APEC Business Travel Card - Express Immigration Clearance

[Sorky]

I thought that was also implied by the "... just get to use this lane".

Short answer - Yes.

Long Answer...

APEC card does NOT currently <and probably never will> modify the immigration procedure.
APEC card does NOT currently <but I believe will later> change the VISA requirements.
APEC card DOES get you through quicker by letting you use the crew lane.

 

[infoworks]

Further clarifying - the card "gets you through quicker" in the sense that using the crew lane is faster than long snaking "alien" lanes, but at the immigration counter, one is required to go the "full monty" with fingers, eyes and visa/visa waivure documentation as in the past.

 

[simongr]

Info is available at http://www.immi.gov.au/business/apec.htm ; it is possibly the best card to have when you travel in the APEC region .

Can we update the original post with a new link - the one there heads to a 404. A search on the immigration website came up with this:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/apec/index.htm

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Can we update the original post with a new link - the one there heads to a 404. A search on the immigration website came up with this:

APEC Business Travel Card Scheme

Only moderators can edit the opening post. Did you bring it to their attention?

 

[RTWFF]

Re: APEC Business Travel Card - Latest experiences

For those entering the US from Australia, the APEC Card works well. If you're entering from Canada, however, you are cleared in Canada and there are no APEC lanes there. (Now that the US has recognized the scheme, perhaps the Canadians will be courageous enough to follow? (Ever resentful of the US, ever ready to follow Big Brother - somewhat like NZ and Australia))

However, for those who thought the new Bangkok airport had at last got it right, think again. This Is Thailand (TIT), after all. The glassed-off VIP area to the right (formerly official and diplomatic passports plus APEC) is for airport pass-holders only (ie. it's now the servants' entrance) - tacky paper notices pasted to the glass and a surly security guard are what greets you there

The diplomatic/official lane (at least when I arrived on Thursday) was slightly to the left of centre, and the lane description lighting was orange rather than red. Given the Thais' propensity to use that lane in the past (at Don Muang) to take up the slack, fast-track can't be guaranteed. Departure seems to work as at Don Muang - stroll up to the diplomatic/official lane (inevitably chained off), wave your APEC Card at a senior Immigration official who will be lurking nearby and you will be fast-tracked out

 

[cssaus]

I know there are a couple of posts about the use of the card thru the TBI terminal at LAX but has anyone used the APEC card going thru the UA international arrivals terminal and can advise where the APEC line is and what their experience has been?

 

[RTWFF]

I thought this topic had already been done to death a few posts ago, but for those "look-back challenged" you go through the crew lane on the far left, just like in Australia

 

[infoworks]

Re: Shenzhen border

Forgot to mention that APEC entry into and out of Shenzhen, China is now APEC smooth. Off the train from HKG, use lane 25 (VIP lane on the right) or the foreigner lanes at the opposite end are often quiet too. Into China head for the APEC signposted lanes with diplomatic and related visas (on the left).

I came out by car and the China side had a specific VIP/APEC vehicle lane on the far left which jumped the long lines of cars in the other lanes, and then into HKG, use the resident lanes (as you would at HKG airport) which move quickly, not the foreign lanes which move slowly.

 

[infoworks]

Re: APEC into Taipei

Recent trip into Taiwan I flew in and out of TPE. APEC lanes are clearly marked (lanes 1 & 2 with flight crew) and fast. The officers on duty knew the card and were chatty and efficient.

 

[infoworks]

Re: SIN outbound

SIN outbound doesn't have specific APEC lanes (they do inbound). However I have found that a couple of times recently when the lines were seriously long departing SIN I went over to the guy sitting at the counter on the left (the sign says "special visas or similar) and despite a bit of a lecture that they don't have outbound APEC cards, the (different on each occasion) officer quickly processed me as a "one off". Someone who saw what I did and followed received the same lecture but was also processed.

 

[gaia]

Re: APEC into Taipei

Recent trip into Taiwan I flew in and out of TPE. APEC lanes are clearly marked (lanes 1 & 2 with flight crew) and fast. The officers on duty knew the card and were chatty and efficient.

Yes, my experience exactly. Very helpful at TPE. Even overstamped one of my China stamps to save space in my passport..only 2 years old and only 5 pages left. I live in hope that my China clearance will come thru before my passport fills up.

 

[infoworks]

Immi have advised that they are having updating problems with their website at the moment, so that clearances are not all showing correctly at the moment. No timeframe for resolution, but they are working on it. If you are concerned about a clearance they will respond by email usually within 24 hours, although they say 48.

 

[infoworks]

Re: APEC into Taipei

overstamped one of my China stamps to save space in my passport..only 2 years old and only 5 pages left. I live in hope that my China clearance will come thru before my passport fills up.

I have similar problem - 5 pages to go and 6 years left on my FF passport. APEC card's 3 years are up in July, so will probably get new passport then along with card renewal immediately after passport is issued. My upcoming trip starting Monday alone will accumulate 12-14 stamps (2+ pages). Full passports are scrutinised a lot more than empty ones!

Singapore is now willingly looking for spaces too. They used to be pedantic about having a clear spot to stamp, but not over the last year or so.

 

[moa999]

Have not been able to access the www.businessmobility.org site at all in the last 48 hrs.

Index of / looks like a server that has been wiped.

 

[cssaus]

Have not been able to access the APEC - Business Mobility Group site at all in the last 48 hrs.

Index of / looks like a server that has been wiped.

Maybe they're in the throes of refreshing the entire web site. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[moa999]

Site came back up at around 5pm on Monday.

Have finally asked for my Interim Card after waiting 4 months.
Only have 11 countries and still no China PRC despite asking for expedited clearance (though I wasn't expecting too much) - any updates on most recent PRC approvals

Have finally gotten sick of the zoo that is AKL departures and decided to spring for the card.
Anyway with 3.5yrs left on the passport, 3.0yrs on the APEC card -- perfect timing

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Site came back up at around 5pm on Monday.

Have finally asked for my Interim Card after waiting 4 months.
Only have 11 countries and still no China PRC despite asking for expedited clearance (though I wasn't expecting too much) - any updates on most recent PRC approvals

Have finally gotten sick of the zoo that is AKL departures and decided to spring for the card.
Anyway with 3.5yrs left on the passport, 3.0yrs on the APEC card -- perfect timing

No need for an APEC card leaving AKL. Just fly premium cabin or have status to get special immigration process (pre-cleared for QF/EK/SQ/etc and use pre-clear/cabin crew lane upstairs, or processed in special check in area for NZ).

 

[moa999]

Generally fly J to/from AKL on QF so check-in at the special desk.
Obviously you can pay your departure tax there which is a time-saver but I didn't realise they also provided pre-clearance
( thought only AirNZ offered this)

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Generally fly J to/from AKL on QF so check-in at the special desk.
Obviously you can pay your departure tax there which is a time-saver but I didn't realise they also provided pre-clearance
( thought only AirNZ offered this)

Yes. Except if you check in early for the 6am flights, there should be an immigration officer on the desk on the left hand side inside the QF premium check in area. Get processed here and a sticker gets put on your BP allowing you to use the pre-cleared/cabin crew lane upstairs (to the left of the green archway for immigration). Here they'll check your departure tax sticker, compare passport photo to your face and you are through. Normally wait just a few seconds.

Other airlines offer similar (eg SQ, EK) but use an immigration officer stationed at the far end of check in (closest to domestic).

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Hi,

Anyone applied for this card recently and have an idea of how long it takes for Immigration to give you a reference number (or reject you)?

I applied in mid-December, my CC was charged 28th Dec (someone in the Federal Government working between Christmas and New Years?), but nothing since. I suppose it's still too early to expect anything, but how much longer do I have to wait as I have a bunch of flights to NZ, Singapore and KL coming up. Would be good even if only for getting back into Aus.