APEC Business Travel Card - Express Immigration Clearance

How useful is the APEC Business Travel Card?

  • Waste of time and effort...

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • OK - but needs improvement

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Pretty Darn Good

    Votes: 2 33.3%

  • Extremely - Don't leave home without it!

    Votes: 4 66.7%
  • Total voters
    6
  • Poll closed .
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Yes, it can still be hit and miss with some of the officers.

Perhaps their initials are SG, serfty - similar to bravoecho's handle.
 
Given a couple of experiences when they have called over "rank and file" as they were empty and I then had to line up and wait for the 6 or 10 non-apec/aircrew pax to be cleared, allowing us the occasional relation to slip through with us shouldn't be a drama for them. As Lindsay suggests, it may be a "wrong side of the bed" day on occasions, or just their petty chance to use power.
 
serfty said:
Welcome to AFF sierragolf ... :D

Interesting handle - does that mean you are QF SG?
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Not sure what you mean by "QF SG". I am just SG, indicating where I am from :rolleyes:
 
Had my first international arrival into ORD this morning on JL10 from NRT.

As I was seated in row 55, it took me some time to get off the plane. Fortunately there was only the one international arrival at that time so only ~400 pax to screen.

I walked up to one of the service people in the immigration hall and showed my APEC card, asking if they provided express clearance for APEC card holders. She had a very bemused look on her face and said she had never seen such a card so I should line up in the visitors queue.

This is the second US arrival where I have unable to access express immigration clearance as per the BTC "agreement". It seems that even though they recognise the card, the level of awareness is very slim. I was surprised that ORD would not recognise / be aware of the card as there must be quite a few flights from Asia that land in Chicago.

I will send off an email to the Business Mobility Group to make them aware of the poor recognition of the APEC card in US ports.
 
The trick is to be more assertive and just go to the crew lane. It's the immigration officers, not the service staff who have a better idea (not always much of a clue) and they will process you. You still need to do the fingerprint and picture stuff.
 
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jonesy said:
The card is well worth the money as it really shortcuts the hell out of many understaffed, overcrowded airports in Aisa - but I wonder if it takes as long to renew as it took to obtain???
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I asked for my third interim card - when China finally cleared 2 years after my application! I am good to go for another 9 months until renewal. Cant imagine having to wait another 24+ months to get another approval for China. The other countries cleared in pretty good order. Showing 16 economies on this card.

Does anyone have any experience with renewal as to what to expect?
 
ozmerish said:
I asked for my third interim card - when China finally cleared 2 years after my application! I am good to go for another 9 months until renewal. Cant imagine having to wait another 24+ months to get another approval for China. The other countries cleared in pretty good order. Showing 16 economies on this card.
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China certainly does not seem to be a problem any more. My China clearance was about 1 month after application. My delays are PNG and Brunei.
 
My present "peeve" with the APEC card is it's usage inbound into Australia.

Certainly the card facilitates expedite immigration clearance but it doesn't give you expedited customs & AQIS clearance which is only available if are holding an Express Clearance card. OK, if travelling F & J (or have a certain FF status) you may be provided with the Express Card but this may not necessarily be the case for a lot of people.

I did send an email to the Business Mobility Group at the beginning of last month and made the point about the card not being accepted for expedited customs and AQIS clearance and got a reply that said, and I quote:

"I certainly agree with you that, if possible, this would be a great idea. I will discuss this with my director and see if it is something we can arrange or work towards. Any changes to the usage of the card will be made known on our web-site (www.businessmobility.org)."

I would suggest if others are in agreement then an email to
[email protected] wouldn't go astray. To my thinking, I wouldn't have thought that this would be too difficult to organise.
 
Only one more month and I can apply for perm residency and apply for this card shortly after :D
 
Just noticed today that Mexico has now been added to my list. That makes the total 18 so I guess I should expect my new card to be sent out soon (not that I am too concerned as I was only missing PNG previously).
 
mr_matt_t said:
Just noticed today that Mexico has now been added to my list. That makes the total 18 so I guess I should expect my new card to be sent out soon (not that I am too concerned as I was only missing PNG previously).
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I have been waiting now for several weeks ofr just Brunei and PNG. I have Mexico around 30 days after my original application.
 
simongr said:
Only one more month and I can apply for perm residency and apply for this card shortly after :D
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Do you mean citizenship? If you're a permanent resident, you can't get an Australian passport and so can't get an APEC card.
 
simongr said:
Oops - I meant citizenship - 3 weeks until I can apply for that...
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Start doing the passport form soon, you do it online and save it. Put in your citizenship certificate number when you get it at your ceremony and print it off, then go straight to the Post Office when it isn't busy with everything. Your passport will be done in a couple of weeks. Then you can apply for your APEC card.

edit: and don't hold your breath waiting for DIAC, it can be quick or it can be painfully slow. Even once I got my slot at DIAC, I had to turn down three citizenship ceremonies because I was travelling.
 
Thanks for that - will be weird travelling with two passports as each have benefits of their own...
 
simongr said:
Thanks for that - will be weird travelling with two passports as each have benefits of their own...
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Just remember which one to use in each country! Aussie+APEC for all APEC and USA entries. Then UK for all Europe.
 
I have emailed Immi requesting clearance for Mexico. So far only the automated response. I suspect it may be like previously when new economies are listed and may take some time to clear.
 
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