APEC Business Travel Card

[Daver6]

Checked mine yesterday and CHN is now there. This was a renewal I started in Jan this year and not my card is finalised. Ie, no countries pending.

 

[EricT]

I've just updated my ABTC App, and CHN is there now.

 

[HarryTheFlyer]

I checked yesterday and CHN was nowhere to be seen. Logged in this morning and it has now appeared.
Just waiting on Russia and Vietnam for pre-clearance. 17 out of 19 economies now appear on my card. It’s about 4.5 months since initial approval to now.

 

[mc-]

I've just updated my ABTC App, and CHN is there now.

Likewise, I did email them about it, but unlikely that made any difference and was just a delay in it appearing across the board for everyone.

 

[albatross710]

Just waiting on Russia and Vietnam for pre-clearance. 17 out of 19 economies now appear on my card. It’s about 4.5 months since initial approval to now.

you wont be seeing RUS appear. I think it is suspended. Mine is now "final" with 18 economies.

 

[albatross710]

Recently I travelled to South Korea and can confirm ABTC priority treatment was available upon arrival. The lanes upon Arrival were marked for Diplomats, Crew, ABTC.

On Departure at ICN there were lengthy queues for the security screening. Mrs Albatross with her J boarding pass was first to the Priority security channel but was denied access. The Channel was marked for elderly, diplomats, crew without mention of ABTC. I presented as ABTC and was welcomed through. Of course I invited Mrs Albatross and we were through security and immigration in two minutes.

In summary, great handling for ABTC at ICN upon arrival and departure.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The virtual ABTC Card certainly caused a stir at SGN yesterday - they didn’t know how to handle it

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Well bugger me - arrived PVG at 12:25 today May 5 and at immig right on 13:00 - present passport and arr card and show Virtual ABTC and this is the first one they have seen from any country - stood me aside for 30mins while they proceeded to verify it was all above board - welcome to China - whatever you do don’t prepare for what you have agreed to process

 

[scottie80]

Well bugger me - arrived PVG at 12:25 today May 5 and at immig right on 13:00 - present passport and arr card and show Virtual ABTC and this is the first one they have seen from any country - stood me aside for 30mins while they proceeded to verify it was all above board - welcome to China - whatever you do don’t prepare for what you have agreed to process

I'm trying the virtual for the first time this week so glad to see it worked for you!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I was remiss in posting that trying to dep PVG check- in stood me aside again for 10mins as they had not seen ABTC Virtual Card - I have no idea why this was the case as I have no memory of physical APEC Card ever sighted at check-in on dep - I can only imagine check of arrival displayed ABTC

And then processing through immigration I had to stand aside for another 5 mins as immig officials would not let me front counter without physical card - but we got through unscathed - all in all fun times in China

 

[dajop]

Wondering if virtual card would cause grief in some places. Anyone used a virtual card to enter US in the faster border control lanes? I assume it will be even more problematic (except for perhaps LAX and SFO), it already was a bit of a dice roll outside of SFO/LAX even with physical card. They don't drag you aside, they just tell you (not in the exact words, but in spirit) to p#@#ss off and go the back of the queue.

 

[Daver6]

Wondering if virtual card would cause grief in some places. Anyone used a virtual card to enter US in the faster border control lanes? I assume it will be even more problematic (except for perhaps LAX and SFO), it already was a bit of a dice roll outside of SFO/LAX even with physical card. They don't drag you aside, they just tell you (not in the exact words, but in spirit) to p#@#ss off and go the back of the queue.

Last time I entered via LAX, I think you just use the crew lane. Wasn't even asked to see proof of an APEC card.

 

[dajop]

Last time I entered via LAX, I think you just use the crew lane. Wasn't even asked to see proof of an APEC card.

Last time I entered JFK was told that they didn’t recognise APEC there and couldn’t use the crew lane. Ar LAX (early 2019, last time I passed through there) I was directed to a specific lane by someone and then someone else came and booted me out (she asked what my business was in the US, I didn’t want to lie, just transiting from Mexico back to Singapore and then was told in no uncertain terms as I wasn’t travelling to US for business I had to go to the back of the normal lane … ). SFO last year was great though!

 

[Austman]

Last time I entered JFK was told that they didn’t recognise APEC there and couldn’t use the crew lane.

Yep. Me too. And other places. eg Miami.

It works well when it works. But there's nothing you can do, there and then, when the official says "we don't know about APEC".

 

[aus_flyer]

I got a new passport and changed details online but can't work out how to get a new virtual card. I don't know the "application number"

 

[Foreigner]

The value of APEC card may be greater in visa-free entry, then priority lanes on arrival and departure

I had this card many years back and didn’t bother renewal

 

[albatross710]

The value of APEC card may be greater in visa-free entry, then priority lanes on arrival and departure

In the past year I've had Mrs Albatross with me on a few trips. While my entry has been covered by the ABTC

Her arrival in Bali USD35 (+ the queue)
Her Korean K-ETA ~USD10

The time gains are country dependent and even then can be determined by time of day.

For the ~$250 cost for 5 years it's worth having for me.

 

[dajop]

The value of APEC card may be greater in visa-free entry, then priority lanes on arrival and departure

I had this card many years back and didn’t bother renewal

There have times at BKK where I’ve come through in 2-3 mins and colleagues without card have taken about 30 mins. And even though you can get into Thailand easily, my previous employer insisted that anyone travelling their get a business visa for compliance purposes. I’ve seen long waits at various airports both inbound and outbound, such as DPS, CGK, SGN, BKK, HKG, PEK, PVG, MNL. Once departing PVG some colleagues (travelling on different flight) said it took about 50-55 mins to get through immigration and security. I took 5 with ABTC.

 

[Daver6]

And let's not forget, the cost is tax deductible, by the very definition of the card. Even better if your employer pays.

Similar experience for me at BKK. Through in less than two minutes. Colleagues spent an hour in the queue.

 

[RealtimeY]

Resounding success today on arrival Shanghai. Told them I had an APEC card, they asked which country, then asked if it was digital. Ushered to the front of the line, and went straight through without hassle.