time is currently 12 weeks. Will let you know actual processing time.