APEC Business Travel Card - Express Immigration Clearance

[Mal]

Thanks for that - will be weird travelling with two passports as each have benefits of their own...

And, sometimes different visa costs for countries that charge for visas. Not relevant for the APEC card, but might be relevant if visiting countries that charge fees for visas based on how much pain their citizens face when applying for visas from the other country.

 

[infoworks]

The frequency of my travels to China, Indonesia, Taiwan and PNG, for example, means the APEC card cost is more than offset by the visa fee savings.

 

[cssaus]

My present "peeve" with the APEC card is it's usage inbound into Australia.

Certainly the card facilitates expedite immigration clearance but it doesn't give you expedited customs & AQIS clearance which is only available if are holding an Express Clearance card. OK, if travelling F & J (or have a certain FF status) you may be provided with the Express Card but this may not necessarily be the case for a lot of people.

I did send an email to the Business Mobility Group at the beginning of last month and made the point about the card not being accepted for expedited customs and AQIS clearance and got a reply that said, and I quote:

"I certainly agree with you that, if possible, this would be a great idea. I will discuss this with my director and see if it is something we can arrange or work towards. Any changes to the usage of the card will be made known on our web-site (www.businessmobility.org)."

I would suggest if others are in agreement then an email to
[email protected] wouldn't go astray. To my thinking, I wouldn't have thought that this would be too difficult to organise.

I received an email reply from the APEC unit regarding my follow up to this matter in which it was said:

"We are currently discussing the feasibility with AQIS but unfortunately this can be a lengthy process."

 

[infoworks]

Their reply to me is along the same lines:

"[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']This is currently being discussed with AQIS but unfortunately we have no idea what the outcome will be".[/FONT]
[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif'][/FONT]
[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Given their poractivity in dealing with card holders, hopefully there will be a positive outcome, unfortunately the same can't be said about AQIS. (these are my words)[/FONT]

 

[infoworks]

Just had this email from Immi regarding Mexico. These guys are on the ball!

Mexico has already granted clearance to your applciation and a new card was issued to you automatically.

Unfortunately this card has not yet been printed due to the large number of clearances that Mexico has granted over the last few weeks. We will print it today and post it to you. It should arrive in around a week.

 

[NM]

Just had this email from Immi regarding Mexico. These guys are on the ball!

Mexico has already granted clearance to your applciation and a new card was issued to you automatically.

Unfortunately this card has not yet been printed due to the large number of clearances that Mexico has granted over the last few weeks. We will print it today and post it to you. It should arrive in around a week.

just for reference, my Mexico clearance came through on 11th Feb.

 

[NM]

My final card arrived in the mail on Thursday. So took just over 3 months from application to delivery of the final card. Brunei was the last to approve.

 

[moa999]

Now if only Russia would come on board - given that is one of the difficult visas to get (invites, confirmed hotels, tours etc)

 

[NM]

Now if only Russia would come on board - given that is one of the difficult visas to get (invites, confirmed hotels, tours etc)

Yep, very similar process for Ukraine (I have three pages of Ukraine visas in my old passport). But neither are in the right geography to be considered part of APEC.

 

[moa999]

Ukraine may not be but Russia certainly is:

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Putin was in Sydney for APEC

 

[NM]

Ukraine may not be but Russia certainly is:

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Putin was in Sydney for APEC

Ahh, I had not realised Russia was considered part of Asia. So the only APEC member countries that do not allow use of the APEC BTC for entry are Canada, Russia and USA.

 

[simongr]

Ahh, I had not realised Russia was considered part of Asia. So the only APEC member countries that do not allow use of the APEC BTC for entry are Canada, Russia and USA.

I thought the USA did per this link

In order to foster trade, we must also facilitate travel. Therefore, the United States has decided this year to recognize the APEC Business Travel Card, as the first step toward joining the program. This will enable entrepreneurs like you to gain visas, to move through our immigration lines, and to visit America - in a faster, safer, easier manner," said Secretary Rice. The APEC Business Travel Card provides cardholders with pre-cleared short-term entry into participating APEC Member Economies.

 

[NM]

I thought the USA did per this link

the USA just allows APEC card holders to use the crew lanes (well, some ports and some officers who know about the APEC BTC do). It does not substitute for a Visa, which for countries like Russia can be a pain and cost to obtain.

 

[moa999]

AND we can also welcome the Canadians....
(well at least for 8 international airports - Vancouver, Toronto Pearson (Terminal 1 & 2), Ottawa Macdonald, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Edmonton)

Noticed on a Singapre website (also on businessmobility)
https://www.psi.gov.sg/NASApp/tmf/TMFServlet?app=ABTC-PUBLIC&Reload=true
Business Mobility Group - Key Initiatives

Mexico seems to be going back through old applications and approving
(I note my application 12xx_ for which I have had a Final card for 18 months now has Mexico approval although no new card yet)

And US and Canada have priority airport entry although standard visa requirements.

Which means Russia is the only one missing.
Appears that the APEC meeting in Sydney prelims did some good:
News Releases - APEC Business Travel Card Extends its Reach - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

 

[pengwin]

I have just renewed my APEC card, and China was included on the interim card! Bonus!.

Actually, just having to not get a visa for each trip to China, saving time as well as cost, justifies the APEC card.

Overall very good system.

 

[Febs]

Got my final card today, with all 18 economies. Took just under 6 months (my interim card covered 12 economies, after one month).

Seems about 14,000 cards have been processed in that time too (though they wouldn't all be new cards)!

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[simongr]

Only one more month and I can apply for perm residency and apply for this card shortly after

Well that was a bust - just called to book my citizenship test - earliest appointment is in Parramatta (note I work in the CBD) is 23 June!!!!

Perhaps the website should mention that there is a 3 month waiting list and you can apply to do the test before you are eligible to apply for citizenship...

Guess I wont be getting this card before 7 July

 

[Shano]

Guess I wont be getting this card before 7 July

That's assuming you pass the test....

 

[Mal]

That's assuming you pass the test....

The questions can't be harder than:

VB is:

a) An airline.
b) A beer brewed in Victoria.
c) A disease.

or,

Spell xx_X.

 

[tscharke]

Was quite surprised when entering YOW last night to see the APEC lane (I haven't read this thread for a while!)
The customs guy was very excited as it was his first APEC card he had seen - however he did point out that I didn't have CAN as one of the approved countries stamped on the back (obviously, as the card is about 8months old) - however he was more than happy to put me through!

Anybody know the process to seek approval from the new countries and receive an updated card?

cheers