APEC Business Travel Card - Express Immigration Clearance

[infoworks]

If i have an APEC card, can both my wife and I use the APEC lanes? Or just the holder of the card?

i.e. Are you allowed to bring people travelling with you through the APEC lane?

thanks

Chucksta

My experience is most economies are OK with it, including Japan, HKG, SIN, AUS, Malaysia. As always the trick is to be courteous.

 

[tscharke]

i have yet to use my apec card while travelling with the family however I did have a random conversation with a guy during last flight who was allowed to use his with his family in sydney.

edit: cssaus, you are obviously a quicker typer than me

 

[mrdenn1s]

I used it at Saigon airport with my wife...no issues getting her throughas she had a visa anyway

I didn't have a visa (as i have APEC), and it took ages for them to clear me. I guess they are not taht used to APEC card holders there

Manila is the best airport for APEC...seperate booth on the side and straight through

Aus is getting worse as the line is shared with those people with the new electronic passports

 

[sparoy]

I didn't have a problem using it with my wife for Japan (in and out) even though my card is not cleared yet for Japan.
On the other hand I couldn't use it for JFK. TSA wouldn't want to know about APEC card there, the agent asked another agent but both never heard about APEC card :evil: so I had to line up like the rest. I wish I had a print out of the APEC rules to show them.
I could only see a line for diplomats not APEC. TSA asked me whether I'm a diplomat or not. That line is for diplomat only, they said.

 

[cssaus]

I didn't have a problem using it with my wife for Japan (in and out) even though my card is not cleared yet for Japan.
On the other hand I couldn't use it for JFK. TSA wouldn't want to know about APEC card there, the agent asked another agent but both never heard about APEC card :evil: so I had to line up like the rest. I wish I had a print out of the APEC rules to show them.
I could only see a line for diplomats not APEC. TSA asked me whether I'm a diplomat or not. That line is for diplomat only, they said.

Curious to know if the line said it was for aircrew as well?

These days I would imagine that most immigration officials at ports of entry on the West Coast would by now be familiar with the APEC card but on the East Coast I can imagine them being not so familiar with the APEC card.

For the times I've travelled into the US I always happen to keep handy a copy of the release put out by Condoleza Rice that stated the US would recognise the use of the APEC card for gaining express immigration clearance and there's also some info on the US Embassy web site for Australia that contains information as well. As yet I've not yet had to show it.

 

[RTWFF]

On the other hand I couldn't use it for JFK. TSA wouldn't want to know about APEC card there, the agent asked another agent but both never heard about APEC card :evil: so I had to line up like the rest.

Even though the line at SFO (UA terminal) is clearly marked, the last two times I've gone through the agent hasn't known about the card and the most recent time had the agent stating graciously that she "would help me this time" but she's never heard of it. I did point out the lane was clearly sign-posted.

 

[tscharke]

finally - approvals obtained for all 17 countries......with PNG taking the cake for dragging the chain!!!

and also 'finally' get to use(*) the benefit of the card for the next trip starting this Saturday (SYD*-NRT*-HKG*-SIN*-ADL*-SYD)....not that it will be much benefit for little ol Adelaide

Card Application Life Cycle
Applied: 20/03/2007
Fully Approved: 09/08/2007

 

[sully]

I received my initial card in november 2005. I am YET to be cleared by PNG.

Do I hold a record?

 

[RTWFF]

....not that it will be much benefit for little ol Adelaide

There's no APEC lane in Adelaide? Mind you, there's only one international flight a day?!

 

[Shano]

...Do I hold a record?

Perhaps that is the problem....

 

[sully]

Perhaps that is the problem....

Touche Shano. I once said something really bad about South Pacific lager so that must be it.

 

[tscharke]

There's no APEC lane in Adelaide? Mind you, there's only one international flight a day?!

yeah, there is actually an APEC lane in ADL - last time I flew ADL-SIN I noticed it (from memory is far right) however there was absolutely no one in any lane so it was fast-express all the way

APEC Business Advisory Council

 

[cowombat]

Dear All, next month with the family we are off to Honolulu. Having happily gone through LAX and JFK recently with my APEC card on my own, I'm interested to know if anyone has had success getting through HNL airport with 3 family members in tow...... HNL is one of the worst airports in the world for queues, so it would be great to know if it works.....

 

[gaia]

I received my initial card in november 2005. I am YET to be cleared by PNG.

PNG wasn't processing then. Ask now and thou shalt receive.

 

[infoworks]

I'm still awaiting only PNG for my renewal. I do go there, but not in the next few months, so I haven't worried as I have an interim card for the economies I am regularly visiting. Plan to check again when I return at end Aug and may email then if still outstanding (I don't mind SP).

 

[tscharke]

would I be correct in assuming that PNG wouldnt be one of those places that you would really benefit from the APEC card?

 

[infoworks]

would I be correct in assuming that PNG wouldnt be one of those places that you would really benefit from the APEC card?

On the contrary. Even though it's unlikely there is a plane arive ahead of you, and depending where you are in the rush to get off (I am usually first), they only have 2-3 immigration lines plus the APEC line. I have had 4-5 people lined up behind me in that line and 20 deep in the others (it's usually a mad scramble in POM by those who know). And they are slow in processing everyone, checking for correct visas, etc - which isn't needed with the APEC card.

 

[simongr]

Still six months before I can apply for citizenship.... grr

 

[Dave Noble]

Still six months before I can apply for citizenship.... grr

And every day you spend flying around the world extends that time

Dave

 

[tscharke]

looks like simon will be receiving his APEC card in 2010