APEC Business Travel Card

[TonyHancock]

Three weeks after the follow-up, I've had a response to say my ABTC application is still awaiting assessment, and that they are currently assessing applications that were lodged in mid-November 2016. I sent mine in mid-December 2016. Let's see if I can beat your 17 weeks, TonyHancock!

Cheers,
Matt.

I'm now 14 approvals in from the other APEC countries now.......of course the main two I want China and South Korea haven't come through yet.

 

[hummel]

I'm now 14 approvals in from the other APEC countries now.......of course the main two I want China and South Korea haven't come through yet.

China took the longest for me too, and was the one I wanted most.

Used my card for the first time last week at Guangzhou airport, wow it made life easier!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

How long did the China clearance take Hummel?

 

[NZflygirl]

If you took a leisure trip can you still re-enter the country with your APEC card?? Although I'm guessing nobody would grill you on it.

 

[hummel]

How long did the China clearance take Hummel?

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All up it took ~8 Months - But I received approval for all except China/Vietnam within 6 months.

I think mine took so long as they actually lost parts of my documentation twice! And I only found out after chasing it up and asking what was going on.

 

[TonyHancock]

If you took a leisure trip can you still re-enter the country with your APEC card?? Although I'm guessing nobody would grill you on it.

I have entered Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong on trips that weren't strictly business related.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

If you are holding APEC you are always travelling on business.

 

[NZflygirl]

If you are holding APEC you are always travelling on business.

Got it!

 

[Kefci2000]

Looking forward to testing it in HK and US next month

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Looking forward to testing it in HK and US next month 

Where in US to test it? I have only ever tried to use it in LAX - no designated APEC channel there IIRC - you use crew channel. And LAX the only entry port in any country where they would not permit the Ette to accompany me on APEC card - only in the US of A huh?

 

[Kefci2000]

If you read T&C there is no APEC lanes in US or Canada as they are not members, but as you point out you are allowed to use the crew lanes. This should be at all international airports in US

 

[TonyHancock]

If you read T&C there is no APEC lanes in US or Canada as they are not members, but as you point out you are allowed to use the crew lanes. This should be at all international airports in US

I wonder how well this is known or enforced or actually allowed in the US?

 

[Austman]

I wonder how well this is known or enforced or actually allowed in the US?

It was a mixed bag in my experience. Worked at some airports, didn't work at others. Were it didn't work, it cause me a bit of trouble - being booted out of the lanes.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I wonder how well this is known or enforced or actually allowed in the US?

It is not at all well known - come to think of it I did try to use APEC one time entering US through MIA - dudes there had no idea what APEC even was so I was back in line with all others - this was maybe 8yrs ago.

 

[mushez]

I used APEC arriving in LAX the one and only time I have been to the USA - which was 2014.

Did bugger all for me, and recon it was slower than just going through any ordinary immigration line. This was because all escorted PAX or crew got to jump the que (cannot remember which one) and line just never went very fast.

Was challenged when I got to immigration person why I was in that line, flashed APEC card - and said ahhh ok, with a rolling eye motion.

USA are kinda part of, but kinda not part of APEC. Don't think USA citizens can apply for a USA APEC card - China wants all USA citizens to pay for visa's in tit for tat of what USA require Chinese persons to go through to get a Visa to travel to the USA - aka 9 month minimum for a Chinese person to get a visa to USA from application, and price for such is 3 times any other country. APEC cards don't grant one any wavers to Visa application to the USA - and you need to do visa/ESTA still as if you didn't have APEC.

 

[TonyHancock]

Don't think USA citizens can apply for a USA APEC card - China wants all USA citizens to pay for visa's in tit for tat of what USA require Chinese persons to go through to get a Visa to travel to the USA - aka 9 month minimum for a Chinese person to get a visa to USA from application, and price for such is 3 times any other country. APEC cards don't grant one any wavers to Visa application to the USA - and you need to do visa/ESTA still as if you didn't have APEC.

They can but it is a watered down version as per your comments. It is not a visa but allows access to a speedier visa process. It does allow access to the APEC lanes in immigration.

 

[dairyfloss]

Three weeks after the follow-up, I've had a response to say my ABTC application is still awaiting assessment, and that they are currently assessing applications that were lodged in mid-November 2016. I sent mine in mid-December 2016. Let's see if I can beat your 17 weeks, TonyHancock!

Cheers,
Matt.

Nope - I can't beat your record hold-up after all, TonyHancock.
On a day shy of 16 weeks since my application was received...:

We are pleased to advise that your application for an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) lodged with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection has been approved.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Sent off APEC renewal application Thu Apr 13. Existing APEC Card doesn't expire until Nov but given lead time best we get on with it - will post back when approved and received.

 

[TonyHancock]

Sent off APEC renewal application Thu Apr 13. Existing APEC Card doesn't expire until Nov but given lead time best we get on with it - will post back when approved and received.

24 weeks from receipt of application to the final approval for me.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Process officially underway:

Dear Mr Elite

Receipt and Acknowledgement of Application for an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

APPLICATION NUMBER and NAME: AUS 12345 - ELITE , HANDSOME CRUISER

This letter confirms that your application for an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) was received on 18/04/2017 and payment taken on 26/04/2017. Please find attached your receipt of payment for your application.

Your application will be allocated to an APEC Decision Maker to undergo further assessment shortly. No further action is required from you at this time.

An ABTC application is a two stage process:

• Stage one consists of assessment for eligibility of an ABTC by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection and a national criminal history check. Presently, applications are taking eight to ten weeks for assessment.
• Upon notification of approval from Australia, stage two consists of notifying all APEC economies that your pre-clearance is available for processing.

Under the ABTC scheme, each economy undertakes independent processing of applications for pre-clearance and for this reason, the processing time to obtain a full card varies greatly. The anticipated timeframe for a full card to become available is between two to five months once Australia has notified other economies.

Interim Card
An interim card is only available once your application has been approved by Australia and the nominated priority economies indicated on your application form. If you indicated on your application form that you would like to receive an interim card, this card will be generated automatically once all your nominated priority economies have processed your application.

Please note you are eligible to receive one (1) interim card only.

If you have not selected any priority economies, you will receive your full ABTC card only once all economies have processed your application.

If you have urgent or impending travel prior to receiving your ABTC with the required pre-clearances, you will need to organise the appropriate travel visas whilst your application is being considered.