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US/Canadian Issued ABTC/APEC Business Travel Card: Updates, Experiences, Q&A

Old Jun 23, 2014, 10:17 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: RandomNobody
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)
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.


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US/Canadian Issued ABTC/APEC Business Travel Card: Updates, Experiences, Q&A

Old Feb 1, 2019, 7:30 am
  #1546  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Diamond
Posts: 67
So I just used my APEC card for the first time traveling internationally.

Hong Kong (No Problem)
Chiang Mai Thailand: The immigration person said something about the lack of stamp on back and next time use normal line but let me through
Clark Airport Philippines: The agent said i shouldn't use the lane since it wasn't stamped on the back. I countered that I was told that was ONLY if a visa was required to enter a country, if visa not required which it wasn't it wouldn't be stamped. She did let me go but but unsure if she believed me.


I read there are mixed results in the WIKI. Does anyone have specific documentation or something you can carry to explain to the person at immigration that being stamped is not required? I may use google translate and print and bring it with me for future trips
krupdogg is offline  
Old Feb 1, 2019, 12:35 pm
  #1547  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 53
I've had success everywhere (including HKG, PVG, MNL, SIN, DPS, etc.) except DMK. In fact, of the past 4 times I went to DMK I was denied 3 times where the agent told me you need a stamp on back and to get in the other line (which was at LEAST 2 hours long at that point). I haven't had any issues at BKK but the last time I went the agent did look at the back but didn't say anything. Kinda makes me want to avoid DMK if I can fly to BKK instead going forward. I told them that no stamp on the back meant I could go anywhere but she was hell bent on sending me to the end of the longest line.
EZjace is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2019, 3:31 am
  #1548  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 217
Originally Posted by krupdogg
So I just used my APEC card for the first time traveling internationally.

Hong Kong (No Problem)
Chiang Mai Thailand: The immigration person said something about the lack of stamp on back and next time use normal line but let me through
Clark Airport Philippines: The agent said i shouldn't use the lane since it wasn't stamped on the back. I countered that I was told that was ONLY if a visa was required to enter a country, if visa not required which it wasn't it wouldn't be stamped. She did let me go but but unsure if she believed me.


I read there are mixed results in the WIKI. Does anyone have specific documentation or something you can carry to explain to the person at immigration that being stamped is not required? I may use google translate and print and bring it with me for future trips
You experience at Clark is interesting, since I have used my card at least a dozen times at MNL without a problem. In fact, one time they had switched the immigration booths around, I couldn't spot the ABTC queue, showed my card to an officer who was at the entrance to arrival and she personally escorted me through hundreds of waiting people straight up to the appropriate booth where one person was in front of me.

Same goes for CNX...never had an issue there, but be aware there is no special lane at departures security and it can get very crowded. There is only one special lane at departures, but once you get past that there is a special booth at immigration. The only special lanes at CNX departures security are for Thai or PRC passport holders and if you have one of those, it's a breeze!
tookay is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2019, 5:50 am
  #1549  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Based in Michigan, but I could be anywhere!
Programs: Hilton, American, Club Carlson, United, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 409
What is the latest state of things at Sydney with regard to companions and/or non-business use of the APEC line? And is it even necessary with the electronic passport queues? (We're arriving on the AA flight from LAX in a few weeks, and it has been several years since I've been to Australia...)
WoodyWindy is offline  
Old Feb 14, 2019, 1:37 am
  #1550  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,002
Need some advice here.

My APEC card will expire in May 2019. My GE will expire in Jan 2020. I applied for the renewal of GE a few days ago. I read that it could take quite some time for GE renewal to be approved due to the recent federal government shutdown.

Should I apply for renewal of my APEC card now or should I wait for GE to be approved first? If I apply for APEC card renewal before GE is approved, will my APEC expire January 2020 instead of in 3 years?
naumank is offline  
Old Feb 14, 2019, 1:13 pm
  #1551  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
Originally Posted by naumank
Need some advice here.

My APEC card will expire in May 2019. My GE will expire in Jan 2020. I applied for the renewal of GE a few days ago. I read that it could take quite some time for GE renewal to be approved due to the recent federal government shutdown.

Should I apply for renewal of my APEC card now or should I wait for GE to be approved first? If I apply for APEC card renewal before GE is approved, will my APEC expire January 2020 instead of in 3 years?
I had no issues renewing my APEC before my NEXUS - I still got the full 3 year validity.
PVDtoDEL is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2019, 12:10 am
  #1552  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,002
Originally Posted by PVDtoDEL
I had no issues renewing my APEC before my NEXUS - I still got the full 3-year validity.
I took your advice and applied for the renewal of my APEC card. The application was approved instantaneously and the new expiration date is 2024. I guess they have increased the validity of the card from 3 years to 5 years. MY GE renewal application is still pending, though.

How long does it take to receive a new card these days? Nowhere in the application process does it say when a new card will be mailed to me.

Update: I logged in to my TT account and saw a notification dated today - an approval letter which says I will receive my new card within 3 weeks. I didn't get an email notification, though. My GE renewal is still pending.

Last edited by naumank; Feb 15, 2019 at 12:20 pm
naumank is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2019, 12:29 pm
  #1553  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGK/LAX
Programs: KF,JMB, OZ, SPG,AA,UA,AS
Posts: 1,163
Originally Posted by naumank
I took your advice and applied for the renewal of my APEC card. The application was approved instantaneously and the new expiration date is 2024. I guess they have increased the validity of the card from 3 years to 5 years. MY GE renewal application is still pending, though.

How long does it take to receive a new card these days? Nowhere in the application process does it say when a new card will be mailed to me.

Update: I logged in to my TT account and saw a notification dated today - an approval letter which says I will receive my new card within 3 weeks. I didn't get an email notification, though. My GE renewal is still pending.
I renewed mine in November and received the replacement card in about a week.
gpeso8 is offline  
Old Feb 16, 2019, 8:55 pm
  #1554  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3
No Success in BKK

I have a US issued APEC card so there are no listed countries on the back. I travel to BKK every month. The fact that Thailand is not listed on the back is always an issue. Some times I can talk my wY through but more than 50 recent if the time the immigration officer refuses to accept the card and sends me back. I have a Business Visa for Thailand so that is not the issue. It seems BANGKOK does not honor the program without Thailand being listed on the back of the card
R21611 is offline  
Old Feb 17, 2019, 11:09 am
  #1555  
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,741
Originally Posted by R21611
I have a US issued APEC card so there are no listed countries on the back. I travel to BKK every month. The fact that Thailand is not listed on the back is always an issue. Some times I can talk my wY through but more than 50 recent if the time the immigration officer refuses to accept the card and sends me back. I have a Business Visa for Thailand so that is not the issue. It seems BANGKOK does not honor the program without Thailand being listed on the back of the card
I have a U.S. passport, ABTC card, and Thai non-imm B [business visa]. I enter Thailand at least a half-dozen times a year, both through BKK and DMK, and have never, as in NEVER, had a problem using the ABTC entry queues.

It makes me wonder why you are encountering such problems.
Always Flyin is offline  
Old Feb 17, 2019, 4:58 pm
  #1556  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3
Hi Always Flyin,
We have the same B Visa. Do you try to pass at the Fast Track line where Thai Business Class can pass or do you know another place to pass through where they accept the ABTC? As I mentioned, I enter every month and am always stopped.
R21611 is offline  
Old Feb 18, 2019, 6:53 am
  #1557  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 217
Travelling on a non-immigrant B visa, I have been entering been entering BKK with ABTC almost every month for nearly three years through both the Fast Track lanes and also the ABTC/Diplomatic lanes located inside the two main immigration halls, both departing and arriving, and I have never once had an issue. It is sort of surprising to hear that you are having a 50% failure rate.
tookay is offline  
Old Feb 18, 2019, 1:24 pm
  #1558  
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,741
Originally Posted by R21611
Hi Always Flyin,
We have the same B Visa. Do you try to pass at the Fast Track line where Thai Business Class can pass or do you know another place to pass through where they accept the ABTC? As I mentioned, I enter every month and am always stopped.
I use the Fast Track queues at BKK. At DMK, I use the dedicated APEC queue, which is unfortunately also used by the aged and those with children.

Fortunately, most of my trips are into and out of BKK.

Haven't had an international departure out of DMK in years, but also no problem using the Fast Track departure queue at BKK with my APEC card.
Always Flyin is offline  
Old Feb 18, 2019, 10:37 pm
  #1559  
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
Originally Posted by R21611
Hi Always Flyin,
We have the same B Visa. Do you try to pass at the Fast Track line where Thai Business Class can pass or do you know another place to pass through where they accept the ABTC? As I mentioned, I enter every month and am always stopped.
You said "we". Are you trying to enter with family or other people?
kyanar is offline  
Old Feb 19, 2019, 6:39 am
  #1560  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3
No just me. We meant you and me 😀. Either I am extremely unlucky or you are extremely lucky. I cant explain it any other way.
R21611 is offline  

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