APEC card experiences

[HKGNZL]

Have never tried in US ports. Didn't know I can use APEC there. Which line to queue? Is it available at all terminals and all ports. Heard many stories that US customs don't acknowledge APEC so never tried

 

[Danger]

Have never tried in US ports. Didn't know I can use APEC there. Which line to queue? Is it available at all terminals and all ports. Heard many stories that US customs don't acknowledge APEC so never tried

I've had a US Customs and Border Protection agent query whether my APEC card was a phone card, and that was at MIA or DFW. By-and-large, US authorities do not know what the card is nor how to handle it. According to the Australian Department of Immigration, cardholders are entitled to use the crew lanes at US airports, but US authorities beg to differ. Essentially, in the US, it's hit and miss.

 

[moa999]

I have successfully used APEC on US arrivals in LAX, ORD and JFK without any issues.
Not normally as well signposted but generally look for the crew lanes.

 

[HKGNZL]

I have successfully used APEC on US arrivals in LAX, ORD and JFK without any issues.
Not normally as well signposted but generally look for the crew lanes.

Moa999 do you just go straight to crew line or show APEC to the triage man that wave people to different queues first? If they reject APEC did they make you line up again somewhere else?

 

[moa999]

At lax from memory the sign at the end says crew but on the monitor APEC is listed. Only once had to convince the gate keeper I was entitled, and another time had the guy walk me in front of the crew in line! ORD was well sign posted from memory

 

[Danger]

Leaving Perth on the weekend I was politely told by an Immigration agent that I can only use the APEC lane If I indicate the reason for my travel is business. I had indicated it was a holiday. I was under the impression that it could be used for any purpose and that use for leisure was a perk but apparently not. I've never been pulled up on it before and I've never used it for business.

Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City the APEC lane appeared to be a farce. There was a family of three in front of me and several people behind me that, dare I say it, did not 'appear' to be APEC cardholders. I may well have been wrong, however.

 

[VA777]

Never had a problem in Sydney. I find HKG very slow. Always seem to have families in front on me.

 

[HKGNZL]

Leaving Perth on the weekend I was politely told by an Immigration agent that I can only use the APEC lane If I indicate the reason for my travel is business. I had indicated it was a holiday. I was under the impression that it could be used for any purpose and that use for leisure was a perk but apparently not. I've never been pulled up on it before and I've never used it for business.

Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City the APEC lane appeared to be a farce. There was a family of three in front of me and several people behind me that, dare I say it, did not 'appear' to be APEC cardholders. I may well have been wrong, however.

PER to HKG last friday. Used APEC at Perth because queue was long. Indication ticked the 'visit relatives/family' box. No problem.
Arrived HKG. APEC line only had one person in front of me but immigration clearly had issues with her and questioned her for a long time. No alternative queues. (still overall would be shorter than lining up at non-APEC lines though)

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Leaving Perth on the weekend I was politely told by an Immigration agent that I can only use the APEC lane If I indicate the reason for my travel is business. I had indicated it was a holiday. I was under the impression that it could be used for any purpose and that use for leisure was a perk but apparently not. I've never been pulled up on it before and I've never used it for business.

Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City the APEC lane appeared to be a farce. There was a family of three in front of me and several people behind me that, dare I say it, did not 'appear' to be APEC cardholders. I may well have been wrong, however.

I've used it many times while ticking the holiday box and never had any problems. I see it as the card that gets you access to the lane, not a business visa.
However in most cases I generally tick the business/conference box if there is any biz related activity involved in the trip.

 

[HKGNZL]

Tried in IAD last week. Had a subtle sign for APEC to include it with the crew lane. Unfortunately got stuck behind the crew from two flights. Probably still slightly faster than the public lane, but not by much.

 

[scwappy]

My partner is travelling to Vietnam next week for a holiday and had an APEC card, will he still need to get a visa if it is not a business trip. He's only just got it so has never used it and is now ****ting himself he may not be allowed in.

 

[Danger]

My partner is travelling to Vietnam next week for a holiday and had an APEC card, will he still need to get a visa if it is not a business trip. He's only just got it so has never used it and is now ****ting himself he may not be allowed in.

No. A visa is not required for APEC cardholders (provided, of course, Vietnman is one of the approved countries). I believe there is also dedicated APEC lanes at airports too.

Given the cost of a Vietnam visa, the APEC card offers a considerable saving.

For others, note that some (or maybe all) Vietnam airports offer visa-on-arrival facilities.

 

[dajop]

Flew into Bali a week or so ago on KLM, and due to delays I was on the third 777 to arrive from SIN in 15 mins, along with some A320s from KUL and SIN. So the arrival hall was just a wall of people - certainly >500 trying to pass through immigration. Thanks to APEC card, I walked straight up to counter, and was through within a minute. Thank you APEC Card!!

 

[Danger]

My APEC card expires on 18 November. I will arrive in Seoul two weeks or so before but won't be leaving until 26 November. Does this mean I'll be in breach of my visa when I go to leave? Will there be consequences? Is it possible to get a short extension (presumably by paying) while in Seoul or will I have to get a whole separate visa before leaving Australia?

I'm seriously low on pages in my passport.

 

[dairyfloss]

Hi All - I'm quite new to the APEC Business Travel Card, having received my first a couple of months ago after our business was certified by the Aussie Govt. My question: Is there a view as to which is the better/faster method of exit or entry from Australia or other APEC countries, where the cardholder is also entitled to priority processing lanes or other 'fast tracking', courtesy of their FF program? I expect that the majority of APEC cardholders are also FF elites, thus creating opportunities at a number of borders for quicker or easier processing. Discuss...

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[VA777]

Landed in BOS from LHR with the APEC card - not a problem at all - straight through.

 

[moa999]

Is there a view as to which is the better/faster method of exit or entry from Australia or other APEC countries, where the cardholder is also entitled to priority processing lanes or other 'fast tracking', courtesy of their FF program?.

Not that many airports provide fast-tracking, and for those that do it often covers bits that the APEC doesn't.
My personal usage.

SYD - Generally walk in the express gates (closer to QF) and if the express queue is more than 5 people, will wander up to the APEC end. Will then look at the baggage queue as to whether I give up the express pass. Coming back in will generally use smartgate (never had an issue with it) and then express pass.

HKG - Have the sticker and use the egates instead of APEC

BKK - Tend to use the express exit, but generally not much of a queue anyway.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Filled out renewal forms today. Is it just me or is renewal applic form bit more straight forward than previously?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

My question: Is there a view as to which is the better/faster method of exit or entry from Australia or other APEC countries, where the cardholder is also entitled to priority processing lanes or other 'fast tracking', courtesy of their FF program? I expect that the majority of APEC cardholders are also FF elites, thus creating opportunities at a number of borders for quicker or easier processing. Discuss...

Absolute god send in / out of China!

 

[dajop]

My question: Is there a view as to which is the better/faster method of exit or entry from Australia or other APEC countries, where the cardholder is also entitled to priority processing lanes or other 'fast tracking', courtesy of their FF program? I expect that the majority of APEC cardholders are also FF elites, thus creating opportunities at a number of borders for quicker or easier processing.

At MEL:
Inbound, with e-passport I never use either APEC card or express cards. Always the electronic passport reader, never waited at either the passport reader or the entry gate. Only used manual processing was when the machine was having difficulty recognising me, and was directed to a specific counter irrespective of gate.
Outbound, it can be useful at immigration. There are three queues - regular, express pass and APEC/crew. I try to choose the shortest. As a late arriver for flights ( T-75, unless on SQ when I get there at T-60) mostly queues are deserted when I go through unless there are other flights, often the regular queue will be quicker. When there are other flights certainly have used both express pass and APEC queue. It's the choice that's important!

The concern I'd have would be security. I always have a spare express pass or two hanging around, so use them, and haven't tried the APEC card to get in the express security line. If it can't be used for that then at MEL that is probably the biggest hold up, and sort of diminishes it value. Unlike SYD where immigration comes before security, and sorts out the queuing.