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
Feb 19, 2023, 2:25 am
#1801
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
Feb 19, 2023, 7:09 pm
#1802
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,720
Adding my success with APEC use at Tokyo HND airport (inbound, Terminal 3) on Nov 14, 2022. Flying JAL from Singapore. Just before the immigration counters at HND, there is a sign that points left for APEC. We showed our cards to an attendant and were directed left. The regular counters had what looked like a long wait. Only 3 parties ahead of us on the APEC/diplomat line. We handed the immigration officer our APEC card along with passports, but he didn't even look at the card. We were slightly nervous about this because there are no endorsements on the back side of our cards, so this was a relief. No questions about purpose of visit or our employment or anything else remotely related to APEC card usage (YMMV, obviously)..
Feb 20, 2023, 2:36 am
#1803
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
I doubt the US and Canada are planning to move to virtual ABTC given the total lack of interest in expanding the scheme. I also don't envisage much success using a virtual ABTC in crew/diplomat lanes at US airports as a result!
Feb 20, 2023, 4:30 am
#1804
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
Feb 20, 2023, 7:50 am
#1805
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New York, NY
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 456
Mar 5, 2023, 2:39 am
#1806
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SEA & SIN
Programs: UA 1K, DL PM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 60
Entered NRT today with a Canadian version of the card. I was directed to a line that appeared to be for diplomates. There was an American ahead of me in line with the US version of the ABTC but he went to a different immigration officer and took slightly longer to get processed.
When I arrived at the counter, the officer seemed confused by the empty list of countries and pointed to it and said something to me in Japanese. He then turned and had a conversation with his coworker while pointing to my card and turning it over again and again. After their conversation, everything progressed as expected and I was through.
When I arrived at the counter, the officer seemed confused by the empty list of countries and pointed to it and said something to me in Japanese. He then turned and had a conversation with his coworker while pointing to my card and turning it over again and again. After their conversation, everything progressed as expected and I was through.
Mar 15, 2023, 9:53 pm
#1807
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: +61
Programs: SQ*PPS, QF-WP1 & LTG, VA-Gold, Marriott*LTT, Hilton*Gold, Accor*Platinum
Posts: 5,735
Dual AU/CA citizen. In DPS airport (exit) - flashed CA ABTC/APEC card (clearly on holiday) to get me, family + in-laws direct to the crew line exiting on an AU passport. Immigration agent didn't check the card.
Finally came in handy!
Finally came in handy!
Mar 16, 2023, 6:53 am
#1808
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,625
Moderator's Note
Folks,
This thread is only for discussing ABTC/APEC cards which were issued by the US or Canada.
If your card was issued by another country, please do not post your experiences in this thread. There are other threads for discussing such cards or you may start a new thread.
Future off-topic posts will be summarily deleted without further notice.
Thank you for understanding,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
This thread is only for discussing ABTC/APEC cards which were issued by the US or Canada.
If your card was issued by another country, please do not post your experiences in this thread. There are other threads for discussing such cards or you may start a new thread.
Future off-topic posts will be summarily deleted without further notice.
Thank you for understanding,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Mar 22, 2023, 11:07 pm
#1809
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 20
Hi all,
People may find this interesting. I have US global entry (US passport) and it's expiring later this year, so applied to renew it 4 months ago. I decided to apply for APEC card as well since I travel a lot in Asia on business.
Of course GE renewal has been stuck in "Pending Review" for 4 months now, so the APEC application hasn't been processed either.
I finally got fed up and applied for APEC again (another $70) under my old GE (the one that is expiring later this year and still shows "approved" at the bottom of the screen) and got **instant conditional approval**.
Sigh, I could have done that 4 months ago.
So now I need to do an interview. Anyone had luck getting an interview in Singapore at the US embassy? It's completely booked up until Sept. Otherwise it'll have to wait until I fly back to the US.
Refurb
People may find this interesting. I have US global entry (US passport) and it's expiring later this year, so applied to renew it 4 months ago. I decided to apply for APEC card as well since I travel a lot in Asia on business.
Of course GE renewal has been stuck in "Pending Review" for 4 months now, so the APEC application hasn't been processed either.
I finally got fed up and applied for APEC again (another $70) under my old GE (the one that is expiring later this year and still shows "approved" at the bottom of the screen) and got **instant conditional approval**.
Sigh, I could have done that 4 months ago.
So now I need to do an interview. Anyone had luck getting an interview in Singapore at the US embassy? It's completely booked up until Sept. Otherwise it'll have to wait until I fly back to the US.
Refurb
Apr 1, 2023, 10:59 pm
#1810
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 335
Anyone had experience doing walk-ins for the interview? I applied through the Nexus program so I can only schedule the interview at a Nexus center... Was thinking about doing a walk-in at a global entry location in New York, but called JFK and they said they only do appointments and only do Global Entry and not Nexus (not sure if the person understood me correctly that I am completing an APEC interview).
I have Global Entry, not Nexus, so your experience may not be comparable.
Last edited by Petdog; Apr 1, 2023 at 11:15 pm Reason: forgot they collected my signature
Apr 2, 2023, 5:05 am
#1811
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,720
Used at HND Friday night and bypassed a nice line. Line was clearly marked just to left of regular line and nobody questioned my 13yr old with me on “biz” trip. ABTC has literally saved me hours in lines 
Last edited by Boraxo; Apr 4, 2023 at 7:52 am
Apr 5, 2023, 6:42 am
#1812
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 20
Did my interview. Was basically asked “What’s your job?” and when I said “I work for X industry and fly to countries like Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan” the response was “That’s all I need to know”.
Did the digital signature. Took 5 min total.
Got the approval email 10 min later.
One important point - they said “the card can only be mailed to a US address”. I already had a US address i can use associated with my GE account, but they said “for some people that’s a problem”
Did the digital signature. Took 5 min total.
Got the approval email 10 min later.
One important point - they said “the card can only be mailed to a US address”. I already had a US address i can use associated with my GE account, but they said “for some people that’s a problem”
Last edited by refurb; Apr 6, 2023 at 8:52 pm
Apr 13, 2023, 4:01 am
#1815
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,596
That's interesting, because I did my initial Global Entry interview in Tokyo about 8 years ago -- they had a DHS person come out to do interviews at the American Chamber's office. ABTC then got mailed to my address in Japan. There may be similar opportunities in other countries.