APEC Business Travel Card

[dairyfloss]

Given imminent holiday period I would suggest 0 chance it will be through in time - but you never know - good luck

Yes, I suspect this might be the case... thankfully not needed from a visa standpoint; more the fast tracking here and there. Will report back here with how I go.

cheers,
Matt.

 

[Daver6]

Hi All - I will submit the Immi online request tomorrow for a replacement ABTC, due to an updated passport number. Any recent experiences with how long the re-issued card takes? I have travel coming up after the Xmas hols in mid January which it would be nice to have it back for.

Cheers,
Matt.

I submitted mine on Tuesday this week. 24 hours later I received an email that the replacement card has been issued. From the email:

This is an automated email to advise you that an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) has been issued to you today. Once the APEC Business Travel Card has been printed Applicants in Australia can expect to receive their card in approximately fifteen (15) business days. Applicants residing overseas can expect to receive their card in twenty (20) business days. Response to card issuance enquiries will only be provided after the previous mentioned timeframes have elapsed.

I'm Perth based but away at the moment so won't know until I get home next weekend whether the card has arrived yet or not.

 

[dairyfloss]

I submitted mine on Tuesday this week. 24 hours later I received an email that the replacement card has been issued. From the email:



I'm Perth based but away at the moment so won't know until I get home next weekend whether the card has arrived yet or not.

Cool - thanks Daver6. 15 business days after printing sounds like they need some process improvements... or maybe to ensure the security of the card delivery process, the Immi staff drive the cards to each applicant's home or business, personally!

Hope it's there for you when you get back!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[dairyfloss]

Well, well - I just got the same confirmation, as quickly as you, Daver6. Less than 1 business day from submission to confirmation. Not bad for the silly season.

This is an automated email to advise you that an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) has been issued to you today.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Daver6]

Still waiting for my replacement card to turn up.

 

[dairyfloss]

Still waiting for my replacement card to turn up.

Was about to check with you! My travel now brought forward to the coming week, so I think I’ll write off chances of having the replacement card before I leave. Only needed for possible fast-tracking on this occasion, so not a big issue.

cheers,
Matt.

 

[dairyfloss]

My replacement ABTC arrived by registered post today... and with 1.5 days to spare on travel to 2 APEC economies (+ India)

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Daver6]

Mine arrived today as well. Happy days all round.

 

[dairyfloss]

Mine arrived today as well. Happy days all round.

They must have fired up the printers on Monday!

 

[laf2er]

Some information for people looking to apply.

Turnaround time has been really quick for me.

Application Submitted: 19 Dec 2019
Application Approved: 23 Dec 2019
APEC Card Issued: 23 Jan 2020

As one of my interim countries (Japan) was the last country to approve I'm assuming when I receive the card it will just be the full card, not interim.

 

[jules.]

This card is starting to lose a bit of it's lustre..

I travel to HK and China maybe 7-8 times a year. HK airport is doing away with APEC specific aisles, whilst in China they seem to put the rookies in the APEC counter at customs .

Sydney arrivals is now hideously slow seeing as they have incorporated the APEC aisle with airline crews and "assistance required:" aisles. Last feew trips it's been quicker to go through the normal channels

I registered for Hong Kong e-channel access and I've never had to wait in line, so I'd recommend that if they're getting rid of APEC lines. The regular line always seems pretty lengthy.

 

[jules.]

My approvals so far:

12 January - Submitted
-
23 January - Australia, Malaysia
24 January - Philippines
-
27 January - Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia
28 January - Chile, New Zealand
30 January - Singapore, Peru
-
6 February - Russia
7 February - Korea, Thailand

Seven to go, and now wishing I hadn't selected Japan as an interim card country.

 

[Flashback]

So if I'm reading this thread correctly, rather than having to go through some lengthy / costly / painful visa application processes for countries like Russia, China, et al. you could instead just get an APEC card and include a submission to those countries? Then once issued, you use that as your visa or do you still require a visa on top of it and all this gives is fast track access upon arrival?

 

[laf2er]

Some information for people looking to apply.

Turnaround time has been really quick for me.

Application Submitted: 19 Dec 2019
Application Approved: 23 Dec 2019
APEC Card Issued: 23 Jan 2020

As one of my interim countries (Japan) was the last country to approve I'm assuming when I receive the card it will just be the full card, not interim.

Update, card arrived on 5th February

 

[jules.]

So if I'm reading this thread correctly, rather than having to go through some lengthy / costly / painful visa application processes for countries like Russia, China, et al. you could instead just get an APEC card and include a submission to those countries? Then once issued, you use that as your visa or do you still require a visa on top of it and all this gives is fast track access upon arrival?

^ except technically it is for business travel so you would still need a visa if travelling for leisure. Although previous replies on this thread seem to follow a 'don't ask, don't tell' mentality.

 

[laf2er]

So if I'm reading this thread correctly, rather than having to go through some lengthy / costly / painful visa application processes for countries like Russia, China, et al. you could instead just get an APEC card and include a submission to those countries? Then once issued, you use that as your visa or do you still require a visa on top of it and all this gives is fast track access upon arrival?

I wish I applied for it years ago for that reason. $200+ and multiple weeks waiting about 5 times for China Visas alone. I'll test it out on the leisure side for the first time next month in Bali.

 

[seanQLD]

I submitted my first application online ( IMMI ) on 20 March 2020.... amid all the Covid19 lockdowns. ..
Anyway, now 13 April, have heard nothing... no approvals, nothing from Australia... I have no idea what to expect as far as wait-time for approval... but based on what I read in here I did think that Australia would have given their approval by 1 month... so hopefully something within the next week.... Obviously everything is slowed up by Covid19 lockdowns etc....

 

[Hvr]

no approvals, nothing from Australia.

At the moment you almost need to apply for some states individually, WA, QLD, TAS and NT all have restrictions on entry.

Oh, and unless you're a citizen or PR then you're not allowed to even come to Australia.

 

[Daver6]

I submitted my first application online ( IMMI ) on 20 March 2020.... amid all the Covid19 lockdowns. ..
Anyway, now 13 April, have heard nothing... no approvals, nothing from Australia... I have no idea what to expect as far as wait-time for approval... but based on what I read in here I did think that Australia would have given their approval by 1 month... so hopefully something within the next week.... Obviously everything is slowed up by Covid19 lockdowns etc....

I wouldn't be worried about how long it takes. You're not going to be able to make much use of it in the next few months anyway. Seems a strange time to apply for something you can't actually use.

 

[laf2er]

At the moment you almost need to apply for some states individually, WA, QLD, TAS and NT all have restrictions on entry.

Oh, and unless you're a citizen or PR then you're not allowed to even come to Australia.

Absolutely love this response. It's crazy how much things have changed in 1 month