APEC Business Travel Card

[Cruiser Elite]

Why needed to be ushered through line as their is dedicated APEC line which is always empty?

 

[RealtimeY]

There was no dedicated APEC line that I noticed today arriving at Hongqiao, just a foreigners line and a manned “everything else” line but I could have just missed it. Hongqiao felt quite dead overall

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Oh so sorry I just thought PVG

 

[jpp42]

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 … )

Not that you want to be arguing with US Customs officials, but it appears to me that the requirement is that your purpose of travel must be for business in the APEC Region - it doesn't specify that the actual business must be conducted in the USA. ("bona fide businessperson who is engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities within the APEC region"). And of course both Mexico and Singapore are member countries.

 

[Lemon_Party]

Has anyone tried to renew recently and have feedback on a) timeframe for AU review and approval, and b) applying with no foreign travel for the last 3 year period for the obvious reasons

I submitted a couple of weeks ago but haven't heard boo since. My APEC travel in the first couple of years with the card was strong, but nothing since the apocalypse.

 

[Daver6]

Has anyone tried to renew recently and have feedback on a) timeframe for AU review and approval, and b) applying with no foreign travel for the last 3 year period for the obvious reasons

I submitted a couple of weeks ago but haven't heard boo since. My APEC travel in the first couple of years with the card was strong, but nothing since the apocalypse.

Search for my posts up-thread. I applied in late Dec (I think) and got AU approval a few weeks later.

I had a few overseas trips last year but I really don't think your lack of travel will be an issue.

 

[EricT]

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

Did they let you in eventually?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Did they let you in eventually?

Yes they did

 

[EricT]

ABTC server is down.
showing A server error occurred.

 

[RealtimeY]

Smooth departure from PVG. No mention at check-in, and no problems getting through immigration and security with virtual card. I’m thinking @Cruiser Elite has done all the hard work for me.


Also noticed a sign at TPE saying that ABTC holder spouse and family were able to join them in that line.

 

[TNT_RS]

ABTC server is down.
showing A server error occurred.

I'm still unable to login too.

Anyone else getting these server issues on Android with the latest app?

It was fine up until last Friday.

I've contacted APEC/ABTC but no response.

Thanks!

 

[weirluo]

I'm still unable to login too.

Anyone else getting these server issues on Android with the latest app?

It was fine up until last Friday.

I've contacted APEC/ABTC but no response.

Thanks!

Same here but with an iPhone

 

[Danger]

I've used one previously, which was abtc[at]border.gov.au , but with limited success.

It looks like they've added a form for contact:

Immigration and citizenship Website

Find out about Australian visas, immigration and citizenship.

immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

Cheers,
Matt.

The address is now abtc at homeaffairs.gov.au. I emailed my query, below, but I'm not confident I'll get a response.

I don't suppose anyone has experience applying for the card on the basis of being a board member of an Australian charity undertaking work (i.e. providing funding) in some of the APEC countries?

 

[Jasten]

Same here but with an iPhone

Same with iPhone too. Have deleted and redownloaded but no joy. Help!

 

[weirluo]

The issue is gone as per the support msg below
“
The error with the ABTC application has now been fixed.



Please close and reopen your application to ensure the update takes effect.



Should you continue to have issues, please get in touch with us again.



Kind regards







APEC Business Travel Card

Executive Group | Department of Home Affairs Australian Government



Visit us at www.apec.org | Twitter | Facebook
“

 

[marks]

Hi all,
Once you've submitted an application, I know it can take 3-4 months to process if approved.
Other than the submission date, it there any updates if the application has been received correctly and is processing?

 

[anyonebutqantas]

I submitted 2 weeks ago and heard nothing since.

 

[dajop]

Looking at my records, I paid the application fee on 10 Feb (this year) and received an approval notification with application number on 2 March. This was for a renewal, but I'm not sure if that makes any difference. 3.5 months later, I have all countries except Vietnam. Guess which country I am travelling to next week?

 

[pauldab]

Hi all,
Once you've submitted an application, I know it can take 3-4 months to process if approved.
Other than the submission date, it there any updates if the application has been received correctly and is processing?

Assuming you've applied to Australia like I did, you'll get an email once the application has been approved by them. It will have an application number and information to download the ABCT app.

From that point you'll start to get approvals from each country which can be checked online on the ABTC Pre-approval Status checker, the App will begin populating these approvals too as they come in so you can travel on it without all countries.

Here's the approximate dates that I saw each approval come through as I checked every week or so because I had travel to Thailand and Vietnam already booked.

Applied 20 Mar.
Approval from Australia on 29 Mar.
Brunei, Indonesia 30 Mar.
New Zealand, Singapore 3 Apr.
Thailand, Peru, Philippines 7 Apr.
South Korea, Chile, China, Russia 12 Apr.
Hong Kong, Mexico 21 Apr.
Taiwan 28 Apr.
Papua New Guinea 4 May.
Malaysia 15 May.
Japan, Vietnam 15 June.

For me it was about 2.5 months for all countries if you are approve for all. The letter from Australian Dept of Home Affairs has the statement "Australia has no influence over processing times and your application may not receive pre-clearance from every economy." so your success for all countries can depend on the strength of your application submission. I went to some length with my application to cover the required criteria in full.

 

[marks]

Assuming you've applied to Australia like I did, you'll get an email once the application has been approved by them. It will have an application number and information to download the ABCT app.

From that point you'll start to get approvals from each country which can be checked online on the ABTC Pre-approval Status checker, the App will begin populating these approvals too as they come in so you can travel on it without all countries.

Here's the approximate dates that I saw each approval come through as I checked every week or so because I had travel to Thailand and Vietnam already booked.

Applied 20 Mar.
Approval from Australia on 29 Mar.

Hmmm
Submitted on 07 Jun and no email as yet. New application. Wasn't a renewal