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
Dec 1, 2014, 10:43 am
#466
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
Perhaps a better approach would be to contact the U.S. National Center for APEC (http://www.ncapec.org/about/index.html ), which is a business association that advocates for the interests of the U.S. business community in APEC policy matters. I know they are paying close attention to the ABTC rollout, and I am sure they know who to talk to at CBP and at APEC.
National Center for APEC
500 Union Street, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-441-9022
Fax: 206-441-1006
info@ncapec dot org
I just emailed them, with a paper trail of my exchange with Ms. Chu.
Dec 1, 2014, 1:33 pm
#467
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry8700c: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.4.4; HTC6525LVW Build/KTU84P) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/39.0.2171.90 Mobile Safari/537.36)
As a side note I had a easy time as an American entering Canada on the apec card. The queue was quite long but I breezed in and was through in minutes.
As a side note I had a easy time as an American entering Canada on the apec card. The queue was quite long but I breezed in and was through in minutes.
Dec 1, 2014, 8:06 pm
#468
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA EXP with lots of BA. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat - No longer chase hotel loyalty
Posts: 6,699
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry8700c: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.4.4; HTC6525LVW Build/KTU84P) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/39.0.2171.90 Mobile Safari/537.36)
As a side note I had a easy time as an American entering Canada on the apec card. The queue was quite long but I breezed in and was through in minutes.
As a side note I had a easy time as an American entering Canada on the apec card. The queue was quite long but I breezed in and was through in minutes.
Dec 2, 2014, 4:20 am
#469
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry8700c: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.4.4; HTC6525LVW Build/KTU84P) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/39.0.2171.90 Mobile Safari/537.36)
Which airport so we can flag it in the Wiki?
Yul
Originally Posted by NickP 1K
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry8700c: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.4.4; HTC6525LVW Build/KTU84P) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/39.0.2171.90 Mobile Safari/537.36)
As a side note I had a easy time as an American entering Canada on the apec card. The queue was quite long but I breezed in and was through in minutes.
As a side note I had a easy time as an American entering Canada on the apec card. The queue was quite long but I breezed in and was through in minutes.
Dec 2, 2014, 4:23 am
#470
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
Reply:
Reaching out to the head of the APEC Business Mobility Group was a good step. We have a counterpart organization in Taiwan that we will pass this information to and request that they bring it up with their immigration officials. We will also notify CBP which represents the US on the BMG.
Best regards,
Alex Parle
National Center for APEC
Executive Vice President
E: aparle@ncapec dot org
P: 206-441-9022
W: www.ncapec.org
I suggest others send email to them
Reaching out to the head of the APEC Business Mobility Group was a good step. We have a counterpart organization in Taiwan that we will pass this information to and request that they bring it up with their immigration officials. We will also notify CBP which represents the US on the BMG.
Best regards,
Alex Parle
National Center for APEC
Executive Vice President
E: aparle@ncapec dot org
P: 206-441-9022
W: www.ncapec.org
I suggest others send email to them
Dec 3, 2014, 8:14 am
#472
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 112
Yes, many of the APEC economies may insist that your current passport number matches the number printed on the ABTC card. The APEC Business Mobility Group has recently been discussing ways to avoid complications when an ABTC cardholder renews his/her passport.
Dec 3, 2014, 11:23 am
#473
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Sorry to hear this is still a problem. The thing is, APEC is a fairly loose consortium, and the ABTC program administrative staff does not have the power to force any member economy to take a particular action. They can only issue suggestions and reminders. It is up to the representatives of each member economy to lobby the rest of the economies and obtain consensus for changes they want to see.
Hopefully the TPE issue is just a matter of education and time. Otherwise, it will probably fall to U.S. officials to advance this issue through the APEC Business Mobility Group.
Hopefully the TPE issue is just a matter of education and time. Otherwise, it will probably fall to U.S. officials to advance this issue through the APEC Business Mobility Group.
We may not be able to force anyone to do anything but if we stop their citizens from using our APEC lines we could get this issue resolved...I have suggested that....LOL - not holding my breath
Dec 4, 2014, 3:44 am
#474
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
Also on the outbound I was able to use the NEXUS fast track lane through security, not that it's any faster than normal security. They're usually quite sticklers about not letting GlobalEntry only through that lane, but APEC seems to have done the trick. The signage doesn't specifically say APEC so it's certainly not guaranteed. Maybe I just got lucky.
Dec 4, 2014, 8:46 am
#475
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 112
Sent a bunch of emails out including to my district representative (why not...)...
We may not be able to force anyone to do anything but if we stop their citizens from using our APEC lines we could get this issue resolved...I have suggested that....LOL - not holding my breath
We may not be able to force anyone to do anything but if we stop their citizens from using our APEC lines we could get this issue resolved...I have suggested that....LOL - not holding my breath
Perhaps instead CBP can get some language added to the ABTC Operating Framework to specify that all transitional cardholders must be granted access to fast track lanes. The current text of the framework is a little vague on this point.
Dec 4, 2014, 1:19 pm
#476
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
Or even better yet, the U.S. can get off its duff and become a full member of of the program, which would alleviate these problems.
Based on how long it took the U.S. to implement even this transitional program, I don't see much interest in the U.S. doing so.
Based on how long it took the U.S. to implement even this transitional program, I don't see much interest in the U.S. doing so.
Dec 4, 2014, 8:53 pm
#477
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Did you email the National Center for APEC as well? Hopefully if everyone who experiences this problem writes in that will spur CBP to action. But I don't think they would go for a tit-for-tat denial of entry for other economies' cardholders. That would not help build support for the U.S. case.
Perhaps instead CBP can get some language added to the ABTC Operating Framework to specify that all transitional cardholders must be granted access to fast track lanes. The current text of the framework is a little vague on this point.
Perhaps instead CBP can get some language added to the ABTC Operating Framework to specify that all transitional cardholders must be granted access to fast track lanes. The current text of the framework is a little vague on this point.
I have forwarded your concerns and suggestions to the US government officials who represent the US on the APEC committee that manages the operation of the card and to our counterpart business organization in Taiwan. They had earlier agreed to pass these types of concerns to their immigration officials.
I have also asked the USG for an APEC document that makes it clear that US cards are valid for use in ABTC lanes despite being blank on the back. If I received anything from them I will pass it on to you.
Best regards,
Alex Parle
National Center for APEC
Executive Vice President
aparle at ncapec dot org
more folks writing in to stephanie, bp, alex, representatives etc etc will certainly help I think.
Dec 4, 2014, 9:08 pm
#478
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
yeah - it seems that integration with other visa waiver program countries (trivium, korea, australia etc) is more of a priority. Getting us electronic entry to all the major asian cities would be great....one can wish....
Dec 5, 2014, 8:20 am
#479
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 112
Having been just an observer until a few months ago, I think CBP is still learning about the operational nuts and bolts of the ABTC program, and waiting to see how useful it is in practice for U.S. business travelers before any consideration of deeper U.S. participation.
Dec 5, 2014, 9:39 am
#480
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
