APEC Business Travel Card - Express Immigration Clearance

[v8Statesman]

Re: I've often thought ...

... that the departure tax chit in Bangkok must be easily forged by anyone with a scanner and a bit of time

That is one country you don't want to mess with. What is the tax anyway? 500 baht? (approx 20$)

 

[one9]

Question regarding queue for APEC cardholders at Sydney airport


Today when arriving back in Sydney airport, I was on one of the first flights for the morning (landed 5.15am) and there were very few immigration staff. The far left queue was marked "Aircrew" and there was an immigration officer on this queue. The second most left counter was marked Aircrew/APEC/something else but there was no one at this counter. There were two other Australian general passport counters.

Can APEC cardholders use the far left aircrew counter? Or is there just no counter for APEC cardholders at some times?

 

[Damien]

Can APEC cardholders use the far left aircrew counter? Or is there just no counter for APEC cardholders at some times?

I do. Otherwise you can use the APEC marked lane and the person in the adjacent "normal" queue should call you before the first person in that line.

 

[one9]

Can APEC cardholders use the far left aircrew counter? Or is there just no counter for APEC cardholders at some times?

I do. Otherwise you can use the APEC marked lane and the person in the adjacent "normal" queue should call you before the first person in that line.

Can someone else please share their experiences with this. If using the aircrew counter with other aircrew, do they look at you like you are in the wrong queue? If lining up in the APEC queue when there is no one at the counter, does the officer from the normal queue see you and call you?

 

[RTWFF]

Experiences

A friend of mine arrived at Sydney T2 a couple of months ago and reports that he waited patiently behind the SQ crew ahead of him. When he reached the front of the line the Immigration Officer cheerily told him he should have formed a second queue at the adjacent (unmanned) desk as "APEC BTC holders are more important than airline crew and I would have called you first"

On departing recently from Sydney T2 where there seemed to be hundreds of passengers waiting to leave and about 5 Immigration officers all up to process them, I queued waiting with my boyfriend, only to be challenged by the somewhat officious Immigration Officer (who took time out from serving his own queue) at the next desk as to my entitlement to be there . When I flashed my APEC card he was satisfied and went back to his own job. The APEC/Crew line was taking up the slack when they had no-one else to process

 

[cssaus]

Re: Experiences

A friend of mine arrived at Sydney T2 a couple of months ago and reports that he waited patiently behind the SQ crew ahead of him. When he reached the front of the line the Immigration Officer cheerily told him he should have formed a second queue at the adjacent (unmanned) desk as "APEC BTC holders are more important than airline crew and I would have called you first"

That's good to know. The last couple of times I've come thru the APEC desk was unmanned and I just assumed I was to line up behind the aircrew that were already there.

Then again, it's quite likely that next time, in the same situation, you could be told to get to the end of the line that's already there and be made to feel a real goose....it could all depend on the nature of the immigration officer on duty at the time.

I'll test the theory out on my return from my next trip.

 

[one9]

Re: Experiences

...
I'll test the theory out on my return from my next trip.

please let us know how you go

 

[bigjobs]

Re: Experiences

I queued waiting with my boyfriend, only to be challenged by the somewhat officious Immigration Officer (who took time out from serving his own queue) at the next desk as to my entitlement to be there . When I flashed my APEC card he was satisfied and went back to his own job. The APEC/Crew line was taking up the slack when they had no-one else to process

I have been challenged a number of times also and like you have simply shown them my card and they say ok and move on.

this week when i left brisbane the domestic/aircrew/APEC line was closed and the queue was long for the open passport control counters. i just simply spoke to a customs officer, showed my APEC card and asked to skip the queue. She was happy to assist and took me to the next available counter. Lesson for me is to just ask to be taken to the front of the queue. afterall, that's why i paid the fee.

 

[QF WP]

Thought I should check-up on what they've been doing lately. Looks like they've added Japan, but China is still outstanding.

Australia
Korea
Philippines
Hong Kong (China)
Chile
New Zealand
Malaysia
Thailand
Brunei Darussalam
Japan
Chinese Taipei

 

[one9]

Thought I should check-up on what they've been doing lately. Looks like they've added Japan, but China is still outstanding.

Australia
Korea
Philippines
Hong Kong (China)
Chile
New Zealand
Malaysia
Thailand
Brunei Darussalam
Japan
Chinese Taipei

I just checked on mine, and in total so far I have one less than you, and I also noticed you have Thailand, Brunei Darusslam and Chinese Taipei, whilst I have Singapore & Vietnam. So it is not the same order for everyone. I am crossing my fingers for China soon.

Australia
Korea
Philippines
Hong Kong (China)
Chile
New Zealand
Malaysia
Japan
Singapore
Vietnam

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Does it always take this long? Can the APEC thingy be transferred across passports when you get passport renewed? Reason I ask is it seems to be taking an age for you, and if it is limited to passport's lifetime then it doesn't seem to be that much benefit to me. NZ passports are only valid for 5 years (and in any case mine fills before then).

 

[Damien]

The APEC card is limited to three years. I've had mine for almost half that time, and still no sign of China.

 

[one9]

Does it always take this long? Can the APEC thingy be transferred across passports when you get passport renewed? Reason I ask is it seems to be taking an age for you, and if it is limited to passport's lifetime then it doesn't seem to be that much benefit to me. NZ passports are only valid for 5 years (and in any case mine fills before then).

Yes, APEC card can be transferred accross passports. But as Damien said, the card only lasts three years. I applied for the card about 2-3 months ago, so I have been cleared for 10 countries in this time. Shortly after getting confirmation of my application I called up to be put on a priority list for China. Whilst they can't guarantee anything, they hope I should have it within a month or so.

I have not actually requested my APEC card yet. You can request your card at any time (it is valid for the countries you have been pre-cleared) and the 3 years starts from then. So I am not requesting my card until I have China as China is the most important for me.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Okay so you can preclear countries first - then request the card so the timer need only start when you want. Or is there a rule that says must be within x period of initial preclearance request (or so many come back)?

Even doing all this 3 year validity isnt great. I presume once you have one it is quick and easy to get new one for the next 3 years?

 

[one9]

After they have received your application and done a criminal check, they send a request to all the participating countries to clear you.

These clearances are received back at different times. Some countries take long than others. I have recieved 10 clearances in about 2-3 months. But I think it took at least a month for Australia to do the criminal check.

You do not receive a card until either you request one or until all the participating countries (17 i think) have cleared you. You can request a card at any time (but it is only valid for the countries that have already precleared you). You can request a new card every time a new country clears you.

The three year period of the card starts when you receive your first card. There is no time limit on how long you have until you request your first card, but you will automaticaly receive a card when all countries have cleared you.

I am not sure about whether or not it is qucik and easy when you card expires and you need a new one. I know you need to apply all over again to get your next card. I don't know whether or not the countries will clear you immediately because they cleared you before or not. If not, then if possible, it would be wise to apply for your future APEC card a year before your old one expires.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Bob]

I used my card for the first time on my trip to Chile. Leaving SYD was a snap even though no-one was at the APEC desk when I first go there. I jumped a good 60 or 70 who were in the other queue.

Ditto Chile, I walked straight up to the APEC desk on the right hand side. The one peccadillo about Chile though is that Aussies normally have to pay USD30 as a 'reciprocity' fee. Another way of saying that we have to pay to get into their country if we charge them to get into ours. The APEC card should allow free entry but you must remain firm at theimmigration counter as they often don't agree that you need not pay. My lady was talking tough at first but when I told her I was standing firm she went to the visa counter, returned and confirmed that I need not pay. Uh huh.

I will be arriving in Chile in a couple of days. Is there any reference I can point to to show that I do not need to pay the reciprocity tax? My espanol is not up to debating an issue like this.

 

[sully]

Hola Bob. I received your pm but thought I would post so all could read the advice.

I really can't add a great deal to what I said previously. My Spanish is not even at a schoolboy level because I studied Italian instead! But while they appear daunting in their military style uniforms and perched position in the immigration booth, the Chileans are generally quite nice people.

Proffer a buenas dias up front to show you have at least learned to have manners in their language and you should be ok with a slow and direct explanation in English.

Definitely direct the immigration officer to consult with the reciprocity payment counter (directly on the left as you come down the escalator). Remember to go to the booth on the far right after passing the first counter. As stated, remain firm and state that Chileans do not pay to get into Australia if they have this card.

Don't feel intimidated and you will be fine. Chances are any delays at this stage won't prevent your early departure from the airport as the local baggage handlers have a very laid back approach towards a speedy offloading of luggage.

Buenos suerte amigo.

 

[Yada Yada]

I took QF25 from SYD-MEL today. Domestic pax have to use the APEC line at T1, and as there were three flights leaving at similar times the queue was about 30 people long. :shock: Contrast this with the normal immigration counters where there were no queues. I guess sometimes the card won't get you through quicker.

 

[RTWFF]

Renewals

According to the information I have, when the three years are getting close you fill out a new form, pay your money and wait for the card. The assumption is that your picture is the same and it's the same passport. New passport you have to submit new passport # and new pic

However I've noticed on arrival in quite a few countries they don't check the expiry date of the card, just that you've got one. I'm still waiting for Vietnam and Papua New Guinea, but have China and Singapore. I think it will be time for a new card before I'm pre-cleared for them (less than a year from now)