APEC Business Travel Card

[Foreigner]

I'm the same with MYS cleared today too. Must be doing it in batches.

Or Mondays.
Keen to get the VNM done with a trip in mid Jan.

VNM came thru today

JPN to go

 

[SteveW2387]

JPN to go - not sure if Russia will appear on card like previous,,,

 

[marks]

Vietnam through. JPN to go as well now

 

[dajop]

Good that Vietnam is coming through so quickly now, what less than 2 months? . I’m 9 months and counting, I think VN have lost a batch of applications and I’ll never get it, which is annoying as it one of the countries where it is most useful for me.

 

[marks]

I was approved mid Sept. Got VNM about a week ago.
I'm surprised JPN is last on the list for me.

 

[dajop]

Seeing all the VNM approvals coming through I did contact the group in Australian gov responsible for ABTC and basically the thrust of the response is "too bad, so sad, nothing we can do". VNM apparently have a big backlog of approvals and are attempting to process them in order of application, I guess they didn't say if it was in reverse order or forward order of application.

 

[dairyfloss]

Seeing all the VNM approvals coming through I did contact the group in Australian gov responsible for ABTC and basically the thrust of the response is "too bad, so sad, nothing we can do". VNM apparently have a big backlog of approvals and are attempting to process them in order of application, I guess they didn't say if it was in reverse order or forward order of application.

Interestingly, one of the APEC ABTC pages that I found (not DHA) suggests that questions about the status of your pre-clearance application with a particular economy are managed by that economy...... worth trying direct contact with VN immigration, perhaps? Here's the links:

• APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) | APEC (see FAQs)
• ABTC Economy Contact Information

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[dajop]

Interestingly, one of the APEC ABTC pages that I found (not DHA) suggests that questions about the status of your pre-clearance application with a particular economy are managed by that economy...... worth trying direct contact with VN immigration, perhaps? Here's the links:

• APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) | APEC (see FAQs)
• ABTC Economy Contact Information

Cheers,
Matt.

Thanks, will try contacting them directly.

 

[Foreigner]

Pleased to report JPN came thru today. Almost five months after AUS pre-clearance

 

[marks]

Pleased to report JPN came thru today. Almost five months after AUS pre-clearance

Just checked. Mine too. They seem to be completed in batches.

 

[jcwhizz]

And me!! At last, a complete ABTC!!

 

[HKGNZL]

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

I showed mine at Saigon airport yesterday. They would allow me to go through but strictly won't let my wife or daughter to come with me, so we lined up in the general queue (for almost 30 min).

 

[HKGNZL]

I have had APEC card for many years (but a gap during Covid). I travel mainly for work but my wife/daughter come along sometimes. When I first started it stated clearly you can have one accompanying person. Certainly in the past SIN is very strict and say choose to take your wife OR daughter, the other has to go to general line. This happened only once or twice in other countries - elsewhere they usually let three of us through,

Since Covid, the 'rules' (which I can't find anything written on their web) seem to have changed. Last week in KL, the officer insisted APEC is only for one person travelling though he let us all through. Same happened when arriving in AUS last night (when using the fast track luggage declaration line).

I know it has always been variable how these situations are handled (country and officer of the day dependent), but wonder if anyone can refer me to any specific written regulations? Or share recent experiences?

 

[Daver6]

I have had APEC card for many years (but a gap during Covid). I travel mainly for work but my wife/daughter come along sometimes. When I first started it stated clearly you can have one accompanying person. Certainly in the past SIN is very strict and say choose to take your wife OR daughter, the other has to go to general line. This happened only once or twice in other countries - elsewhere they usually let three of us through,

Since Covid, the 'rules' (which I can't find anything written on their web) seem to have changed. Last week in KL, the officer insisted APEC is only for one person travelling though he let us all through. Same happened when arriving in AUS last night (when using the fast track luggage declaration line).

I know it has always been variable how these situations are handled (country and officer of the day dependent), but wonder if anyone can refer me to any specific written regulations? Or share recent experiences?

I was under the impression it was always only the card holder. If that's not the case, I'd love to hear about it.

 

[Danger]

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?

I've been able to confirm that a chair of a charity is eligible and so I'm now in a position where I need to decide if it's worth it.

What's the situation like in the US? Is it more widely known about by border officials now? Ten-odd years ago, I enquired on arrival in MIA (or DFW, I can't recall), showed my card and the border official suggested it was a phone card.

Do people use APEC lanes at airports when not travelling on business?

 

[marks]

Do people use APEC lanes at airports when not travelling on business?

I was in LAX last week. Went up to the agent near the diplomatic line and asked if APEC was there. Asked to see it first (on the app), then opened the rope to go through.
The desk agent didn't ask. Though in 10 mins.

 

[dajop]

Interestingly, one of the APEC ABTC pages that I found (not DHA) suggests that questions about the status of your pre-clearance application with a particular economy are managed by that economy...... worth trying direct contact with VN immigration, perhaps? Here's the links:

• APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) | APEC (see FAQs)
• ABTC Economy Contact Information

Cheers,
Matt.

Many thanks for this idea.

I used the email address provided in the contact information and didn't get a reply. But VN pre-clearance came through within 3 days. I didn't get notification from immig.gov.au but I checked on the app and there it was. So 10 months of waiting but fixed in 3 days

 

[dairyfloss]

Many thanks for this idea.

I used the email address provided in the contact information and didn't get a reply. But VN pre-clearance came through within 3 days. I didn't get notification from immig.gov.au but I checked on the app and there it was. So 10 months of waiting but fixed in 3 days

I'm sure it was just a coincidence

 

[RealtimeY]

I just checked too and my Vietnam clearance has finally come through after first approval in February!

 

[Daver6]

SYD international departures is still a pain point. Went through on Wed morning. APEC line for immigration is sign posted along with crew. Airport staff member wouldn't allow me to use the automatic gate though. That's apparently for crew only. Insisted I see an officer. No big deal as he was free and seemed kinda perplexed too. Then I walk towards the very right, crew security line. Another airport official tells me I can't use it and need to get all the way to the other end for the regular line. There's also a an assistant line there. Nope, not for me either. She actually tells me there is no APEC line for anything, despite me pointing out that it's signposted earlier on.

As I start the walk I go past the counters with immigration staff. The lady there obviously overhead the conversation. She checks that I have an APEC card and then tells the other lady I am entitled to the assisted security line. I mention that every time I go through here the airport staff are clueless. I point out to her the two members who got it wrong.

Far out. It's not that hard!