APEC Business Travel Card - Express Immigration Clearance

[gaia]

Which terminal - UA or another?

Flying UA from MEL.

 

[cowombat]

Hi All

I came in through JFK last week (off Cathay Pacific) all ready to try the card, but ended up numero uno in the regular lane (unusual experience) so didn't get to try it out.

A couple of days earlier I tried my luck at Vancouver. The queue was huge, so I asked an officer if my card would get access to a priority lane. Bombed out - he had never heard of APEC, and so spent 70 minutes in the queue, one of the worst I've experienced in recent times (India the usual culprit).

I've sent a note to APEC admin asking for a Canada status update - will post when I get a reply.

 

[moa999]

While Canada is a member of APEC
(like the US I'm not quite sure why)

they are not a member of the APEC travel scheme.

Of the 21 APEC members, only about 17 participate in the scheme (plus the US which will allow you to use the card but don't think it allows you to participate)

 

[Sorky]

While Canada is a member of APEC
(like the US I'm not quite sure why)

Their west coast are on the Pacific.

 

[Dave Noble]

Has anyone had Vietnam cleared yet? That is the final holdout on my card

Dave

 

[cssaus]

Has anyone had Vietnam cleared yet? That is the final holdout on my card

Dave

I have Vietnam (VNM) but I'm waiting for Peru and PNG, although I'm quite unlikely to visit either of these two places.

 

[infoworks]

My renewal went in earlier this week, so it'll be interesting to see how long the economies take to clear this time.

My son's card has two outstanding after about 2 months, PNG and Vietnam.

 

[Dave Noble]

My renewal went in earlier this week, so it'll be interesting to see how long the economies take to clear this time.

I would have thought that a renewal would not have needed to re-clear

Dave

 

[Shano]

Sent my application in at beginning of this month.

Fee charge to AMEX on 9th March, but still no letter saying application has been approved or providing tracking number.

As fee has been charged to CC, would assume that application has been succesful?

Will wait another week or so and then contact Dept Immi.

Have trips to China coming up at end of April, June and July so looks like will have to go through normal Visa application process.

 

[Mal]

There was an article about the card in the Australian (I think) quite recently. It got a good writeup, so I'd expect the number of holders to grow. Can't remember exactly which Australian it was... but have an idea it was on the 17th. Will try and track down the article.

 

[serfty]

... Fee charge to AMEX on 9th March, but still no letter saying application has been approved or providing tracking number.

As fee has been charged to CC, would assume that application has been succesful?. ...

No, the fee is non refundable: Application charge.

 

[serfty]

There was an article about the card in the Australian (I think) quite recently. ... but have an idea it was on the 17th. Will try and track down the article.

SMH/AGE on Jan 26th (Australia Day ): Elite APEC card saves time for travellers - Travel - smh.com.au

 

[Shano]

... Fee charge to AMEX on 9th March, but still no letter saying application has been approved or providing tracking number.

As fee has been charged to CC, would assume that application has been succesful?. ...

No, the fee is non refundable: Application charge.

Will wait another week and then give them a call. Others have posted that it can take up to 4 weeks to receive letter stating application was successful

 

[Mal]

SMH/AGE on Jan 26th (Australia Day ): Elite APEC card saves time for travellers - Travel - smh.com.au

Nup, much later than that. Was reading it sometime in the last 2 weeks Then again, Qantas may have given me a very old newspaper to read

 

[Shano]

Interestingly, the exact same article was posted on the news.com.au website on 26th March

APEC card a fast track to visa | NEWS.com.au travel


Good chance that it also appeared in the printed Australian around the same time.

 

[infoworks]

I would have thought that a renewal would not have needed to re-clear
Dave

I hope I'm wrong, but I understood they did a "recheck" to make sure we are have been "well behaved", otherwise why have a 3-year limit and not set expiry to coincide with passport expiry (for example) ? (and not only be a revenue generator).

 

[Shano]

Sent my application in at beginning of this month.

Fee charge to AMEX on 9th March, but still no letter saying application has been approved or providing tracking number.

As fee has been charged to CC, would assume that application has been succesful?

Will wait another week or so and then contact Dept Immi.

Have trips to China coming up at end of April, June and July so looks like will have to go through normal Visa application process.

Letter received today from DIC with receipt and application number

Now to wait for the clearances....

 

[siri]

Do Aust. need Cinese visa with APEC card ?

My APEC card just got China cleared and upon asking from APEC card admin people, re. do I need Chinese visa, lady phone me and confirm that I do not need Chinese visa.. No email comfirmation though..

I need to go to China soon and my multiple visa (one yr) just expired.. Knowing how Chinese do business I am quite worried going there with my APEC card but no visa... Airlines will give hard time too since APEC card details are not known to them.

Any one here that being to China with Aus. passport with APEC card but no Chinese visa ?

Pls. respond.

 

[infoworks]

Re: Do Aust. need Cinese visa with APEC card ?

Any one here that being to China with Aus. passport with APEC card but no Chinese visa ? Pls. respond.

I can GUARANTEE you that no visa is needed to enter China if you have a valid APEC clearance and it shows on the card. I travel there regularly, especially Shanghai and Shenzhen. Both entry points, as well as Beijing, Guangzhou and a couple of others have clearly marked APEC lanes (It's the right hand side mostly, along with diplomatic). They WILL check the card.

No other visa is needed.

 

[siri]

Thanks for the info and few more questions..

What do you tell the airlines when they check for Chinese visa before boarding ? or do they know the APEC card ?

Also what do you fill in for visa number in Chinese landind card ?