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US/Canadian Issued ABTC/APEC Business Travel Card: Updates, Experiences, Q&A

Old Jun 23, 14, 10:17 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.
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US/Canadian Issued ABTC/APEC Business Travel Card: Updates, Experiences, Q&A

Old Jan 5, 14, 11:53 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
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US/Canadian Issued ABTC/APEC Business Travel Card: Updates, Experiences, Q&A

Canada announced participation in the APEC ABTC program back in October (See http://www.vancouversun.com/business...735/story.html) and the application procedure suggested here (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2013/10...ss-travel-card) is to contact an e-mail address of ABTC‑[email protected] But that e-mail address seems to bounce back as a bad address.

Does anyone know the proper contact to get the application completed? Has anyone been successful in Canada getting it activated?

Thank you!
flyaow is offline  
Old May 13, 14, 10:55 am
  #2  
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Canada will determine eligibility (NEXUS required) and application will be done on CBP GOES website. US DHS will issue ABTC for Canada.

$70 for 3 years. Only provides access to crew/diplomatic lanes. No visa "waiver."

See page 6.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014...2014-10767.pdf
seawolf is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 12:48 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
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ABTC/APEC Business Travel Card for US/Canadian Citizens: Updates, Experiences, Q&A

It now up.

Application Submitted!

It now up.

Last edited by aBroadAbroad; Jul 4, 14 at 12:25 pm Reason: restored title lost in merge
5khours is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 12:57 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Originally Posted by 5khours
Application Submitted!
Application approved!
That was fast.
geclub1 is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 1:11 am
  #5  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Originally Posted by 5khours
It now up.
Ahem... they are requiring proof of residence in States on the GOES web site. If I do not live in States, then what?
invisible is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 1:12 am
  #6  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL GM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing
Posts: 9,185
Originally Posted by geclub1
Application approved!
That was fast.
Ditto! I figured I would check back in a week. Must be a computer...not a human.

Originally Posted by invisible
Ahem... they are requiring proof of residence in States on the GOES web site. If I do not live in States, then what?
It's evidence of residency not evidence of residency in the States... I think.

Last edited by TWA884; Oct 18, 19 at 6:03 pm Reason: Merge consecutive posts by the same member; please use the multi-quote function. Thank you.
5khours is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 1:51 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: SoCal to TPE
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Posts: 23
Just submitted my application! How long did it take to get approved, a couple hours, a couple minutes?
crackerman is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 1:55 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: SoCal to TPE
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Silver (somehow)
Posts: 23
Originally Posted by crackerman
Just submitted my application! How long did it take to get approved, a couple hours, a couple minutes?
To answer myself, it took about 10 min!
crackerman is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 2:23 am
  #9  
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Originally Posted by invisible
Ahem... they are requiring proof of residence in States on the GOES web site. If I do not live in States, then what?
I don't think you can apply for the card, if you don't live in the US. Perhaps apply in the country you're living in?

The APEC card requires you travel for business purposes to the member countries. Plus you must be a Global Entry, or similar member. Get interviewed, etc.

I'm also a little confused about the APEC card. The website shows that you still need a visa for countries that require them. Is the purpose of the card to just get through security quicker?

The APEC card costs $70, in addition to the $100 Global Entry or similar, fee.
Jaimito Cartero is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 5:42 am
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Originally Posted by 5khours
It now up.
Can't find it, tried here: http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-tr...ked-questions2, then it takes me back to global entry?

According to above, if already Global Entry member, all you have to do is visit center for electronic signature?? Very confusing...

A link please, thanks!

Last edited by dtsm; Jun 12, 14 at 5:50 am
dtsm is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 5:59 am
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,732
Originally Posted by 5khours
Application Submitted!
Found it!
Buried in my global entry account....the sites aren't very user friendly!

Last edited by dtsm; Jun 12, 14 at 9:40 am
dtsm is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 9:18 am
  #12  
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Originally Posted by crackerman
To answer myself, it took about 10 min!
Definitely not being sent to other countries for pre-clearance.
seawolf is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 9:59 am
  #13  
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Join Date: May 1998
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Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
I don't think you can apply for the card, if you don't live in the US. Perhaps apply in the country you're living in?

The APEC card requires you travel for business purposes to the member countries. Plus you must be a Global Entry, or similar member. Get interviewed, etc.

I'm also a little confused about the APEC card. The website shows that you still need a visa for countries that require them. Is the purpose of the card to just get through security quicker?

The APEC card costs $70, in addition to the $100 Global Entry or similar, fee.
Refer to last discussion in May in this thread. The expectation is that the only benefit is to allow for access to crew/diplomatic lanes in APEC countries.

Originally Posted by dtsm
Can't find it, tried here: http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-tr...ked-questions2, then it takes me back to global entry?

According to above, if already Global Entry member, all you have to do is visit center for electronic signature?? Very confusing...

A link please, thanks!
If you are a GE member, then all you have to do is pay the fee, "self-certify" you are a business person with business in APEC countries and go to an enrollment center and have your signature captured. I believe the signature gets printed onto the card.
seawolf is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 10:15 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,732
Originally Posted by seawolf
If you are a GE member, then all you have to do is pay the fee, "self-certify" you are a business person with business in APEC countries and go to an enrollment center and have your signature captured. I believe the signature gets printed onto the card.
Is this the post you're referring to: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22935841-post205.html

After some digging, found it in my GE account....not very obvious. I applied and received approval relatively quickly. I will drop into enrollment center next time I'm in area.

Hopefully it will eventually be valid for entry into two countries that I visit and still requires visas: Indonesia and Vietnam.

Thanks!
dtsm is offline  
Old Jun 12, 14, 10:51 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SMF
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thanks for the update guys, but where is the option to apply ABTC though?

I logged in to GOES and clicked manage membership, but not seeing the option to apply for ABTC though.
mikef11 is offline  

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