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 - success
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 - success
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 7, 15, 6:41 am
#691
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,160
Originally Posted by HKGNZL
Sorry side tracking a bit:
I hold an ABTC but it has expiry on the card as 'August 2015'. I have just been asked to go to Beijing in July for a week. Previously I won't need a visa. I can't find out if there is a minimum valid duration of the ABTC for exemption of visa entry. My local chinese embassy said they do not know and referred me to an office in Beijing.
Does anyone have experience in similar situation?
I hold an ABTC but it has expiry on the card as 'August 2015'. I have just been asked to go to Beijing in July for a week. Previously I won't need a visa. I can't find out if there is a minimum valid duration of the ABTC for exemption of visa entry. My local chinese embassy said they do not know and referred me to an office in Beijing.
Does anyone have experience in similar situation?
As the ABTC is usually tied to your passport expiration date or expires 3 years from cared issuance (whichever happens first), is your passport expiring in August?
Last edited by seawolf; Jun 9, 15 at 5:20 pm
Jun 17, 15, 7:11 am
#692
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 221
Originally Posted by bocastephen
She wasn't going to let me through with the card and insisted I couldn't use it, and I didn't appreciate the dismissive attitude because if they are going to accept APEC cards, then they accept all of them regardless of what's printed or not, and I don't care who is behind me, they can wait.
This issue was escalated at TPE and they corrected the inspectors who were making arbitrary, and incorrect, decisions about the US cards - sounds like Singapore inspectors need similar re-training.
This issue was escalated at TPE and they corrected the inspectors who were making arbitrary, and incorrect, decisions about the US cards - sounds like Singapore inspectors need similar re-training.
Officer: You cannot use this lane, as there is no TW on the back of your card.
Me: Well, can you re-read the most update guideline? My understanding, this is no longer an issue.
Officer: TW must be imprinted on the back of APEC/ABTC, so as to use this lane.
Me: That was the old news, but your government has agreed and allowed US issued APEC/ABTC holders to use APEC dedicated counter. BTW, I also have Speedy Immigration Certificate...
I was just about to produce the certificate, but she already swiped my passport and machine reader indicated I was enrolled in Speedy Immigration system.
Different agent, different understanding?
Jun 17, 15, 11:28 am
#693
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 39,907
Originally Posted by jerrywu
For TPE, not quite. So far, no issue on departure APEC counter. Though, 1 of 3 recent arrivals at T1, a female immigration officer did raise the issue of no endorsement on the back of my APEC/ABTC.
Officer: You cannot use this lane, as there is no TW on the back of your card.
Me: Well, can you re-read the most update guideline? My understanding, this is no longer an issue.
Officer: TW must be imprinted on the back of APEC/ABTC, so as to use this lane.
Me: That was the old news, but your government has agreed and allowed US issued APEC/ABTC holders to use APEC dedicated counter. BTW, I also have Speedy Immigration Certificate...
I was just about to produce the certificate, but she already swiped my passport and machine reader indicated I was enrolled in Speedy Immigration system.
Different agent, different understanding?
Officer: You cannot use this lane, as there is no TW on the back of your card.
Me: Well, can you re-read the most update guideline? My understanding, this is no longer an issue.
Officer: TW must be imprinted on the back of APEC/ABTC, so as to use this lane.
Me: That was the old news, but your government has agreed and allowed US issued APEC/ABTC holders to use APEC dedicated counter. BTW, I also have Speedy Immigration Certificate...
I was just about to produce the certificate, but she already swiped my passport and machine reader indicated I was enrolled in Speedy Immigration system.
Different agent, different understanding?
Jun 21, 15, 9:13 am
#695
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: DL Skymiles Gold, PAL Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 12
Some travel notes
I have had my US issued ABTC for almost a year now. My experiences:
- Philippines: I have flown in to NAIA T1, T2 and T3 multiple times in the last year. I have never been given the 59-day APEC visa even after showing legitimate business purpose, in contrast to some of other posters here. 2 IOs specifically told me "I can only give you 30 days without endorsements on the back," but never challenged the use of the line. One IO (as I was departing), asked me what the purpose of the card even was since US can't have endorsements (great question!) I told him "Basically to get the shorter line." He shrugged and said "Expensive convenience." Indeed. I'm flying into Clark tomorrow, will see how it goes then.
- Malaysia: Flew into KLIA2 a couple of times, the ABTC counter was always closed with no other option for me. KLIA2 has dedicated ASEAN counters for those countries so they probably don't see a lot of need for an ABTC line. Sucks for US cardholders though.
- Thailand: I was going to try at BKK but as I was flying Thai Airways Royal Silk Class, they have priority lanes for absolutely everything at BKK, never even had the chance to try. Will definitely always fly Thai in the future going to BKK.
Overall, ABTC has been pretty much a wash for me. Got slightly shorter lines in Manila, that's about it. But even the regular lines in MNL are a lot faster than they were 6-7 years ago IMO. Global Entry (which I got in tandem with ABTC) is great though. Totally worth it.
- Philippines: I have flown in to NAIA T1, T2 and T3 multiple times in the last year. I have never been given the 59-day APEC visa even after showing legitimate business purpose, in contrast to some of other posters here. 2 IOs specifically told me "I can only give you 30 days without endorsements on the back," but never challenged the use of the line. One IO (as I was departing), asked me what the purpose of the card even was since US can't have endorsements (great question!) I told him "Basically to get the shorter line." He shrugged and said "Expensive convenience." Indeed. I'm flying into Clark tomorrow, will see how it goes then.
- Malaysia: Flew into KLIA2 a couple of times, the ABTC counter was always closed with no other option for me. KLIA2 has dedicated ASEAN counters for those countries so they probably don't see a lot of need for an ABTC line. Sucks for US cardholders though.
- Thailand: I was going to try at BKK but as I was flying Thai Airways Royal Silk Class, they have priority lanes for absolutely everything at BKK, never even had the chance to try. Will definitely always fly Thai in the future going to BKK.
Overall, ABTC has been pretty much a wash for me. Got slightly shorter lines in Manila, that's about it. But even the regular lines in MNL are a lot faster than they were 6-7 years ago IMO. Global Entry (which I got in tandem with ABTC) is great though. Totally worth it.
Jun 21, 15, 6:02 pm
#696
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 779
Looking on the first page I didn't see YVR listed. I can say ABTC/APEC worked flawlessly on my arrival today from ORD. I do not have Nexus.
I asked one the greeters coming down the escalators and she escorted me to the far right to an open and empty line while the Visitors lanes were backed up. Having no checked luggage I was out the door within 5 minutes and hopping a cab.
The Canadian immigration officer didn't even look at the back of the card when I presented it with my passport and form.
I asked one the greeters coming down the escalators and she escorted me to the far right to an open and empty line while the Visitors lanes were backed up. Having no checked luggage I was out the door within 5 minutes and hopping a cab.
The Canadian immigration officer didn't even look at the back of the card when I presented it with my passport and form.
Jun 21, 15, 9:51 pm
#697
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,773
Originally Posted by Foxhare
I'm flying into Clark tomorrow, will see how it goes then.
Jun 21, 15, 10:10 pm
#698
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
Originally Posted by Foxhare
... One IO (as I was departing), asked me what the purpose of the card even was since US can't have endorsements (great question!) I told him "Basically to get the shorter line." He shrugged and said "Expensive convenience."
Jun 21, 15, 10:52 pm
#699
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,773
Originally Posted by cxfan1960
Yes, that is how I view it - expensive convenience.
Jun 22, 15, 6:33 am
#700
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: DL Skymiles Gold, PAL Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by nkedel
Please do report back on that one! I don't recall seeing an APEC or ABTC line last time I was through there.
For those who know CRK I was very surprised and upset that they have stopped using the beautiful million-dollar upstairs terminal gates with skyways and have reverted to the ground floor old-school waiting room. Disappointing.
Jun 22, 15, 10:47 am
#701
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,773
Originally Posted by Foxhare
For those who know CRK I was very surprised and upset that they have stopped using the beautiful million-dollar upstairs terminal gates with skyways and have reverted to the ground floor old-school waiting room. Disappointing.
The few times I've been through there it's been on an LCC, and I've never seen the upstairs gates.
Jun 22, 15, 3:48 pm
#702
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 419
Originally Posted by Foxhare
For those who know CRK I was very surprised and upset that they have stopped using the beautiful million-dollar upstairs terminal gates with skyways and have reverted to the ground floor old-school waiting room. Disappointing.
Jun 22, 15, 6:56 pm
#703
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,592
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry8700c: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 5.0.1; HTC6525LVW Build/LRX22C) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/43.0.2357.93 Mobile Safari/537.36)
I had my first Asia trip in a whole this month as part of my honeymoon. I use my apec mainly as a poor man's nexus into Canada but Asia fairly often.
With wife who is not apec holder, we had seamless access in all apec lines in HK, Tokyo and Taipei. Only hassle was exiting Japan when the agent first denied my wife as my tag along but then said "just this once"
So overall very well worth the cash, for Hong Kong alone.
I had my first Asia trip in a whole this month as part of my honeymoon. I use my apec mainly as a poor man's nexus into Canada but Asia fairly often.
With wife who is not apec holder, we had seamless access in all apec lines in HK, Tokyo and Taipei. Only hassle was exiting Japan when the agent first denied my wife as my tag along but then said "just this once"
So overall very well worth the cash, for Hong Kong alone.
Jun 22, 15, 11:13 pm
#704
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
Originally Posted by BobbySteel
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry8700c: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 5.0.1; HTC6525LVW Build/LRX22C) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/43.0.2357.93 Mobile Safari/537.36)
I had my first Asia trip in a whole this month as part of my honeymoon. I use my apec mainly as a poor man's nexus into Canada but Asia fairly often.
With wife who is not apec holder, we had seamless access in all apec lines in HK, Tokyo and Taipei. Only hassle was exiting Japan when the agent first denied my wife as my tag along but then said "just this once"
So overall very well worth the cash, for Hong Kong alone.
I had my first Asia trip in a whole this month as part of my honeymoon. I use my apec mainly as a poor man's nexus into Canada but Asia fairly often.
With wife who is not apec holder, we had seamless access in all apec lines in HK, Tokyo and Taipei. Only hassle was exiting Japan when the agent first denied my wife as my tag along but then said "just this once"
So overall very well worth the cash, for Hong Kong alone.
Jun 23, 15, 1:45 am
#705
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,692
Originally Posted by nkedel
Please do report back on that one! I don't recall seeing an APEC or ABTC line last time I was through there.
Originally Posted by cxfan1960
Yes, that is how I view it - expensive convenience.
Originally Posted by Foxhare
There was an APEC/ABTC sign on the far right desk. It was also the Officer of the Day and Diplomat counter. Fortunately/unfortunately for the report, I was the first off the bus from the plane and they directed me to the regular line since there was no one in line and the OOD looked busy with something else. IO in regular line just handed the card back to me with no comment. Got a normal 30-day stamp, was out in less than a minute.
For those who know CRK I was very surprised and upset that they have stopped using the beautiful million-dollar upstairs terminal gates with skyways and have reverted to the ground floor old-school waiting room. Disappointing.
Originally Posted by nkedel
Thanks for the update!
The few times I've been through there it's been on an LCC, and I've never seen the upstairs gates.
The few times I've been through there it's been on an LCC, and I've never seen the upstairs gates.
Originally Posted by RandomNobody
That's because all the carriers are leaving, one-by-one.
