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 5, 2014, 10:28 am
#482
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: SIN/PVG
Programs: Basement Lurker Club
Posts: 237
It may happen eventually but probably not in the next couple of years. Budget, privacy, and security concerns may be significant hurdles.
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.
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.
And it sounds like we need to have the business community write lots of letters expressing interest in further development.
Dec 5, 2014, 11:55 am
#483
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
Yes, we certainly wouldn't want to talk about the half-baked ABTC program the DHS finally rolled out after years of delay following enactment of the authorizing legislation, which is causing many of the problems being discussed here . . . 
It's more fun just to talk about the symptoms rather than the cause, isn't it?
It's more fun just to talk about the symptoms rather than the cause, isn't it?
Dec 10, 2014, 8:39 pm
#485
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: GE/Nexus/APEC; EVA/SWA; Hilton; Avis
Posts: 11
I emailed the APEC folks who just pointed me at the Taiwan consulate. Got the reply this week:
______________________
Concerning your email of November 17, 2014, we would like to inform you that due to technical consideration, the U.S. ABTC holders are not eligible for the priority immigration processing APEC lanes in the R.O.C(Taiwan) for the time being. We are in the hope that a solution will be reached soon.
Sincerely,
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China
______________________
BTW - thanks for the heads up on the TW Frequent Traveler Speedy Entry Form. Have printed it out and will have that with me as well for this trip.
______________________
Concerning your email of November 17, 2014, we would like to inform you that due to technical consideration, the U.S. ABTC holders are not eligible for the priority immigration processing APEC lanes in the R.O.C(Taiwan) for the time being. We are in the hope that a solution will be reached soon.
Sincerely,
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China
______________________
BTW - thanks for the heads up on the TW Frequent Traveler Speedy Entry Form. Have printed it out and will have that with me as well for this trip.
Last edited by BrotherBluto; Dec 10, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Dec 11, 2014, 8:57 am
#486
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 112
I emailed the APEC folks who just pointed me at the Taiwan consulate. Got the reply this week:
______________________
Concerning your email of November 17, 2014, we would like to inform you that due to technical consideration, the U.S. ABTC holders are not eligible for the priority immigration processing APEC lanes in the R.O.C(Taiwan) for the time being. We are in the hope that a solution will be reached soon.
Sincerely,
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China
______________________
Concerning your email of November 17, 2014, we would like to inform you that due to technical consideration, the U.S. ABTC holders are not eligible for the priority immigration processing APEC lanes in the R.O.C(Taiwan) for the time being. We are in the hope that a solution will be reached soon.
Sincerely,
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China
Dec 11, 2014, 6:02 pm
#487
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 222
I emailed the APEC folks who just pointed me at the Taiwan consulate. Got the reply this week:
______________________
Concerning your email of November 17, 2014, we would like to inform you that due to technical consideration, the U.S. ABTC holders are not eligible for the priority immigration processing APEC lanes in the R.O.C(Taiwan) for the time being. We are in the hope that a solution will be reached soon.
Sincerely,
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China
______________________
BTW - thanks for the heads up on the TW Frequent Traveler Speedy Entry Form. Have printed it out and will have that with me as well for this trip.
______________________
Concerning your email of November 17, 2014, we would like to inform you that due to technical consideration, the U.S. ABTC holders are not eligible for the priority immigration processing APEC lanes in the R.O.C(Taiwan) for the time being. We are in the hope that a solution will be reached soon.
Sincerely,
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China
______________________
BTW - thanks for the heads up on the TW Frequent Traveler Speedy Entry Form. Have printed it out and will have that with me as well for this trip.
Dec 13, 2014, 5:32 pm
#488
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
How do we all suggest pushing CBP to look into this?
Likely it's not having TW on the back of the card endorsement means Taiwan has no info on the Pax in their system. YOU WOULD think then that they would still modify process to allow lane use ONLY if from Visa Waiver country and using a secondary document for entry with APEC card just for lane entry.
Dec 19, 2014, 8:46 am
#489
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SIN / SFO
Programs: UA GS, SQ PPS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,215
Processing times on these are still insanely fast—applied yesterday in preparation for an impending trip to NRT. Paid the fee around 3PM, approved by 9PM. ^
Dec 19, 2014, 10:58 pm
#490
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BDL, MHT, BOS
Programs: 1k
Posts: 119
I got my APEC card at Boston Logan. Interview for APEC and global entry was Monday before thanksgiving. There are two interview desks and the one I was at had a faulty signature pad and I had to use the other. This seemed to cause a delay in getting my application submitted. A phone call into boston got it all sorted out.
Used Global entry on my return from Turks and Caicos via JFK for first time tonight and got an X but still cleared much faster than the girlfriend :-)
Was happy to see my goes card and apec had arrived in the mail while I was gone. Prob won't be in Asia until February but I am excited to try APEC out.
Used Global entry on my return from Turks and Caicos via JFK for first time tonight and got an X but still cleared much faster than the girlfriend :-)
Was happy to see my goes card and apec had arrived in the mail while I was gone. Prob won't be in Asia until February but I am excited to try APEC out.
Last edited by beagle77; Dec 19, 2014 at 11:03 pm
Dec 21, 2014, 5:57 am
#491
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: TPE
Programs: JL JGP Emerald, NH Plat, DL Gold, VS Gold, EK Gold, Hilton DM, IHG Spire, Accor Gold, SPG/Marriott P
Posts: 17
Due to the stupid technical issue, the card doesn't with TWN code will be treat invalid because TWN APEC channel doesn't have the validation machines for APEC Card.
Usually if you have the TWN entry permission (TWN code on the your card), they can locate your visa number by the card. (pre-clearance data) , vice versa.
But even you don't have the code (pre-clearance), you should have the right to use the priority entry lane in every APEC country. And every APEC country with APEC lane will have a validation machine (A software and UV, when you type document number on the card will shows validity)
However, The validation machine only can be using by immigration of a country, PRC (China) doesn't treat TWN (Taiwan aka Chinese Taipei) as a country which means TWN can't receive and use the validation machine right now. (PRC interposed)
So if you print out a APEC card for yourself with Canada, Russian and USA issued, they can't find out it's real card or not.
I told and post the problem to the the immigration head officer about. She said will be fixed before Lunar New Year (CNY).
If there has any update, I will post here.
Welcome to Taiwan! Cheers!
Dec 21, 2014, 8:06 am
#492
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
In a perverse way, that is one of the coolest stories of geopolitics interfacing with bureaucratic madness I've heard in a long time.
It's so wild it has to be 100% true.
Thanks for asking and sharing!
Greg
Dec 21, 2014, 1:56 pm
#493
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 222
Hello there, I am Taiwanese and asked the staff about the situation.
Due to the stupid technical issue, the card doesn't with TWN code will be treat invalid because TWN APEC channel doesn't have the validation machines for APEC Card.
Usually if you have the TWN entry permission (TWN code on the your card), they can locate your visa number by the card. (pre-clearance data) , vice versa.
But even you don't have the code (pre-clearance), you should have the right to use the priority entry lane in every APEC country. And every APEC country with APEC lane will have a validation machine (A software and UV, when you type document number on the card will shows validity)
However, The validation machine only can be using by immigration of a country, PRC (China) doesn't treat TWN (Taiwan aka Chinese Taipei) as a country which means TWN can't receive and use the validation machine right now. (PRC interposed)
So if you print out a APEC card for yourself with Canada, Russian and USA issued, they can't find out it's real card or not.
I told and post the problem to the the immigration head officer about. She said will be fixed before Lunar New Year (CNY).
If there has any update, I will post here.
Welcome to Taiwan! Cheers!
Due to the stupid technical issue, the card doesn't with TWN code will be treat invalid because TWN APEC channel doesn't have the validation machines for APEC Card.
Usually if you have the TWN entry permission (TWN code on the your card), they can locate your visa number by the card. (pre-clearance data) , vice versa.
But even you don't have the code (pre-clearance), you should have the right to use the priority entry lane in every APEC country. And every APEC country with APEC lane will have a validation machine (A software and UV, when you type document number on the card will shows validity)
However, The validation machine only can be using by immigration of a country, PRC (China) doesn't treat TWN (Taiwan aka Chinese Taipei) as a country which means TWN can't receive and use the validation machine right now. (PRC interposed)
So if you print out a APEC card for yourself with Canada, Russian and USA issued, they can't find out it's real card or not.
I told and post the problem to the the immigration head officer about. She said will be fixed before Lunar New Year (CNY).
If there has any update, I will post here.
Welcome to Taiwan! Cheers!
Thank you, reton, for bring this intricate "technical consideration" to a more understandable level.
While TW is not anywhere closer obtaining a validation machine as long as CN interfered, And, CNY is about in the corner, a bit interested in observing how this hurdle is to get removed.
AsiaFlyer2014
, again, thanks.
Dec 21, 2014, 2:23 pm
#494
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
Thank you, reton, for bring this intricate "technical consideration" to a more understandable level.
While TW is not anywhere closer obtaining a validation machine as long as CN interfered, And, CNY is about in the corner, a bit interested in observing how this hurdle is to get removed.
AsiaFlyer2014, again, thanks.
While TW is not anywhere closer obtaining a validation machine as long as CN interfered, And, CNY is about in the corner, a bit interested in observing how this hurdle is to get removed.
AsiaFlyer2014
, again, thanks.Either join the program or don't, but this half-way stuff is simply more evidence of government at its worst.
Dec 22, 2014, 9:30 am
#495
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 112
Hello there, I am Taiwanese and asked the staff about the situation.
Due to the stupid technical issue, the card doesn't with TWN code will be treat invalid because TWN APEC channel doesn't have the validation machines for APEC Card.
Usually if you have the TWN entry permission (TWN code on the your card), they can locate your visa number by the card. (pre-clearance data) , vice versa.
But even you don't have the code (pre-clearance), you should have the right to use the priority entry lane in every APEC country. And every APEC country with APEC lane will have a validation machine (A software and UV, when you type document number on the card will shows validity)
Due to the stupid technical issue, the card doesn't with TWN code will be treat invalid because TWN APEC channel doesn't have the validation machines for APEC Card.
Usually if you have the TWN entry permission (TWN code on the your card), they can locate your visa number by the card. (pre-clearance data) , vice versa.
But even you don't have the code (pre-clearance), you should have the right to use the priority entry lane in every APEC country. And every APEC country with APEC lane will have a validation machine (A software and UV, when you type document number on the card will shows validity)
I am not sure about the necessity of a "validation machine" though. That may be Taiwan's preference, and it does sound like a good idea, but my impression is most economies do not have such a device. Therefore many economies are insistent that the cardholder's current passport number be printed on the ABTC card, because it is the only way they have of assessing the card's validity.
Some economies with advanced electronic visa systems, such as Australia, treat the ABTC card as a visa, and therefore immigration can verify the ABTC cardholder's status via the visa number linked to his/her passport. They don't really need to see the ABTC card at all.
On the other hand, multiple other economies with less integrated visa systems have no means of electronically verifying the ABTC card, and merely rely on visually checking the ABTC card to make sure it is linked to a valid passport. I suspect this is the case in the U.S. since the U.S. does not process pre-clearances, and therefore there are no internal records about foreign ABTC cards.