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
Jun 13, 2019, 12:27 pm
#1591
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,536
HND arrival: worked, avoided significant queue.
HND departure: worked, avoided significant queue.
SIN arrival: worked, no time saved.
SIN departure: worked, no time saved.
HKG arrival: worked, avoided small queue.
HKG departure: worked, avoided significant queue.
ADL arrival: worked, avoided significant queue.
MEL departure: worked, no time saved.
LAX arrival: used GE, but APEC-enabled non-American colleague avoided a truly massive crush of humanity.
Best, Jamie
HND departure: worked, avoided significant queue.
SIN arrival: worked, no time saved.
SIN departure: worked, no time saved.
HKG arrival: worked, avoided small queue.
HKG departure: worked, avoided significant queue.
ADL arrival: worked, avoided significant queue.
MEL departure: worked, no time saved.
LAX arrival: used GE, but APEC-enabled non-American colleague avoided a truly massive crush of humanity.
Best, Jamie
Jun 13, 2019, 2:28 pm
#1592
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
Where is the special queue for HKG departure? Last few times, I asked and was always told there is no priority line at all for departure security.
Depature immigration tends not to be busy because it is after security.
Depature immigration tends not to be busy because it is after security.
Jun 13, 2019, 3:44 pm
#1593
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,536
I think the actual book may change from time to time. I showed my card to a guy and he sent me far down on the left.
Jun 17, 2019, 2:33 am
#1594
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: California
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 107
Jul 4, 2019, 5:10 pm
#1595
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: +61
Programs: SQ*PPS, QF-WP1 & LTG, VA-Gold, Marriott*LTT, Hilton*Gold, Accor*Platinum
Posts: 5,735
During the construction at SYD departures, appears APEC card holders can now enter the customs hall with pax in wheelchairs/needing assistance (not strollers).
The entrance is to the right of the main entrance - important today before school holidays with 1,000+ people queuing before entering the customs hall (I only wish I spotted it earlier!)
The entrance is to the right of the main entrance - important today before school holidays with 1,000+ people queuing before entering the customs hall (I only wish I spotted it earlier!)
Jul 5, 2019, 5:49 pm
#1596
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 222
Usually, it is same as Hong Kong resident line (not Hong Kong permanent resident line). Bit confusing, but there are distinctive lines for Hong Kong Permanent Resident Line (usually shorter), Hong Kong Resident Line.
Jul 14, 2019, 8:42 pm
#1598
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: Marco Polo, BA Executive club, SPG, Hyatt,
Posts: 65
My APEC card has yet to expire, but my passport was close to expire so I went ahead and get a new one.
I noticed that my passport says "It is a replacement for passport number XXXXXXX", and consider that my APEC card was issued under XXXXXX, can I still use my existing APEC card without getting a new one? (I didn't want to because I would have to go to interview in states again, and that I have no plans to do it in the near future)
I ask because there is a Visa that I can use in my expired passport, provided that I bring the expired passport with the new one.
Thanks in Advance
I noticed that my passport says "It is a replacement for passport number XXXXXXX", and consider that my APEC card was issued under XXXXXX, can I still use my existing APEC card without getting a new one? (I didn't want to because I would have to go to interview in states again, and that I have no plans to do it in the near future)
I ask because there is a Visa that I can use in my expired passport, provided that I bring the expired passport with the new one.
Thanks in Advance
Jul 14, 2019, 10:23 pm
#1600
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
Question 14 – What should I do if my passport expires or is replaced?
ABTC holders must maintain a valid passport during the use of their card. Cardholders must renew their ABTC if their passport is renewed or replaced and their card makes reference to their previous passport information.
Now realistically, especially for a US/CA ABTC, odds are it isn't going to make any difference. I doubt they are going to compare the number, and worst case they are just going to bump you to the normal line.
For a non-US/CA card I would never take the risk - for starters you'd risk the check-in staff comparing the number, and the worse case becomes denied boarding or being denied entry to the country (presuming it's a country where the ABTC is being used as a replacement for a visa)
I can't speak for the US, but Australia has a simple process where they will issue a new ABTC when you get a new passport, all done via a website.
Aug 2, 2019, 7:43 pm
#1601
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: AA Exec Plat
Posts: 105
First time getting rejected, at DPS. Guy looks at the card, shows his colleague next to him and says no stamps, go to regular line. Luckily the regular line was only 15 minutes. Was traveling for leisure so didnt push the issue.
Aug 2, 2019, 8:48 pm
#1602
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
US citizens require a visa if visiting Indonesia for business. No visa means you were claiming to be there as a tourist (as you stated you were), and officially they do not need to honor ABTC's for non-business travel.
Aug 3, 2019, 5:49 am
#1603
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,536
Unless you had a visa they were absolutely within their rights to deny you.
US citizens require a visa if visiting Indonesia for business. No visa means you were claiming to be there as a tourist (as you stated you were), and officially they do not need to honor ABTC's for non-business travel.
US citizens require a visa if visiting Indonesia for business. No visa means you were claiming to be there as a tourist (as you stated you were), and officially they do not need to honor ABTC's for non-business travel.
Aug 4, 2019, 1:46 pm
#1604
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 217
I have been through DPS three times using my ABTC card, most recently about three months ago. Never had a problem using that queue, although the wait looked short in the normal channels as well.
I recall about a year ago that the airport VIP greet services has been discontinued due to the obvious corruption that was happening with immigration for fast track access. Are they back up and running?
I recall about a year ago that the airport VIP greet services has been discontinued due to the obvious corruption that was happening with immigration for fast track access. Are they back up and running?
Aug 15, 2019, 4:19 pm
#1605
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Newport Beach / San Francisco / Seattle
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Amex Centurion, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 289
From https://www.apec.org/Groups/Committe...Group/ABTC/FAQ :
Question 14 – What should I do if my passport expires or is replaced?
ABTC holders must maintain a valid passport during the use of their card. Cardholders must renew their ABTC if their passport is renewed or replaced and their card makes reference to their previous passport information.
Now realistically, especially for a US/CA ABTC, odds are it isn't going to make any difference. I doubt they are going to compare the number, and worst case they are just going to bump you to the normal line.
For a non-US/CA card I would never take the risk - for starters you'd risk the check-in staff comparing the number, and the worse case becomes denied boarding or being denied entry to the country (presuming it's a country where the ABTC is being used as a replacement for a visa)
I can't speak for the US, but Australia has a simple process where they will issue a new ABTC when you get a new passport, all done via a website.
Question 14 – What should I do if my passport expires or is replaced?
ABTC holders must maintain a valid passport during the use of their card. Cardholders must renew their ABTC if their passport is renewed or replaced and their card makes reference to their previous passport information.
Now realistically, especially for a US/CA ABTC, odds are it isn't going to make any difference. I doubt they are going to compare the number, and worst case they are just going to bump you to the normal line.
For a non-US/CA card I would never take the risk - for starters you'd risk the check-in staff comparing the number, and the worse case becomes denied boarding or being denied entry to the country (presuming it's a country where the ABTC is being used as a replacement for a visa)
I can't speak for the US, but Australia has a simple process where they will issue a new ABTC when you get a new passport, all done via a website.