Jun 23, 14, 11:17 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.
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)
HND - 07/30/14 - success
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)
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)
HND - 07/30/14 - success
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)
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.
ABTC/APEC Business Travel Card for US/Canadian Citizens: Updates, Experiences, Q&A
Jul 9, 18, 5:53 am
#1501
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,680
Originally Posted by tide
As others have mentioned here, DMK continues to be a problem for US ABTC. I've had success here in the past though.
Flew into DMK. Immigration officer (2 of them) denied me the use of line saying I needed a specific endorsement for Thailand. I had time and there was no one in line I was holding up (and regular lines were also short) so I asked for a supervisor. He came around and concurred with denial. At this point, another immigration officer came by (for a total of 4) and all concurred.
I asked the supervisor politely why this wasn't an issue at BKK and he said that (paraphrased) "BKK is BKK, this is DMK". My guess is, given the airlines that serve DMK, they do not see a lot of US ABTCs.
In the end, as a "one-time exception" they let me through. In the future, if regular lines are short, I will use the regular lines instead at DMK.
Flew into DMK. Immigration officer (2 of them) denied me the use of line saying I needed a specific endorsement for Thailand. I had time and there was no one in line I was holding up (and regular lines were also short) so I asked for a supervisor. He came around and concurred with denial. At this point, another immigration officer came by (for a total of 4) and all concurred.
I asked the supervisor politely why this wasn't an issue at BKK and he said that (paraphrased) "BKK is BKK, this is DMK". My guess is, given the airlines that serve DMK, they do not see a lot of US ABTCs.
In the end, as a "one-time exception" they let me through. In the future, if regular lines are short, I will use the regular lines instead at DMK.
No, I do not have another visa. My Non-Imm B expired months ago.
Jul 14, 18, 5:18 pm
#1502
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 548
Originally Posted by Always Flyin
I went through DMK last week. Not only was my ABTC accepted without question, they stamped me in for 90-days.
No, I do not have another visa. My Non-Imm B expired months ago.
No, I do not have another visa. My Non-Imm B expired months ago.
Jul 15, 18, 6:07 am
#1503
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Based in Michigan, but I could be anywhere!
Programs: Hilton, American, Club Carlson, United, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 409
Originally Posted by kyanar
Is yours US issued? Because you qualify for neither visa on arrival nor visa exemption for a 90 day business visit unless your ABTC is issued with pre-clearance.
Jul 15, 18, 11:13 am
#1504
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, TK Elite, DL Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis First
Posts: 7,645
Originally Posted by WoodyWindy
There may be some agent (in)discretion here. While the participating member country isn't required to grant access to the transitional members' citizens without a traditional visa, there is nothing in the ABTC agreement that prevents them from doing so (local law may be another matter...).
It's not a matter of whether you're going to get into the country or not, it's a matter of whether you're going to be able to get on the plane. Without a visa, you should be denied boarding at your departure point - at least not without multiple levels of human error coming into play.
Saying there's nothing in the rules that say they can't let you in without the correct endorsement is a bit like saying there's nothing in the rules that say they can't let you in based on you showing your Starbucks card at the border. Whilst technically true, it's just not going to happen.
Jul 15, 18, 4:37 pm
#1505
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,680
Originally Posted by kyanar
Is yours US issued?
Originally Posted by kyanar
Because you qualify for neither visa on arrival nor visa exemption for a 90 day business visit unless your ABTC is issued with pre-clearance.
Originally Posted by WoodyWindy
There may be some agent (in)discretion here. While the participating member country isn't required to grant access to the transitional members' citizens without a traditional visa, there is nothing in the ABTC agreement that prevents them from doing so (local law may be another matter...). Personally, I wouldn't count on it happening, but I certainly wouldn't complain if it did!
Originally Posted by docbert
It's got nothing to do with transitional members as such, but everything to do with the endorsements on the back of the card. If a card isn't endorsed for a country, then you haven't been pre-approved for that country, so you can't use your ABTC card as a visa substitute if a visa is required.
It's not a matter of whether you're going to get into the country or not, it's a matter of whether you're going to be able to get on the plane. Without a visa, you should be denied boarding at your departure point - at least not without multiple levels of human error coming into play.
Saying there's nothing in the rules that say they can't let you in without the correct endorsement is a bit like saying there's nothing in the rules that say they can't let you in based on you showing your Starbucks card at the border. Whilst technically true, it's just not going to happen.
It's not a matter of whether you're going to get into the country or not, it's a matter of whether you're going to be able to get on the plane. Without a visa, you should be denied boarding at your departure point - at least not without multiple levels of human error coming into play.
Saying there's nothing in the rules that say they can't let you in without the correct endorsement is a bit like saying there's nothing in the rules that say they can't let you in based on you showing your Starbucks card at the border. Whilst technically true, it's just not going to happen.
Jul 16, 18, 3:59 am
#1506
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: MPC, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 404
FWIW, I was just through DMK a few weeks back and used my ABTC card. They stamped for 30 days (presumably tourist visa - it looks like H.30? and the expiry was 30 days out).
I think it is important that we separate the two facts - for my US-issued ABTC, I used it for the ability to use the diplomatic lane, but for visa purposes, relied on the tourist visa-free exception. While I appreciate that the stated use of ABTC is for business-only. this is one of the many times that immigration seemed fine to allow use of ABTC while traveling for leisure.
They are probably within their right to turn ABTC holders away if you don't have a business visa, but I have yet to experience that myself (and I don't think I've seen a story to that effect here).
I think it is important that we separate the two facts - for my US-issued ABTC, I used it for the ability to use the diplomatic lane, but for visa purposes, relied on the tourist visa-free exception. While I appreciate that the stated use of ABTC is for business-only. this is one of the many times that immigration seemed fine to allow use of ABTC while traveling for leisure.
They are probably within their right to turn ABTC holders away if you don't have a business visa, but I have yet to experience that myself (and I don't think I've seen a story to that effect here).
Jul 16, 18, 3:27 pm
#1508
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA and NoVA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,923
You still need a visa
Originally Posted by jvanyc
Anyone have Chinese entry experience? Do you need to still get a full visa from USA ?
Jul 16, 18, 4:11 pm
#1509
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 39,710
Originally Posted by meducate
The card does not exempt you from needing a Chinese Visa. If you are going for business and not relying on a 72-hour tourist visa you will need to get a Chinese visa.
Jul 23, 18, 12:19 pm
#1510
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA and NoVA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,923
Originally Posted by bocastephen
Just one point to caution the OP - there is no 72 hour tourist visa - there is a 72 hour TRANSIT visa which has very specific requirements and is highly complex and the OP should carefully review the thread on that subject in the China travel forum. Using the APEC card to enter on a transit visa without any legitimate business purpose could be problematic, however the transit visa counter is often the same as the APEC counter, or at least the wait time is similar to be processed.
Jul 23, 18, 6:39 pm
#1511
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA GLD
Posts: 1,696
Originally Posted by bocastephen
Just one point to caution the OP - there is no 72 hour tourist visa - there is a 72 hour TRANSIT visa which has very specific requirements and is highly complex and the OP should carefully review the thread on that subject in the China travel forum. Using the APEC card to enter on a transit visa without any legitimate business purpose could be problematic, however the transit visa counter is often the same as the APEC counter, or at least the wait time is similar to be processed.
Originally Posted by meducate
Thanks for the correction!
Jul 27, 18, 5:49 am
#1513
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 217
Originally Posted by HKUSFLYER
I was recently in BKK and there was a premium lane pass handed to me together with the landing card. I was wondering whether that is the same entry as the ABTC entrance?
The dedicated fast track lane located between the two main immigration halls, or;
The fast track lanes located inside the main immigration halls. Those are located on the far right side as you walk in.
Aug 10, 18, 3:49 am
#1514
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 439
Originally Posted by jvanyc
Anyone have Chinese entry experience? Do you need to still get a full visa from USA ?
I'm also a bit concerned with all the issues that Trump has been stirring up with China, so at some point they might decide to start hassling US travelers but so far the most serious issues have only been with "newbies" that hadn't encountered the transitional card with no visas on the back. They suddenly become confused, but a call to a supervisor sorts this out.
Aug 14, 18, 5:43 am
#1515
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: BKK/SEL/YQG
Posts: 2,543
Originally Posted by WoodyWindy
You have pretty much summed it up for US/CA based travelers. Given that Congress just passed a long-term/permanent extension, maybe we'll get past this whole "transitional" thing, and start working on endorsements. (OK, rose-colored glasses, but a guy's gotta have a dream...)
