APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Usage by Foreign Nationals in the USA
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Jakarta
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APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Usage by Foreign Nationals in the USA
I am not a US Citizen and I am arriving at LAX tomorrow, got ABTC and a US Visa, wondering which immigration line should I use. The Air crew line, Regular line, EG line?
It's been quite sometime since I've been back to the States. Any idea on average waiting time at LAX Immigration? Thx in advance.
It's been quite sometime since I've been back to the States. Any idea on average waiting time at LAX Immigration? Thx in advance.
Last edited by SC Alum; Dec 19, 2015 at 7:18 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Jakarta
Programs: *wood & marriott plat, Hyatt, Accor
Posts: 410
Thanks Flying. According to ABTC it is Crew, but I was told now it is GE line.
Thanks Ari. it is a relieve to know that there will be signs marking the lane.
Thanks Ari. it is a relieve to know that there will be signs marking the lane.
Last edited by essxjay; Dec 23, 2015 at 11:20 am Reason: merge conseuctive posts
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
Please come back and let us know what you find; it has been a while since I was there, but I doubt they have changed that aspect too much. There was a special Customs exit when I was there as well. You might want to keep an eye open for that.
#7
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Jakarta
Programs: *wood & marriott plat, Hyatt, Accor
Posts: 410
Landed at LAX about 7pm on Monday, 21st December.. I asked a couple officers if they had a ABTC line, the first lady didn't know about ABTC and advised me to go to the Crew line, while the other Advised me to go to the regular line because the Crew line had actually more people waiting than the regular line. here were abt 5 group ahead of me, and there were 3 lanes/officers, I waited for about 5 to 10 minutes to be processed, the interview with the immigration officer took 2 or 3 minutes total for me and my wife. Waited for another 5 minutes for luggage, and walked right through without being searched.
The whole process from landing to leaving the airport took about 30 minutes. Faster than I though it would take.
The whole process from landing to leaving the airport took about 30 minutes. Faster than I though it would take.
#8
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
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ABTC Question: Which immigration line should I use at LAX?
It would be crew/diplomat line. There is no GE line as GE would not involve a human for clearing immigration.
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
APEC / ABTC Usage in USA by Foreign Nationals
Asking as a holder of an ABTC issued in HK.
Has anyone who is not a US / Canadian been able to used their non US / Canadian issued ABTC when entering and exiting the USA?
Has anyone who is not a US / Canadian been able to used their non US / Canadian issued ABTC when entering and exiting the USA?
#10
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
While I never need to use my ABTC card to enter US, I am quite sure that you can use a special lane (ABTC or sometimes crew) for ABTC holders at most airports as long as you fulfil the usual visa requirements (regardless of ABTC).
#11
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#12
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#13
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#14
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#15
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Here it is:
I am a foreign national and have an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC). Do I have access to an express immigration lane when I enter the United States?
Yes. ABTC cardholders have access to express immigration lanes at all U.S. international airports and pre-clearance locations. In most airports, the express lane is the same as the crew lane. Due to the varying layouts of some airports (such as in Miami), the express lane is the same as the diplomatic lane.
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Yes. ABTC cardholders have access to express immigration lanes at all U.S. international airports and pre-clearance locations. In most airports, the express lane is the same as the crew lane. Due to the varying layouts of some airports (such as in Miami), the express lane is the same as the diplomatic lane.
If you wish to receive automatic updates to this Q&A, select "Subscribe to Updates" on the left side of this screen.