APEC Business Travel Card - Express Immigration Clearance

[RTWFF]

Snail mail

I don't recall exactly but I think it's 7 - 10 days

 

[Dave Noble]

Mine came in about 4 days; I ordered it on a monday and it arrived on the friday

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

John K - i'll try to remember to wave to you the next time i am passing through immigration and you are in the queue.

No worries. I am the short fat bloke with the red carnation.

Sorry guys. Just throwing a little bait out there and seeing who bites. Shouldn't do that anymore as it get people worked up.

This is a frequent flyer board. Why insult people and try and troll and bait them for taking advantage of facilities being made available to frequent travellers?

Dave

 

[infoworks]

They are responsive, if you have an upcoming trip for example, and if possible will try to get it to you as quickly as possible, usually within 3-4 days, given that the card comes from Canberra.

You should also note that when you send in your application by mail, it will take a few days to get to Canberra, and then through the security screening process.

 

[JohnK]

This is a frequent flyer board. Why insult people and try and troll and bait them for taking advantage of facilities being made available to frequent travellers?

Dave

I agree wrong thing to do. Sorry was not meant to insult anyone.

I won't do it again.

 

[infoworks]

I just came thru SIN. They have an APEC sign up now with one of the resident lanes. The immigration official was VERY insistent that without SIN on the back of the card they couldn't process using APEC.

I asked if he would prefer I move to one of the adjacent lanes, there were only one in line on each, and I was well ahead of the rabble, but with great fanfare and much slowness said he would process me "normally", which he did.

 

[cowombat]

Fast China Approval

Just want to say 'hats off to the team issuing the APEC cards'. When requesting an interim card recently I mentioned my particular wish for PR China to be included. The nice folks there let me know I would be on the priority list discussed with their Chinese counterparts. And it has been approved already..... very good Maybe we can get Qantas to hire some of these people!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I just came thru SIN. They have an APEC sign up now with one of the resident lanes. The immigration official was VERY insistent that without SIN on the back of the card they couldn't process using APEC.

I asked if he would prefer I move to one of the adjacent lanes, there were only one in line on each, and I was well ahead of the rabble, but with great fanfare and much slowness said he would process me "normally", which he did.

SIN is probably the last place an APEC line is needed. I cant remember ever waiting more than 30 seconds at immigration there.

 

[infoworks]

I cant remember ever waiting more than 30 seconds at immigration there.

I agree it's probably the best, but they too have their moments, and I have certainly stood in some lines there over the years - timing I guess! I also wanted to see how they dealt with the card.

I enjoyed meeting you last weekend. Hope the rest of the trip went well.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I enjoyed meeting you too. Sorry I couldnt make lunch or dinner on Saturday. BTW at KUL outgoing the apec line seemed to be slower than the other lines. Not sure why.

Back home now. Will post the rest of my trip report when I get a chance to.

 

[infoworks]

BTW at KUL outgoing the apec line seemed to be slower than the other lines. Not sure why.

I find it often has a lot of non-blue/APEC people in the line. I have, on several occasions, asked the supervisor, who has checked and moved the people on, reducing the line in front of me from 15 or so to 3!

 

[NM]

I enjoyed meeting you too. Sorry I couldnt make lunch or dinner on Saturday. BTW at KUL outgoing the apec line seemed to be slower than the other lines. Not sure why.

Back home now. Will post the rest of my trip report when I get a chance to.

Where is the APEC line at KUL? Is it the same as the Premium line or the same as the air-crew line? Thankfully I am normally arriving and departing with MH in F to/from SIN (F is only A$45 more than Y) and hance get lounge access and Premium immigration invitation.

KUL is probably where I would most use an APEC card, but if there is not a great advantage over Premium line then it may not be worth it.

 

[infoworks]

I am the same, F on SQ for same reasons. Mostly the blue/premium lane and APEC lane is the same. Sometimes they have a separate lane or forget to show APEC in the overhhead sign. When no sign I go to main counter and ask them to stamp me through (which they have done so for).

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

IIRC it was Premium/APEC as one line. There was also a line for Frequent Traveller (I presume is some kind of pre-registered system)!

 

[RTWFF]

I just came thru SIN. They have an APEC sign up now with one of the resident lanes. The immigration official was VERY insistent that without SIN on the back of the card they couldn't process using APEC.

I asked if he would prefer I move to one of the adjacent lanes, there were only one in line on each, and I was well ahead of the rabble, but with great fanfare and much slowness said he would process me "normally", which he did.

SIN is probably the last place an APEC line is needed. I cant remember ever waiting more than 30 seconds at immigration there.

If you base your experience solely on Changi Airport then you are correct. However the landside entry across the Causeway to/from Malaysia is another matter altogether. I remember once there being a long-ish line in the "Other Foreigners" queue (can't remember the exact designation) and absolutely no-one in (I think) the ASEAN line - certainly not the Malaysian or Singaporean line. Up I strolled and got told off in no uncertain terms - and she refused to process me, despite having absolutely nothing else to do. It just confirmed my view of the Singaporeans as probably the rudest people on Earth

But then I've deliberately avoiding entering the US via LAX

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Good point - I was thinking of SIN ie Changi airport.

 

[infoworks]

It's been a while since I came across the causeway. Picking your time helps, or the "second crossing", although further and more expensive (toll) is usually faster - again avoid peak times.

I don't agree with the rudeness, IMHO SIN Changi immigration has changed a lot over the years, but the attitude at the causeway is a lot different because of the nature of the entry point for one thing.

But with all these things there are good and bad, and I too have reduced my US travel because of the hassles.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Paperwork clearing immigration in Australia

Got my APEC card today

Question for those of you out there that have done it before...

When you leave OZ do you still need to complete the green departure card? Also do you have to complete the arrivals card when you get back?

Not sure if APEC Card & Passport are all you need.... ??

 

[cssaus]

Re: Paperwork clearing immigration in Australia

Got my APEC card today

How long did it take to come thru?

 

[infoworks]

Re: Paperwork clearing immigration in Australia

When you leave OZ do you still need to complete the green departure card? Also do you have to complete the arrivals card when you get back?

Not sure if APEC Card & Passport are all you need.... ??

You still have to fill out every form for every country - inbound and outbound - no exceptions (that I am aware of).