Jun 23, 14, 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.
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, 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.
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, 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.
US/Canadian Issued ABTC/APEC Business Travel Card: Updates, Experiences, Q&A
Jun 12, 14, 7:32 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ Business: ATL, PVG, PEK, CAN, SZX, MNL, SIN, KUL, BKK, SGN, CPT, UIO
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,520
BKK it is a priority line.
Taiwan: I use my Canadian passport because my APEC is out of HK.
Jun 12, 14, 8:20 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
called the GOES tech support again and spoke to their supervisor...not a pleasant experience...she kept on saying it's not launched yet, said maybe your friend applied directly thru APEC org. I kindly told her it's not possible, I told her maybe it's because I'm dual citizenship and asked her to check on it...she said i'm not listening to her and she just hung up on me...very bad experience....
Jun 12, 14, 10:06 pm
#33
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Star Alliance
Posts: 6,571
So, to summarize, for US citizens:
1. You can't apply for APEC card if you live outside of US
2. US APEC card is not a replacement of visa, but rather than speed line towards immigration
Well, I do not see benefit for me to apply for the card then.
1. You can't apply for APEC card if you live outside of US
2. US APEC card is not a replacement of visa, but rather than speed line towards immigration
Well, I do not see benefit for me to apply for the card then.
Jun 12, 14, 10:16 pm
#34
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,080
Would the APEC card entitle one to faster lines entering Canada if one doesn't have NEXUS (just GE)?
Jun 13, 14, 12:34 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL GM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing
Posts: 9,185
To ask the question again.
I have found nothing in the laws regulations of other APEC countries that distinguishes between the treatment between cardholders from full and from transitional members of the ABTC program.... which potentially means.
1) A US card ought to entitle you to visa free travel if CBP were willing to submit it to the other countries for endorsement (so maybe the CBP has just unilaterally decided to deny US citizens the benefit of visa waiver when traveling to other countries).... and...
2) Since the CBP is not submitting the card for endorsement, then... US card holders are not entitled to any of the card privileges including specifically they are not eligible to use the fast track lanes in other countries.
I have found nothing in the laws regulations of other APEC countries that distinguishes between the treatment between cardholders from full and from transitional members of the ABTC program.... which potentially means.
1) A US card ought to entitle you to visa free travel if CBP were willing to submit it to the other countries for endorsement (so maybe the CBP has just unilaterally decided to deny US citizens the benefit of visa waiver when traveling to other countries).... and...
2) Since the CBP is not submitting the card for endorsement, then... US card holders are not entitled to any of the card privileges including specifically they are not eligible to use the fast track lanes in other countries.
Jun 13, 14, 4:59 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ Business: ATL, PVG, PEK, CAN, SZX, MNL, SIN, KUL, BKK, SGN, CPT, UIO
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,520
Jun 13, 14, 5:07 am
#38
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,239
Jun 13, 14, 7:58 am
#39
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: AA EXP/CK, SPG LT Platinum(RIP), Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 268
US travelers to get APEC Business Travel Card
I went to the JFK GOES processing center to have my signature taken, and they first had no idea what I was talking about, then once a supervisor?? got involved, they figured out what needed to be done, but none of the Pc's had the requisite electronic signature capturing apparatus attached so they had to first go find it and then they realized that no one in the office knew how to install it. An hour later I was asked to come back another day once they had someone come in and install the signature pad installed onto the PC... Sigh.. My morning wasted...
Jun 13, 14, 8:15 am
#40
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K, AA, DL, LH, VX, HA
Posts: 6,814
also, my understanding is that each country has to clear on your application . . . I am guessing "conditional" approval means that you meet criteria from US side, but will need to get approval from each APEC country within the required time frame.
Jun 13, 14, 8:38 am
#41
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 39,063
I went to the JFK GOES processing center to have my signature taken, and they first had no idea what I was talking about, then once a supervisor?? got involved, they figured out what needed to be done, but none of the Pc's had the requisite electronic signature capturing apparatus attached so they had to first go find it and then they realized that no one in the office knew how to install it. An hour later I was asked to come back another day once they had someone come in and install the signature pad installed onto the PC... Sigh.. My morning wasted...
Jun 13, 14, 8:39 am
#42
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,239
Anyone here able to set out the benefits of getting an APEC travel card?
also, my understanding is that each country has to clear on your application . . . I am guessing "conditional" approval means that you meet criteria from US side, but will need to get approval from each APEC country within the required time frame.
also, my understanding is that each country has to clear on your application . . . I am guessing "conditional" approval means that you meet criteria from US side, but will need to get approval from each APEC country within the required time frame.
US and Canadian ABTC will only give you access to crew/diplomatic lanes and even that is questionable according to another FT member as some countries may not let you use dedicated lane if the ABTC was not pre-cleared (carries endorsement of that country).
Last edited by aBroadAbroad; Jul 4, 14 at 12:45 pm Reason: link to other thread after split
Jun 13, 14, 8:41 am
#43
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,239
I went to the JFK GOES processing center to have my signature taken, and they first had no idea what I was talking about, then once a supervisor?? got involved, they figured out what needed to be done, but none of the Pc's had the requisite electronic signature capturing apparatus attached so they had to first go find it and then they realized that no one in the office knew how to install it. An hour later I was asked to come back another day once they had someone come in and install the signature pad installed onto the PC... Sigh.. My morning wasted...
CBP....facepalm
Last edited by seawolf; Jun 13, 14 at 3:33 pm
Jun 13, 14, 1:53 pm
#44
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,732
I already applied yesterday and received conditional approval. Next step is to visit Terminal 4 at JFK in near future to complete the procedure.
However, given all the 'uncertainties' re the ABCT stateside discussed here and a sister thread, I wonder if anyone has idea whether it's ok to apply in another country? I also have HKSARS ID and Passport, their application procedure is painless, initial application can be done by mail and from their website, appears to have 'more benefits'.....
Or would a second ABCT raise a red flag with any of the participating economies?
However, given all the 'uncertainties' re the ABCT stateside discussed here and a sister thread, I wonder if anyone has idea whether it's ok to apply in another country? I also have HKSARS ID and Passport, their application procedure is painless, initial application can be done by mail and from their website, appears to have 'more benefits'.....
Or would a second ABCT raise a red flag with any of the participating economies?
Jun 13, 14, 2:42 pm
#45
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,239
APEC Cards - Now Accepting Applications
HK ABTC requires a bit more proof than US you are "a bona fide business person who needs to travel frequently on short term visits within the APEC region to fulfil business commitments."
