APEC Business Travel Card

[Cruiser Elite]

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

Yep only 2 places I have been denied with non Apec holder in tow was LAX last Sept with the Ette and PEK 2 weeks ago with 3 sisters.

 

[dajop]

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

Used it four weeks ago at JFK no problems with my mum. So not consistent.

I did have issues (solo) not on business in YVR - got told off for using it when not travelling on business (as I was travelling to US for business - with 2 day layover in Canada enroute), and in cough they checked my immigration card (to see whether I had business ticked) when entering the APEC lane, and then directed me to non APEC queue.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I did have issues (solo) not on business in YVR - got told off for using it when not travelling on business (as I was travelling to US for business - with 2 day layover in Canada enroute), and in cough they checked my immigration card (to see whether I had business ticked) when entering the APEC lane, and then directed me to non APEC queue.

Why would you ever not tick Business if you hold an APEC card?

 

[dajop]

Why would you ever not tick Business if you hold an APEC card?

Never had anyone raise it as an issue before. Learnt my lesson.

Canada was different. Why are you here "Umm having a weekend here before continuing to US for business " "Well you're here for leisure, you shouldn't be using this queue".

 

[ermen]

what is you are going in on leisure?
Will you have a problem if you tick leisure on the form - especially with countries that have visa requirements (eg china, vietnam).
Dont really want to lie and get potentially detained. But I guess the apec card is only really meant for business...

 

[BenAlexander]

Have an Aussies applied for the card through their own start up?

I own a very basic business (importing items and reselling) and I'm trying to work out if it is worth attempting to apply for the card.
I meet the travel requirements (5 trips to 4 different APEC economies in the last 9 months) and have a few sales already.
Seeking the card, as the website grows, I envision more trips to deal with current suppliers and meet with new ones.

I am already planning my next trip (to China) in September, even if I am eligible, am I likely to get the card before then?

[FONT=&quot]If the business is a start-up operation, there is clear evidence of viability, sound business planning, market research and product/s or services to be traded.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Supporting evidence might include:[/FONT]

• business plans
• reputable business clients
• news articles
• financial or any documentation that might reasonably attest to the bonafide establishment of a start-up operation

 

[dairyfloss]

Have an Aussies applied for the card through their own start up?

I own a very basic business (importing items and reselling) and I'm trying to work out if it is worth attempting to apply for the card.
I meet the travel requirements (5 trips to 4 different APEC economies in the last 9 months) and have a few sales already.
Seeking the card, as the website grows, I envision more trips to deal with current suppliers and meet with new ones.

I am already planning my next trip (to China) in September, even if I am eligible, am I likely to get the card before then?

I can't comment on the start-up element, however it is unlikely that the application is approved, processed, and the economies on board before September, especially China.

I applied for my ABTC (renewal) in December, and am still waiting for China to close it out. You may get lucky though...

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[mushez]

Have an Aussies applied for the card through their own start up?

I own a very basic business (importing items and reselling) and I'm trying to work out if it is worth attempting to apply for the card.
I meet the travel requirements (5 trips to 4 different APEC economies in the last 9 months) and have a few sales already.
Seeking the card, as the website grows, I envision more trips to deal with current suppliers and meet with new ones.

I am already planning my next trip (to China) in September, even if I am eligible, am I likely to get the card before then?

As a New Zealand passport holder, I need to apply for a NZ APEC card - so my experience is with a NZ APEC card.

To apply and get a NZ APEC card, you need to have had two return flights between APEC countries in the 12 months prior to your application to be successful.

Also, if you plan to travel to China, my personal experience is it pays to have a normal Chinese Visa in your passport - even when expired - hotels will take a copy of that assuming that is your visa and not delay check in. Yes, 4 & 5 star hotels within a hour radius of Shanghai & Beijing know what APEC cards are, but outside of that, yet to find one who does - and in the absence of any Visa - check in each and every night for a hotel will take an extra 20 odd mins while they check if APEC is actually a Visa to be in China. Having a expired visa in my passport - they just always photo copy that and accept that as my visa to be in China.

Likewise, Checking into EK flight in CMB last week to PVG via DXB - took an extra 20 minutes for them to validate APEC as being valid as visa for one to China.

For you to apply for a single entry visa for your first flight to China, would not be the end of the world - you will have that visa in your passport to fall back on in future trips for Hotel Check in's and add support for your application for your APEC card should that be challenged.

 

[dairyfloss]

I received this, this afternoon, after a looong wait for China to sign off - as was suggested might happen up-thread when I got a little over-optimistic at how quickly the other economies were checking boxes:

This is an automated email to advise you that an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) has been issued to you today. Applicants in Australia can expect to receive their card in approximately ten (10) business days. Applicants residing overseas can expect to receive their card in fifteen (15) business days.

So, if it helps someone - here's the time it took to process, by stage:

Submission to Receipt and Acknowledgement: 18 days / 0.6 mths
Receipt & Acknowledgement to Australian approval (incl. background checks): 103 days / 3.4 mths
Australian approval to final APEC economy approval: 68 days / 2.2 mths

TOTAL time from submission to ABTC issued (all economies): 189 days / 6.2 months

It's been absolute precision timing for me, this approval, with my current card expiring in 10 days! Looking forward to see if I can be so accurate in 2022...

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[ermen]

Wow 6 months!
Kinda regret ticking China now in my interim application - I have a 1 yr multiple entry Chinese visa so dont really need China on the card in the near future - but looks like they are the bottleneck!

 

[dairyfloss]

Wow 6 months!
Kinda regret ticking China now in my interim application - I have a 1 yr multiple entry Chinese visa so dont really need China on the card in the near future - but looks like they are the bottleneck!

I didn't keep as close an eye on my first application process, back in 2014, but seem to recall China was one of the first to approve, which I thought was surprising at the time... Singapore was last! Just saying your luck may differ to mine on this application, though others have suggested the same about China delays in recent times.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[hummel]

Wow 6 months!
Kinda regret ticking China now in my interim application - I have a 1 yr multiple entry Chinese visa so dont really need China on the card in the near future - but looks like they are the bottleneck!

But then once you get the APEC card you won't need the multi visa.

I had multi-China visa for 4 years running before I bothered with the APEC Card.

 

[ermen]

But then once you get the APEC card you won't need the multi visa.

I had multi-China visa for 4 years running before I bothered with the APEC Card.

Yeah i was referring to the interim card. Would like it asap for potential Vietnam and Japan entries. Didn't really need China urgently so could have waited 6 months for the final approvals.
Ah well lets see what happens then.

 

[dairyfloss]

Yeah i was referring to the interim card. Would like it asap for potential Vietnam and Japan entries. Didn't really need China urgently so could have waited 6 months for the final approvals.
Ah well lets see what happens then.

I suppose you could wait until your desired economies - excl. China - have pre-cleared you, and if you didn't want to wait for China to sign on, you could contact abtc @ border.gov.au (no spaces of course) and see if they will issue the interim card at that time? Maybe even advise up front that you want China removed from the interim card list. They can only say "no - it's too late", right?

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[ermen]

Nice...
Applic received: 26 May
Payment taken on 05 June
Approved: 14 June

Now waiting for other member economies to sign up... Brunei has already done so! Lol...

 

[dairyfloss]

Nice...
Applic received: 26 May
Payment taken on 05 June
Approved: 14 June

Now waiting for our member economies to sign up... Brunei has already done so! Lol...

Wow - very zippy indeed!

 

[ermen]

I applied early January, approved in first week of February, interim card issued in first week of March (including China), final card issued about 3-4 weeks later. Slow countries (not on interim card) were Chile, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, PNG & Taiwan.

NB: this is not my first card, this is no. 3.

Al so random..
I have Chile, Indonesia, Philippines all approve within like 2 weeks of APEC card approval.. waiting for a bunch of others...

 

[ermen]

Whoa! People's Republic of China just came through today.
About a 5 week wait since acceptance on 14 June

 

[neilmeister]

Hi All,

I have my ABTC, with 'RUS' on the back.... and I want to go to Russia for *cough* 'Business'.
My question is how hard do they grill you in Moscow on arrival about what business and with whom.

 

[Kefci2000]

Could someone please advise if a visa is still required for China if you are an APEC holder.

Looking at a status run to Beijing for 24 hours