APEC Business Travel Card

[Daver6]

Has it ever been a thing in MEL for express lane? I tried once just after getting the card and was ok, then next time denied. Haven’t bothered trying again since as the general lane at my other times has been quick.

At MEL the security screening is prior to immigration IIRC. As you enter there's a line for express path folks as well as crew and APEC card holders. That just funnelled into the main area but I suppose if there was a lengthy regular queue it would help. When it came to immigration there wasn't even a crew line. Go figure! This was July.

 

[soliloguy]

Ughhh! Not this excrement again from SYD airport That's truly infuriating that the staff on the ground haven't been trained properly. You should raise a complaint with the airport.

Raised it on the day I flew (Friday), haven't heard a peep since.

 

[Daver6]

Raised it on the day I flew (Friday), haven't heard a peep since.

They took several weeks before getting back to me.

 

[RealtimeY]

Got pointed by two security staff to the crew lane, and then the one manning the crew lane refused me entry. Only to let it become a general lane about 30 seconds later.

 

[marks]

Just got the approval through. 3.5 mths for a new application.
Now waiting for the individual country approvals for their visa. Really just waiting on China & Vietnam.

 

[aus_flyer]

Just got the approval through. 3.5 mths for a new application.
Now waiting for the individual country approvals for their visa. Really just waiting on China & Vietnam.

Did you hear any update prior to this? Lodged mine a month ago and haven't heard anything. I realise it takes ages, but I thought I'd get some sort of progress update.

 

[marks]

Nothing. No status updates. Sent an email last month and got an auto-reply FAQ which stated amongst other items, wait for 3 months then email us. Got the email this morning.
I have heard through other channels that the security/AFP checks are severely back logged ATM.

 

[soliloguy]

They took several weeks before getting back to me.

Got pointed by two security staff to the crew lane, and then the one manning the crew lane refused me entry. Only to let it become a general lane about 30 seconds later.

Well I got an update pretty quick and appears that things have changed:

Thank you for contacting us.

Fast-track lanes for ABTC holders are available at both departure and arrival via border force counter but not available at security screening.

Passengers are sometimes redirected to use the cabin crew/staff lane to reduce passenger queue time at security screening.

 

[Daver6]

Well I got an update pretty quick and appears that things have changed:

Thank you for contacting us.

Fast-track lanes for ABTC holders are available at both departure and arrival via border force counter but not available at security screening.

Passengers are sometimes redirected to use the cabin crew/staff lane to reduce passenger queue time at security screening.

SYD airport is so infuriating. They changing thing. It's becoming more and more pointless for use in Australia.

 

[Foreigner]

Just got the approval through. 3.5 mths for a new application.
Now waiting for the individual country approvals for their visa. Really just waiting on China & Vietnam.

I had a response two months after lodging. I was asked to send another ID doc - the NSW DL I had submitted was an expired one. So now, I have provided current DL. Hopefully it will progress the application process.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

SYD airport is so infuriating. They changing thing. It's becoming more and more pointless for use in Australia.

No APEC Lane for immig in MEL either now - not that I ever use them inbound but returning from Bali 1 week ago the self serve terminal would not read the Ette's Passport so I swiftly sought an BF dude to ask where APEC Lane was as I could not see it and his response was 'GONE'.

He then showed us trick to get terminal to read Passport and we were through in 2 secs.

 

[marks]

T

He then showed us trick to get terminal to read Passport and we were through in 2 secs.

What was the trick?

 

[dajop]

So almost 6 months on now and still no Vietnam. They don't like me! With the status checker you can also check others as well (no personal information), the application numbers around mine have no Vietnam either. Go for an application number 30 higher and those around that do. Oh well.

7 months on, still no Vietnam. I noticed mine and the application number immediately before me don't have Vietnam, yet application numbers up to about mine + 80 have been granted Vietnam. Looks like either they don't like me, or it has fallen through the cracks. PITA, as that is the one country I really wanted.

 

[Foreigner]

7 months on, still no Vietnam. I noticed mine and the application number immediately before me don't have Vietnam, yet application numbers up to about mine + 80 have been granted Vietnam. Looks like either they don't like me, or it has fallen through the cracks. PITA, as that is the one country I really wanted.

I included Vietnam in list of five countries which I wished to prioritise

First however, I need AU approval to get the ball rolling

 

[RealtimeY]

Interesting, I hadn't thought about checking applications adjacent to mine. Mine, and the application before mine do not have it. All others that I looked at appear to have received it. It's also been months now. Guess they don't like me either.

Surprisingly, even Russia came through, though it doesn't appear on the actual card.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

T

What was the trick?

Ok so on some passports when opened outside edge of cover can sit slightly proud of edge of data page meaning passport not quite inserted far enough to accurately read data page - give it a little wiggle side to side and gently push a tad further in - this must be a known fault to BF agents as it automatically worked for the Ette’s passport

 

[Foreigner]

Got APEC business card approval 10 weeks after lodgment. Downloaded app which, right now, shows two approvals - AUS and BRN (Brunei?)

 

[jcwhizz]

Just over two months from application (renewal) to being approved. Pretty happy with that!

 

[Foreigner]

How many economies issue pre-clearance?

At last count I’ve got 12. Not sure which are outstanding

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Does this help: