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
Sep 7, 15, 11:53 pm
#766
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by tookay
I have been through MNL twice this year since I received my ABTC. Both times the permitted stay date was stamped as two months after my entry date and 'ABTC' was indicated on the entry stamp. Doesn't really matter to me, as I am never there for longer than 3 - 4 days.
Sep 8, 15, 2:54 am
#768
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Asia-Pacific
Programs: AA PPRO, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 121
Didn't see KIX on the list. To use ABTC at KIX, flash it to the guys in the immigration office on the right side of the immigration hall, and one of them will come out and open up a lane just for you. Immigration queues at KIX this year have gotten to be ridiculous.
Sep 8, 15, 12:51 pm
#769
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 221
Originally Posted by Kaix
Didn't see KIX on the list. To use ABTC at KIX, flash it to the guys in the immigration office on the right side of the immigration hall, and one of them will come out and open up a lane just for you. Immigration queues at KIX this year have gotten to be ridiculous.
Sep 12, 15, 6:45 am
#771
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 31
Originally Posted by n0fx
If I got GE already and want to get the ABTC, do I only need to apply, pay the $70 and then get a signature captured at one of the facilities? Do I have to do an interview again to get the ABTC?
Sep 12, 15, 10:59 pm
#772
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by WhiskeyTango
That's right. Just submit the application and pay through GOES and walk-in to the GE enrollment office to sign for the card. I just got my card this week and signed last week. GOES will set you an appointment, but CBP seems to prefer you do this as a walk-in since it only take a couple of minutes and they can then free up an appointment slot for GE interviews.
Sep 14, 15, 9:39 am
#773
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Singapore
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Gold, KF Gold/PPS
Posts: 204
Successfully used the APEC queues at HKG on the way in and out this past weekend, made a huge difference on saving time at immigration. Both times the immigration officers didn't bother looking at my ABTC.
Sep 14, 15, 11:54 pm
#774
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by srs507
Successfully used the APEC queues at HKG on the way in and out this past weekend, made a huge difference on saving time at immigration. Both times the immigration officers didn't bother looking at my ABTC.
Sep 15, 15, 3:42 pm
#775
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 221
Originally Posted by n0fx
Sweet, I'll do that. Do any of you guys know if LAX allows walk-ins? My GF is getting her interview in a couple of weeks and I figured I can swing by there to get a signature capture since I'm there also.
Originally Posted by n0fx
Did you use visitor visa or business visa to get in/out of HKG?
Sep 15, 15, 11:47 pm
#776
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by jerrywu
Did a walk-in about a year ago at LAX to have signature captured, and waited for about 10 ~ 15 minutes before an officer became available.
Not sure if a business visa is available. I was under the impression, VISA FREE to HK, from many countries....
Not sure if a business visa is available. I was under the impression, VISA FREE to HK, from many countries....
Sep 16, 15, 6:55 pm
#778
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: PDX, PVR, MSP
Programs: Alaska, American
Posts: 69
ok, can someone just tell me this simply, if i am a US citizen and i get the APEC card, i will be able to travel visa free to Russia and Mainland china?
Last edited by ec6863; Sep 16, 15 at 7:01 pm
Sep 16, 15, 7:01 pm
#779
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Admirals Club, DL Plat Med, AmEx Plat, SPG Plat, MR Plat (via SPG)
Posts: 191
Originally Posted by ec6863
ok, can someone just tell me this simply, if i am a US citizen and i get the APEC card, i will be able to travel visa free in Russia and Mainland china?
You MUST get a business visa in order to travel to both countries. Do not listen to anyone who tells you otherwise.
Sep 16, 15, 10:26 pm
#780
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 221
Originally Posted by n0fx
Cool, I'm going to sign up and do a walk-in this month since I'll be there. I read on this thread that your supposed to get business visa when entering countries that require it and your technically not supposed to use a tourist visa when using the ABTC card. I just wanted to know what countries were strict and if anyone had issues getting in using the ABTC card with a tourist visa.
Having said that, a business Visa is technically required, to use APEC ABTC(US issued).
