APEC Business Travel Card

[alanw]

From reports upthread in late 2023, it seems that Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and Vietnam are the laggards in pre-clearance. My card came through a month ago and these countries are also still missing for me. Can folks provide an estimate for how long their recent approvals for these countries took? It looks like some comments from late 2023 report waits of between 5-10 months! (@dajop did your Vietnamese pre-clearance ever come through?!)

 

[Fervidfoyer]

Mine got renewed 10 days ago. I am also waiting for China and Vietnam..can any one give tentative time for approval .

From reports upthread in late 2023, it seems that Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and Vietnam are the laggards in pre-clearance. My card came through a month ago and these countries are also still missing for me. Can folks provide an estimate for how long their recent approvals for these countries took? It looks like some comments from late 2023 report waits of between 5-10 months! (@dajop did your Vietnamese pre-clearance ever come through?!)

 

[dajop]

(@dajop did your Vietnamese pre-clearance ever come through?!)

About 3-4 days after I sent an email to the Vietnam immigration email address that i found on the website that an earlier poster linked.

 

[alanw]

Mine got renewed 10 days ago. I am also waiting for China and Vietnam..can any one give tentative time for approval .

I kept records of when my pre-clearances came through:

• Immediate:
  • Australia
  • Brunei
  • PNG
• End of Week 1
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
• End of Week 2
  • Chile
  • China
  • Korea
• End of Week 3
  • Taiwan
  • Hong Kong
• End of Week 6 (no additional pre-clearances in week 4 and 5)
  • Indonesia

Still outstanding

• Japan
• Malaysia
• Vietnam

 

[Fervidfoyer]

any one have Russia showing up in the virtual card? I can see Russia approved in the status tracker website but not visible in the app.

 

[alanw]

any one have Russia showing up in the virtual card? I can see Russia approved in the status tracker website but not visible in the app.

If you scroll down on the app to 'My Notifications' you'll see a notice that virtual ABTC holders must apply for a visa to enter the Russian Federation.

 

[Fervidfoyer]

If you scroll down on the app to 'My Notifications' you'll see a notice that virtual ABTC holders must apply for a visa to enter the Russian Federation.

I understand we need to apply for seperate permit to travel ..but RUS country identifier is not showing up in the app but shows its approved in the approval status tracker..

 

[alanw]

Yes, Russia is also coming up for me in the web-based approval status tracker and not in the app. I presume they removed the 'RUS' country identifier from the app to signal that you can't currently use the app for visa-free access as you can with every other country appearing there.

 

[Fervidfoyer]

Yes, Russia is also coming up for me in the web-based approval status tracker and not in the app. I presume they removed the 'RUS' country identifier from the app to signal that you can't currently use the app for visa-free access as you can with every other country appearing there.

Thanks..

 

[soliloguy]

Been told twice by SYD departure security that they no longer recognise the ABTC. Has there been a change in policy?!

 

[Brettmcg]

Been told twice by SYD departure security that they no longer recognise the ABTC. Has there been a change in policy?!

Technically speaking, ABTC has never entitled travellers to priority security, as it is purely an immigration benefit. While they have historically also allowed ABTC holders to access the priority lanes, given they are rejigging the layout of international departure processing, I wouldn't be surprised if this is an actual thing.

 

[albatross710]

Been told twice by SYD departure security that they no longer recognise the ABTC. Has there been a change in policy?!

Maybe point the security person & management to this paragraph

Question 4 – What are the benefits of holding an ABTC?

The ABTC gives frequent business travellers:

Fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating airports; and,
Multiple, short-term entries to precleared APEC economies without having to make a separate visa application to fully participating members.

Frequently Asked Questions for APEC Business Travel Card Clients | APEC

www.apec.org

Or better still this one at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/business-travel-card/overview

• provides access to fast-track entry and exit lanes at major international airports of participating economies

 

[Flashback]

Maybe point the security person & management to this paragraph

Frequently Asked Questions for APEC Business Travel Card Clients | APEC

www.apec.org

Or better still this one at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/business-travel-card/overview

For immigration purposes, not security...

 

[soliloguy]

For immigration purposes, not security...

I take your point, but to get to fast track immigration you have to go through the fast track security lane.

It’s annoying because this is a rehash of 2023 all over again… Have dropped the airport an email for what it’s worth.

 

[seanQLD]

Maybe point the security person & management to this paragraph

Hi @albatross710 I know your message is well meaning. I also know you are technically right - BUT - (almost always) none of that matters when at Airports. There are only very limited occasions when it is possible to "argue the point" and/or try to convince an official that what they just told you is untrue, even when you have unequivocal documentation that proves your case.

The fact is those officials NEED MORE TRAINING.

Let me give some examples :

1. Vietnam (late 2024) - I entered using ABTC (electronic on iphone ) and it was seamless, took less than 1 minute, as it should be. A few days later - leaving Da Nang, Vietnam - I was very happy to bypass 200 people queue and go directly to the APEC/Flight Crew/Diplomats aisle . But when I showed the Apec card on my iphone the response was "not accepted". He even called his manager over who repeated "not accepted". Luckily, I was able to find my physical card (no longer issued) in my brief case (expires 2025) and that they accepted. Arguing the point with them, and showing them websites would probably have been futile. Later (from my destination country) I sent an email to the right people at Da Nang airport very respectfully outlining what happened (with links), suggesting "further training".

2. I find Australian AIRLINE officials at Airports can be the worst and most arrogant. The actual Immigration staff (passport control) in Australia are very good, highly professional, and I have never had any problem with them. But "airline check-in staff" can suffer from God-complex. And extremely rarely can they be convinced of anything, even if what they are saying is total . EXAMPLE : This was in Jan 2025, exiting Brisbane airport for Philippines. As well as ABTC, I also have PR status (with apprpriate Visa) in Philippines. This trip is less that 30 days anyway so Australian passport holders do not even require ANY Visa. At checkin - the airline staff surprised me with "do u have a Visa for PH ? ". I opened Passport at the page of my Visa, as requested. Strangely, my passport caused all sorts of discussion behind the counter. Eventually a manager/supervisor joined the check-in staff to tell me that my Visa "is not valid and isn't accepted". This is so patently untue I had to (semi) argue the point. I said "Are you sure? I actually live there and I am very confident it is still valid. Can u please double check ? ". They were steadfast. They even brought in another "expert" an a filipina "flight manager". First they told me it had expired (it hasn't), then they told me it has been "scribbled on, also making it invalid" ( it hasn't been scibbled on - or defaced in anyway). They were mistaking the actual official signature on the Visa, by a BI official from PH, as scribble.... even though I pointed out that is just a signature. This went on and on - they were not going to budge. Finally I accepted what was going on and used different approach - my APEC card. That they did accept ! But, even though with 3 staff already at the counter, they opened a Video call with some other higher-up and showed my ABTC to whooever was on the videocall - before it was accepted. It was all bizarre. Upon landing in PH - my Visa was accepted/processed in 2 seconds. It is perfectly valid and not expired.

3. On a lighter note: I have stood behind people going through the Security Check who have Vegemite (a gift for oversaes Aussies ) confiscated from their handcarry on the basis that "it is a lquid or gel". They argue the point. Although they are probably right, and an unopened jar of V poses zero risk to flight safety... Arguing the point IS futile. Even with "website references" they will never win that one. To speed things along I have counselled them "hey, yeah I know... its crazy.. But these guys have their policy and nothing u say will change it...". BTW - there is a hack for those who do want to carry a gift jar of Vegemite in handcarry. I often fly with only handcarry and have used this: just freeze it before going to the airport. When frozen, it is accepted as a solid.

 

[Daver6]

Been told twice by SYD departure security that they no longer recognise the ABTC. Has there been a change in policy?!

SYD airport is so painful. My first trip to the US after Covid security didnt accept ABTC cards. I contacted SYD airport and they said it was a training issue.

Last Jan I went through and again, couldn't use priority security lane. Contacted the airport. This time they just outright said that you don't get access.

The benefits in Australia are a joke as best.

 

[seanQLD]

SYD airport is so painful. My first trip to the US after Covid security didnt accept ABTC cards. I contacted SYD airport and they said it was a training issue.

Last Jan I went through and again, couldn't use priority security lane. Contacted the airport. This time they just outright said that you don't get access.

The benefits in Australia are a joke as best.

I rarely used Sydney International airport (outbound), but last time was fairly recently. It was on 19 Nov 2024. I definitely used the priority lanes on that occasion.