APEC Business Travel Card - Express Immigration Clearance

[infoworks]

You can request an interim card if you are flying to one of these economies soon. Otherwise you will get the card once they are all cleared.

I would suggest that once you have all but China, request a card, as they are taking a long time.

I am sweating on SIN and PNG to open up (once they lose their asterisks).

 

[Dave Noble]

Has anyone received clearance for PRC? I don;t know anyone who has received a clearance there yet

Dave

 

[RTWFF]

Chinese whispers

Yes, a colleague of mine received an updated card that included China .... and I didn't

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Chinese whispers

Yes, a colleague of mine received an updated card that included China .... and I didn't

At least they are happening, all be it slowly

Dave

 

[AlwaysUpThere]

Has anyone received clearance for PRC? I don;t know anyone who has received a clearance there yet

I've been cleared for China. It took just 17 months - but I got it. With the inconvenience of the business visa process requiring invitation letters etc, its a worthwhile wait.

Be careful though - this is for business travel only. Would hate to tick the wrong box on the arrival card and have them refuse entry!

Has this happened to anyone?

 

[QF WP]

updated my list tonight, now showing:

You have been pre-cleared by the following economies:
Australia
Philippines
Hong Kong
Chile
New Zealand
Malaysia
Thailand *
Japan
Chinese Taipei

* new addition...

 

[infoworks]

If these are the main countries you will visit in the next few months, ask for an interim card. Otherwise you'll be waiting untill all the economies have approved you - and that could be a loooong time. They will automatically send you a card once everyone has approved.

 

[cowombat]

Portpass suspended at JFK

I last renewed my PortPass (definitely called that - I'm looking at the card now) about 18 months ago. So it is definitely still working post 9/11, and I last used it in June 05, so is current (although the scanner was broken at JFK on this occasion... so I just went up to any US citizen lane counter and presented my card with passport. The Officer was happy to process me.

The card is labelled a PortPass, but the system (including the scanners etc) is called INSpass, because the INS issues the Port Pass.
quote]

15 October update. I tried to renew my Portpass at JFK yesterday, and was advised the system at JFK was closed and could not be renewed at this airport. The customs officer didn't know if this was universal or just at Kennedy. I tried to call the 1-800 number for advice re this, but the recorded voice advised a 40 minute queue - I had a plane to catch so couldn't wait. I did check the Homeland Security website at http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-823.htm and they are still publishing the I-823 Application Form... so go figure! So no luck this week, but next time I'm at a different airport I'll try again, since there is clearly no coherence at the moment.

 

[RTWFF]

China update

I received my updated card for China when I (finally) arrived home (after two months away). The card itself seems to have some new security features enabled

 

[QF WP]

updated my list today, now showing:

You have been pre-cleared by the following economies:
Australia
Korea *
Philippines
Hong Kong
Chile
New Zealand
Malaysia
Thailand
Japan
Chinese Taipei

* new addition...

 

[infoworks]

Singapore is now "available" as of 20 October. You need to email IMMI to request inclusion.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Singapore is now "available" as of 20 October. You need to email IMMI to request inclusion.

Why do you need to email IMMI ?

My status is listing quite a few Countries now but Singapore (and of course China...) - does it mean if I don't email IMMI to request to include Singapore I won't get a clearance?

 

[infoworks]

That is right. As they add countries, you have to email request to be pre-cleared for that country. Once cleared you can request an updated card.

Here is the site: http://www.businessmobility.org/key/abtc.html
Here is the email address:'[email protected]'

Include your name anc card number. They will acknowledge your email.

The abtc people are really fantastic - helpful, have humour and responsive.

 

[cssaus]

Anyone know what the arrangement is if you have an APEC card and accompanied by a spouse on a one-off trip who doesn't have a card, can both use the special clearing lanes?

 

[infoworks]

Oficially, they can't use the lines with you. Unoficially, most countries will accept them with you.

 

[cssaus]

When using the special clearance lanes overseas, I presume you still have to fill in the necessary immigration and customs forms, is that correct?

 

[infoworks]

When using the special clearance lanes overseas, I presume you still have to fill in the necessary immigration and customs forms, is that correct?

yes.absolutely.

A good FF tipis to always have a spare set of forms for the countries you are going to, they don't hand them out in flight sometimes. Carrying a spare set saves time, hassles on arrival, and the set can be replaced by the ones you are given or pick up on the way to immigration.

 

[cssaus]

When using the special clearance lanes overseas, I presume you still have to fill in the necessary immigration and customs forms, is that correct?

yes.absolutely.

A good FF tipis to always have a spare set of forms for the countries you are going to, they don't hand them out in flight sometimes. Carrying a spare set saves time, hassles on arrival, and the set can be replaced by the ones you are given or pick up on the way to immigration.

Thanks.

Yes, I do always make sure I keep a stockpile of all the different country immigration and customs forms. It's a good idea that should be kept in mind. I usually fill them in before I leave home including the return form back into Oz.

 

[Damien]

I received the following in an email from the APEC people.

Singapore have offered to process all existing applications. This is
unusual, as a new economy is not obliged to process existing applications,
and there are some 12 000 applicants in the system at the moment ( a
gigantic task!).

As we cannot predict how long it might take for you to receive this
clearance I have placed you on a priority list, and I will ask that you be
processed as soons as possible.

I guess this means that you don't need to bother if you're not planning on going to Singapore in the near future. It will happen anyway.

 

[cssaus]

I received the following in an email from the APEC people.

Singapore have offered to process all existing applications. This is
unusual, as a new economy is not obliged to process existing applications,
and there are some 12 000 applicants in the system at the moment ( a
gigantic task!).

As we cannot predict how long it might take for you to receive this
clearance I have placed you on a priority list, and I will ask that you be
processed as soons as possible.

I guess this means that you don't need to bother if you're not planning on going to Singapore in the near future. It will happen anyway.

By what process are you notified that your clearance for say Singapore has been processed and that you're able to use the APEC channels on entry into Singapore?

From all of my travels into Singapore I've never ever really encountered a delay in getting thru immigration upon arrival. at worst it's been maybe up to 5 or 6 mins. I quite like helping myself to the Foxs lollies that the immigration officers keep in a bowl on their counter..quite partial to the blackcurrent ones!

Although Changi is a very busy airport, I get the impression that most of the people air-side are transiting the place.