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
Sep 18, 2015, 9:10 pm
#781
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
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Posts: 42,211
Very simple: If your card has "CHN" listed on the back as a country "valid for travel to", then you can enter China using your APEC card in lieu of a visa. Otherwise your APEC card is just a pass to the courtesy immigration lane. Here is what Timatic has to say about the issue:
The card must be endorsed, you see. Same goes for Russia.
The card must be endorsed, you see. Same goes for Russia.
Sep 18, 2015, 10:01 pm
#782
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
That is the most important take-away, as anyone with a US or Canadian issued card who shows up in China without a valid visa in their passport is going home on the next flight, assuming they were able to bamboozle a ditzy agent into letting them board the flight to China in the first place.
Sep 18, 2015, 11:16 pm
#783
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
But if he has a US issued card, it won't have CHN listed on the back - so the US card is nothing more than a fast track line card and bears no other privileges. That is the most important take-away, as anyone with a US or Canadian issued card who shows up in China without a valid visa in their passport is going home on the next flight, assuming they were able to bamboozle a ditzy agent into letting them board the flight to China in the first place.
Sep 19, 2015, 12:15 am
#784
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
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Sep 19, 2015, 7:53 pm
#785
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Phuket, Thailand
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, Qatar Gold, Delta MM
Posts: 136
I'm a US APEC card holder and will be traveling to Bangkok for a conference. My colleague on the same flight doesn't have APEC.
Has anyone had success having a non-APEC colleague join you in the APEC queue. I'm guessing that's not allowed, but since we're sharing a taxi to the hotel I hate to have to wait for her to get through the long/slow line.
Has anyone had success having a non-APEC colleague join you in the APEC queue. I'm guessing that's not allowed, but since we're sharing a taxi to the hotel I hate to have to wait for her to get through the long/slow line.
Sep 19, 2015, 11:32 pm
#786
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
I'm a US APEC card holder and will be traveling to Bangkok for a conference. My colleague on the same flight doesn't have APEC.
Has anyone had success having a non-APEC colleague join you in the APEC queue. I'm guessing that's not allowed, but since we're sharing a taxi to the hotel I hate to have to wait for her to get through the long/slow line.
Has anyone had success having a non-APEC colleague join you in the APEC queue. I'm guessing that's not allowed, but since we're sharing a taxi to the hotel I hate to have to wait for her to get through the long/slow line.
Sep 20, 2015, 3:28 am
#787
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: LHR GVA HKG TLV PVG JFK
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,955
Are there APEC card benefits (fasttracking) when crossing the HK-SZ land border (both directions so 2 exits and two entrances)
Used to do that quite often, didn't have an APEC card at the time
Used to do that quite often, didn't have an APEC card at the time
Sep 20, 2015, 10:05 am
#788
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 222
Originally Posted by jerrywu View Post
Yes, a business visa is required to certain countries, say China for one, so as to use APEC ABTC (US issued) accordingly. There are countries, usually allowing VISA FREE, such as HKG, TWN, JPN, immigration officers did not ask if I have a business Visa on my passport. YMMV.
Having said that, a business Visa is technically required, to use APEC ABTC(US issued).
Yes, a business visa is required to certain countries, say China for one, so as to use APEC ABTC (US issued) accordingly. There are countries, usually allowing VISA FREE, such as HKG, TWN, JPN, immigration officers did not ask if I have a business Visa on my passport. YMMV.
Having said that, a business Visa is technically required, to use APEC ABTC(US issued).
Q:
Can the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card be used in lieu of a visa in a foreign APEC member economy?
A:
No. Foreign APEC member economies will not recognize the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card in lieu of a visa. Card holders must present any travel or identity documentation, such as a passport and visa (where applicable), required by the foreign APEC member economy. If a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holder does not conform to the foreign economy’s visa, passport or entry requirements, the card holder may be directed to a non-expedited lane or refused entry. Check the entry requirements of the destination APEC member economy before travel.
Can the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card be used in lieu of a visa in a foreign APEC member economy?
A:
No. Foreign APEC member economies will not recognize the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card in lieu of a visa. Card holders must present any travel or identity documentation, such as a passport and visa (where applicable), required by the foreign APEC member economy. If a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holder does not conform to the foreign economy’s visa, passport or entry requirements, the card holder may be directed to a non-expedited lane or refused entry. Check the entry requirements of the destination APEC member economy before travel.
Q:
Can I use my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card for personal travel, such as vacation?
A:
No. The APEC Business Travel Card is for members who travel frequently on short-term visits within the APEC region to fulfill business commitments. To use the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card, you must be traveling solely for business purposes to the foreign APEC economy.
Can I use my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card for personal travel, such as vacation?
A:
No. The APEC Business Travel Card is for members who travel frequently on short-term visits within the APEC region to fulfill business commitments. To use the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card, you must be traveling solely for business purposes to the foreign APEC economy.
Sep 20, 2015, 10:17 am
#789
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 222
I'm a US APEC card holder and will be traveling to Bangkok for a conference. My colleague on the same flight doesn't have APEC.
Has anyone had success having a non-APEC colleague join you in the APEC queue. I'm guessing that's not allowed, but since we're sharing a taxi to the hotel I hate to have to wait for her to get through the long/slow line.
Has anyone had success having a non-APEC colleague join you in the APEC queue. I'm guessing that's not allowed, but since we're sharing a taxi to the hotel I hate to have to wait for her to get through the long/slow line.
Q:
Is my spouse or child able to access the APEC lanes if they are traveling with me?
A:
No. The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card is not transferable and applicable only to the card holder. Access to APEC lanes will not be extended to anyone traveling with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holder.
Is my spouse or child able to access the APEC lanes if they are traveling with me?
A:
No. The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card is not transferable and applicable only to the card holder. Access to APEC lanes will not be extended to anyone traveling with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holder.
Sep 20, 2015, 1:54 pm
#790
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA ExecPlat, AC, DL Plat, Amtrk SE, AmEx Plat, Bonvoy Plat (via SPG), HH Gold, Accor Plat, WOH Dis
Posts: 196
Without a visa, you will most likely be denied boarding. Even if you aren't, you will NOT be entering China / Russia. Listening to anyone who tells you otherwise is an error.
Sep 20, 2015, 3:24 pm
#791
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
Without a visa, you will most likely be denied boarding. Even if you aren't, you will NOT be entering China / Russia. Listening to anyone who tells you otherwise is an error.
It takes only about a week to get a Chinese visa for up to 10 years, and can be expedited if needed. Missing a business meeting is more costly.
Sep 20, 2015, 5:30 pm
#792
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: PDX, PVR, MSP
Programs: Alaska, American
Posts: 69
ok, so since the US is a transitional member it does not get the visa free benefits that other apec members get. like the article below mentions
http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Relea...06_travel.aspx
http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Relea...06_travel.aspx
Sep 21, 2015, 10:05 am
#793
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Join Date: Sep 2002
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ok, so since the US is a transitional member it does not get the visa free benefits that other apec members get. like the article below mentions
http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Relea...06_travel.aspx
http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Relea...06_travel.aspx
Sep 21, 2015, 12:17 pm
#794
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
ok, so since the US is a transitional member it does not get the visa free benefits that other apec members get. like the article below mentions
http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Relea...06_travel.aspx
http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Relea...06_travel.aspx
Originally Posted by Article
“If approved, cardholders would require the issuance of a new card with "RUS" inscribed on the back.”
Sep 29, 2015, 8:22 am
#795
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Diego US and Brisbane AU
Programs: AA EXP/2MM - DL PM - OZ Diamond - Bonvoy LTT - Hyatt Glob - IHG Plat - National EE - Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,315
Approval times after interview?
Had my ABTC interview yesterday, but no update in GOES yet. How long does it usually take to finalize? Thanks!