APEC lane - inbound without AUS endorsement

[sansnom]

I’m a permanent resident and I have an APEC Business Travel Card from Canada. There isn’t an AUS endorsement on the back, in fact there is no endorsements for any country since Canada isn’t a full APEC member.
Can I still use APEC lane when arriving at SYD or MEL?

 

[moa999]

What's the point/benefits of the card then?

 

[Austman]

What's the point/benefits of the card then?

Because all the endorsements can take a while, they tend to issue the card multiple times. So you can end up with a card that has some but not all the endorsements.

And then another card a month later with more endorsements.

 

[moa999]

Looking at the Canadian page it appears using the APEC queues is the only benefit
APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card (ABTC)

But coming into Australia I'd expect it's easier to use SmartGate (Canada is one of the approved countries)
Smartgates

 

[Austman]

But coming into Australia I'd expect it's easier to use SmartGate (Canada is one of the approved countries)

I expect it probably would be!

 

[Daver6]

Details here Business travel card for Foreign Applicants

I think it also entitles you to use the Fast Track customs queue on the way in if you have nothing to declare and Fast Track on the way out. I doubt they'll be checking the back of the card at those points.

 

[dajop]

Colleague has US issued APEC card without any endorsements but she finds it extremely useful for priority lanes at immigration (particularly in China).

 

[sansnom]

Yea... Canadian APEC card is just like the US one. We don’t get any visa benefits.
The card is super easy to get, but honestly I haven’t found it useful yet. I entered via SmartGate as the line was literally empty.
But I’m still curious about how it would work if I were using the APEC lane?

 

[Daver6]

Yea... Canadian APEC card is just like the US one. We don’t get any visa benefits.
The card is super easy to get, but honestly I haven’t found it useful yet. I entered via SmartGate as the line was literally empty.
But I’m still curious about how it would work if I were using the APEC lane?

I suspect it just means that you get to use the APEC lane. You still need to meet the usual visa requirements but just get a lane with a shorter queue. Only one way to find out really

 

[sansnom]

I suspect it just means that you get to use the APEC lane. You still need to meet the usual visa requirements but just get a lane with a shorter queue. Only one way to find out really

lool good point. Let me try it out next time

 

[moa999]

Although at many airports the APEC line is shared with the crew line.. and the immigration officials will often serve them first, so no time saving

 

[sansnom]

Although at many airports the APEC line is shared with the crew line.. and the immigration officials will often serve them first, so no time saving

Hm... that pretty much makes my APEC card totally useless

 

[sansnom]

BTW, if I entered the APEC lane while I ineligible to use the lane, there isn’t any fine or consequences, is there?

 

[Daver6]

BTW, if I entered the APEC lane while I ineligible to use the lane, there isn’t any fine or consequences, is there?

You get fed to the drop bears. Suspect worst case scenario would be sent to the back of the regular line.

 

[Austman]

IME you have to judge the APEC card's usefulness at the time.

It has been useful for me many times. But sometimes it's been the reverse - in terms of a speedy passage. And dealing with airports who didn't know much (or anything) about it. No website printout will help you then!

It's always been good in countries where you would normally need a visa.

 

[sansnom]

You get fed to the drop bears. Suspect worst case scenario would be sent to the back of the regular line.

Awesome, then I’ll try it out next time

 

[sansnom]

IME you have to judge the APEC card's usefulness at the time.

It has been useful for me many times. But sometimes it's been the reverse - in terms of a speedy passage. And dealing with airports who didn't know much (or anything) about it. No website printout will help you then!

It's always been good in countries where you would normally need a visa.

My card doesn’t allow me entering any visa required country as there is no endorsement on the back. The sole purpose is to the possibility to make a speedy passage