APEC Business Travel Card

[dairyfloss]

Process officially underway:

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 time frame for a full card to become available is between two to five months once Australia has notified other economies.

I've just noticed the comment about taking two to five months from when Australia notifies other economies. Now I guess it's still possible, but I have already received 16 out of 19 approvals in the 4 weeks since I was cleared by Australia. Just need China, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam to complete the set.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[hummel]

I've just noticed the comment about taking two to five months from when Australia notifies other economies. Now I guess it's still possible, but I have already received 16 out of 19 approvals in the 4 weeks since I was cleared by Australia. Just need China, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam to complete the set.

Cheers,
Matt.

FWIW they were the countries that took the longest for me. Took an extra 6 weeks on top of the other from what I recall.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

YES in my previous APEC Applics China has always been the slowest.

 

[dairyfloss]

FWIW they were the countries that took the longest for me. Took an extra 6 weeks on top of the other from what I recall.

YES in my previous APEC Applics China has always been the slowest.

In my previous application, China and Chinese Taipei were in the first group to approve, and it was Singapore to approve last. Singapore!! Maybe each economy has a review cycle that we're just catching at different points, depending on when the application goes in.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[ermen]

Qn here - what do you use to provde entry / travel to an APEC economy?
Will passport stamps suffice? I just realised I use plenty of award tickets to various economies - haa they don't show up in my FF statement.

 

[hummel]

Qn here - what do you use to provde entry / travel to an APEC economy?
Will passport stamps suffice? I just realised I use plenty of award tickets to various economies - haa they don't show up in my FF statement.

pdd

Personally I've provided some tripit report screenshots for me and it seemed to work.

 

[Kefci2000]

They suggest boarding passes or FF statements but don't see why not certified copy of passport page

Just need someone to prove a passport page is yours? is your number watermarked?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Qn here - what do you use to provde entry / travel to an APEC economy?
Will passport stamps suffice? I just realised I use plenty of award tickets to various economies - haa they don't show up in my FF statement.

BP stubs stapled to a sheet then scanned is 100% no brainer - this is a procedure I have followed closely over 10+yrs - I keep hard copies of flt / hotel bookings + BP stubs / train tix etc stapled in order of exp to A4 sheets - simply scan and colour print and the job is done.

You need supply certified copy of data page from your passport etc but I have no idea if entry / exit stamps suffice - whatever you do over supply - give them zero reason to refuse your application.

 

[ermen]

I used a combination of FF statements and e-ticket print out.

Unfortunately no more boarding passes because I don't typically keep them.

As an aside this is entry into 4 separate economies right, and not 4 trips. In any case, maybe I will just write 6 trips into 4 economies.

 

[ermen]

They suggest boarding passes or FF statements but don't see why not certified copy of passport page

Just need someone to prove a passport page is yours? is your number watermarked?

Actually it is - it has the passport number engraved in the dots.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

As an aside this is entry into 4 separate economies right, and not 4 trips. In any case, maybe I will just write 6 trips into 4 economies.

IME nope it can be multiple entries into one country - doesn't stipulate must be separate / different economies:

 

[ermen]

IME nope it can be multiple entries into one country - doesn't stipulate must be separate / different economies:

View attachment 97624

The form kinda contradicts because it talks about visits to four economies (excluding the country of residence - didn't seem to exclude Australia). technically going back to Australia on business should be a "visit" for me.

In any case, i just played it safe.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Email just received:

19/05/2017

CRUISER ELITE
C/- A1 JIGOLO ENTERPRISES
PO BOX 69
coughIC PARK TAS 6969

In reply please quote:
Client Name: CRUISER ELITE
Passport Number: E69696969
Application Number: 696969

Dear CRUISER ELITE

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.

Your details will now be sent to the other APEC economies for pre-clearance. Please note it can take between two (2) to five (5) months for all economies to provide pre-clearance. An application may not receive pre-clearance from every participating economy as the ABTC Scheme in no way affects the right of each economy to determine who may travel to, enter and remain in that economy. Thus, whilst the department can request pre-clearance, the participating economies have the sole discretion to determine your eligibility for pre-clearance.

You can check the status of your pre-clearances for foreign economies using your Australian application number online at http://www.businessmobility.org/key/CardStatus.asp

If your Australian application form indicated that you would like to receive an interim card, this card will be generated automatically once the relevant economies have processed your application.

Once all economies have processed your application the ABTC will be issued automatically and sent to the address listed for correspondence in your application form.

Please note that transitionary APEC members USA and Canada will not appear on any ABTC. Normal immigration procedures still apply for travel to the USA and Canada however, these economies are now allowing all ABTC holders to use priority lanes at specific international airports. The list of participating airports for the USA and Canada are found on the Business Mobility website: Business Mobility Group - Key Initiatives.

If you have any further enquiries relating to your ABTC, please contact us at [email protected] or on (07) 3136 7130.

Yours Sincerely

APEC Business Travel Card Team
Department of Immigration and Border Protection Queensland State Office

Telephone: 07 3136 7130
Facsimile: 07 3136 7473
Email: [email protected]

NOTE:
1. Application mailed 23/04/2017
2. Notification of Receipt of Application 26/04/2017
3. Multiple entries to China ONLY included as evidence of Business Travel
4. Application Approved 19/05/2017
5. Final Approval by last APEC Member TBA ...........................

 

[ermen]

Email just received:


NOTE:
2. Notification of Receipt of Application 26/05/2017
3. Multiple entries to China ONLY included as evidence of Business Travel
4. Application Approved 19/05/2017

you mean 26/4/2017 for receipt?
Nice on the China only. I reckon I should be sweet then with 6 entries and 4 economies.

I sent mine yesterday from here. Reckon it'll take 2 weeks or so for them to receive the package.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Interesting APEC entry / exit PEK recently. On Apr 25 arr into PEK I met a couple on SQ flt who were faced with mile long 'Foreigner' queue - so I grabbed them and took them into APEC line with me - they were processed inbound without a blink.

Dep PEK on May 14 I tried to take my 3 sisters into APEC dep line - no go what so ever with airport staff directing them to 'Foreigner' queue - go figure.

 

[mushez]

Interesting APEC entry / exit PEK recently. On Apr 25 arr into PEK I met a couple on SQ flt who were faced with mile long 'Foreigner' queue - so I grabbed them and took them into APEC line with me - they were processed inbound without a blink.

Dep PEK on May 14 I tried to take my 3 sisters into APEC dep line - no go what so ever with airport staff directing them to 'Foreigner' queue - go figure.

The whole taking non APEC PAX through APEC line can be frowned upon at any random point of entry or exit.

Was given a right royal caution by some dragon using APEC card outbound at BNE once upon a time with family in tow, wife and 3 boys.

 

[dajop]

Interesting conversation with a former colleague who travels routinely on business trips to places such as China, Vietnam and Indonesia, and her APEC is up for renewal. THe company in it's infinite wisdom, will support APEC applications but will no longer pay the application fee One wonders about the idiots in finance who make such a calls, thinking of it as a "priority" perk, rather than a money and time saver associated with visa applications. I don't know how much money I've saved over the years, but it would be well in excess of the application fees.

 

[dairyfloss]

Interesting conversation with a former colleague who travels routinely on business trips to places such as China, Vietnam and Indonesia, and her APEC is up for renewal. THe company in it's infinite wisdom, will support APEC applications but will no longer pay the application fee One wonders about the idiots in finance who make such a calls, thinking of it as a "priority" perk, rather than a money and time saver associated with visa applications. I don't know how much money I've saved over the years, but it would be well in excess of the application fees.

Ours is going the same way... but thankfully I managed to get the application in and paid for the card that's close to now being issued, and so won't have to worry for another 5 years. A simple business case should be enough to get these things over the line in any sensible business...

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[ermen]

The whole taking non APEC PAX through APEC line can be frowned upon at any random point of entry or exit.

Was given a right royal caution by some dragon using APEC card outbound at BNE once upon a time with family in tow, wife and 3 boys.

Think it is only Australia that is like that.
Told the story of a friend who brought his family APEC inbound at MEL (not Australian). Got told off too (because it was strictly for business ue only.)

 

[dairyfloss]

Think it is only Australia that is like that.
Told the story of a friend who brought his family APEC inbound at MEL (not Australian). Got told off too (because it was strictly for business ue only.)

The Americans certainly won't have any part of it. They barely want you using it when solo, on business.