APEC Business Travel Card - Express Immigration Clearance

[AlwaysUpThere]

The APEC Business Travel Card has been mentioned sporadically through these postings. Its such a great tool, I think it deserves its own thread here.

Info is available at APEC Business Travel Card Scheme; it is possibly the best card to have when you travel in the APEC region .

It provides express immigration processing (in AND out) of Australia as well as Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Japan, RO Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, People's Republic of China#, The Philippines, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore and Thailand.

# Another significant benefit will be China when they start operating - means you won't need a visa.

It is so helpful to be able to go through what at most airports is the diplomatic or crew channel. In Australia, you use the Crew / Domestic / Diplomatic channels, deparding on the airport and time of day/staffing etc.
In HKG, you line up with the residents - much quicker than the Visitors queue.
KUL, you go "Premium" channel.
Not obvious in NRT, but just head to the left hand side where the crew go (and often the “illegals” are waiting).

If you're not sure where to go, just have the card in your hand and head to the seemingly most appropriate line and they'll point you in the right direction.

Many airports also have a more efficient baggage delivery system than we have in Oz so there's not too long spent waiting for the bags - or if you're travelling without bags, so much the better. ESPECIALLY handy when there are several flights arriving at the same time - just cruise through.

Often on departure, as the APEC Channel is over to one side, you can generally use the crew/Diplomatic/VIP security clearance as well, saving more time and angst.

If you travel often with in APEC region, its a must have for FTs. You'll be

[Mal]

One of the important things to note about this card is that it is not available to everyone...

"Who is eligible

If you want to apply for the card, you need to be a business person who:

* holds a valid passport of a participating economy;
* travels frequently to conduct trade and investment activities within the APEC region; and
* has never been convicted of a criminal offence.
"

[RTWFF]

You need to be a business person who SAYS he will travel in the APEC region. I use it no matter where I am coming from, including the US

[AlwaysUpThere]

.

[infoworks]

This card is fantastic.

There are delays in the processing for China at the moment, but last weekend I jumped 10-12 planeloads of people in immigration in Shanghai to go straight to the apec line and no waiting in waht were close to 2 hour queues...it works in pretty well every economy that is signed up and you have pre-approval.

Also, the Immigration people who manage this are helpful and responsive.

I have had it a while, so I forget the requirements, but I certainly qualify...now how do we do business in peru?

[RTWFF]

That must be a new requirement, AlwaysUpThere - all I did was fill in the form and state who my employer is

[AlwaysUpThere]

You're right RTWFF - recall now that I had to as I was working for the Fed Gvt OS when I applied - something internal to get it paid for I think.
Posting removed to save any confusion...

FYI, my China clearance took 16 months so you'll do well to get the interim card on offer.

[cowombat]

I first heard about the APEC card a month or so ago, overhearing a conversation in the Melbourne QF 1st class lounge. I got on the web there and then and ordered mine. Canberra sent me an e:mail today affirming the mailing of my provisional card (I'm not waiting for China!).

Interesting conversation with the guy who told me about the APEC card. He was unaware of the equivilent US "Portpass", which I do have, and allows entry into that country in the US citizen lane.... about twenty times faster at LAX compared to being an alien. The card takes about 20 mins to get on the spot (less than one queue wait) and is good for a couple of years.

So with an APEC card and Portpass, I should be skipping most queues (I hope)....

Puzzling is that Qantas has never made me aware of either card. Not even my now departed (and not replaced) ineffectual personal QF support person (allocated to people dumb enough to fly as much as me). I mentioned the APEC card to the QF Club lounge reception staff in International at Tulla... "Never heard of it mate!". I suggested that if QF wanted to add value to its premium passengers (at no cost to them) maybe they could research and inform such stuff to us. (Pigs are now turning onto runway 34 and preparing to roll.....)

[Lindsay Wilson]

cowombat, welcome to AFF and an excellent first post.

Can you give us some links to reading up on the Portpass..seems that it might be useful.

[infoworks]

Go from here:

http://www.americanlaw.com/portpass.html

Also, IMHO, I don't think it's Qantas' job to tell people, they are only responsible gate to gate, but in fact they did promote the face ID scan thing when the trial went public for Platinum members.