Bus Phnom Penh to HCMC - APEC
Bus Phnom Penh to HCMC - APEC
Have been travelling using my APEC card for 6 years - wonderful device.
No problems arriving in aiport at HCMC
But planning to go by bus this time. (just to be different and see the countryside)
Anyone used APEC to cross the border on the bus?
It works on the land border China/Hong Kong.
But then suspect Chinese are a bit better organised.
Comments welcome
No problems arriving in aiport at HCMC
But planning to go by bus this time. (just to be different and see the countryside)
Anyone used APEC to cross the border on the bus?
It works on the land border China/Hong Kong.
But then suspect Chinese are a bit better organised.
Comments welcome
Yeah, I've done it regularly using APEC. Never an issue.
The steward girl / guy on the bus will take it from you with your passport and it's returned once the passport is stamped. No big deal at all.
The steward girl / guy on the bus will take it from you with your passport and it's returned once the passport is stamped. No big deal at all.
http://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC ... -Card.aspx
Can anyone get one?
How much?
Questions:
inShare
72
Fast and efficient travel for business people within the APEC region contributes to APEC's goal of free and open trade and investment. To this end APEC has created an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC). The ABTC allows business travelers pre-cleared, facilitated short-term entry to participating member economies. The ABTC removes the need to individually apply for visas or entry permits, saving valuable time, and allows multiple entries into participating economies during the three years the card is valid. Card holders also benefit from faster immigration processing on arrival via access to fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at major airports in participating economies.
Can anyone get one?
How much?
K440 : Lucky cheese for the gentry; poultry and death for the peasants.
"Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad."
"Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad."
Only citizens of APEC countries who travel regularly on business can get one, although some countries are a bit laxer about the definition of 'travelling on business' means. I've had one for 8 years and it's saved me thousands on visa fees to places like Vietnam, Indonesia, China etc.
It basically gives you preapproved visa entry for three years to all APEC nations. Another key perk is the ability to use the APEC / diplomat channel at airports. It also gives better entry conditions . . usually a minimum of three months.
Mine costs me NZ$125 for three years.
You get one by applying to your own country. If you're a kiwi, google Apec Business Traveller Card New Zealand and you'll find where to apply.
The US is a member of APEC, but currently hasn't signed up fully to ABTC so US citizens can't get the card. I suspect they are worried they will be flooded with little Asians using the card to sneak in permanently.
It basically gives you preapproved visa entry for three years to all APEC nations. Another key perk is the ability to use the APEC / diplomat channel at airports. It also gives better entry conditions . . usually a minimum of three months.
Mine costs me NZ$125 for three years.
You get one by applying to your own country. If you're a kiwi, google Apec Business Traveller Card New Zealand and you'll find where to apply.
The US is a member of APEC, but currently hasn't signed up fully to ABTC so US citizens can't get the card. I suspect they are worried they will be flooded with little Asians using the card to sneak in permanently.
How does the visa thing work? Do they stamp your passport or do you still get the whole page visa thing?scobienz wrote:Only citizens of APEC countries who travel regularly on business can get one, although some countries are a bit laxer about the definition of 'travelling on business' means. I've had one for 8 years and it's saved me thousands on visa fees to places like Vietnam, Indonesia, China etc.
It basically gives you preapproved visa entry for three years to all APEC nations. Another key perk is the ability to use the APEC / diplomat channel at airports. It also gives better entry conditions . . usually a minimum of three months.
Mine costs me NZ$125 for three years.
You get one by applying to your own country. If you're a kiwi, google Apec Business Traveller Card New Zealand and you'll find where to apply.
The US is a member of APEC, but currently hasn't signed up fully to ABTC so US citizens can't get the card. I suspect they are worried they will be flooded with little Asians using the card to sneak in permanently.
Is it always 3 months you get in Vietnam/China?
Is it extendable?
What type of visa do you actually get in your passport, business or foreign expert?.
Do you think it may be of relevance to a teacher moving around in SE Asia if they could swing the paperwork?
K440 : Lucky cheese for the gentry; poultry and death for the peasants.
"Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad."
"Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad."
Damn not UK, I was hoping through some quirk. Looks like I'm still looking for that special Vietnamese lady with the Australian passport.
Participating APEC economies and application process[edit]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APEC_Business_Travel_Card
Full members of the scheme
Transitional members (United States, Canada)
Most APEC economies are full participating economies in the APEC Business Travel Card: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.[1] Russia began full participation on 1 June 2013.[2][3] Citizens of these economies can apply for a card from their national government. Different economies may have very different criteria for vetting applications from their own citizens; for example, Hong Kong accepts applications from all permanent resident bona fide business people, but Australia restricts participation to representatives of businesses which generate at least AU$5 million in exports, are members of the Forbes 2000, or meet other similarly strict criteria.[
K440 : Lucky cheese for the gentry; poultry and death for the peasants.
"Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad."
"Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad."
SCC wrote:
How does the visa thing work? Do they stamp your passport or do you still get the whole page visa thing?
Is it always 3 months you get in Vietnam/China?
Is it extendable?
What type of visa do you actually get in your passport, business or foreign expert?.
Do you think it may be of relevance to a teacher moving around in SE Asia if they could swing the paperwork?
You are issued a small plastic card. This is effectively your visa to all those countries, because your government has applied for - and got - preapproved visas before issuing you the card.
There is no whole page visa thing. When you enter a country like Vietnam or China, instead of having the full page sticker you hand them the passport and card and they simply stamp your passport with the normal entry stamp.
I will check, but I think it's always a minimum of three months to places like VN / CHina. It depends on the deal those governments have got with your own goverment. Some are longer - six months entry. Thailand is definitely minimum three months.
Not extendable. It lasts three years, after which you can apply for a new one. I am now on my third. Never had an issue getting a new one, although you have to tie it to a passport so aligning the timings of expiring passports can be a pain. If your passport expires while the card is still valid, they issue a new one with your new passport number on it very quickly - the visas are just 'transferred' over.
You don't get any visa 'in your passport'. The card IS your visa. All you get in your passport is stamps upon entry. They usually scribble APEC or ABTC in the stamp and give you the allotted time.
Sorry, can't comment on teaching. It is meant for bonafide business travellers. Having said that all i have ever had to show was a business card and that was proof enough. NZ seems very relaxed about it; i'm told other governments including HK and Australia are stricter.
Hope this helps.
- Starving Pelican
- I am a Special Snowflake !!?!
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Yup. I've always got mine reimbursed by my employer and have actively encouraged other APEC employees at the various places I've worked to get one too. Saves a fortune, as well as heaps of time and effort.
- Starving Pelican
- I am a Special Snowflake !!?!
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- Posts: 5850
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:21 pm
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Cheers Scooby. Sounds like a great thing to have. For a start, a 10 year passport may well last 10 years without all the full page Visas and an extra page for stamps every 4. My last one was full in 6 years!scobienz wrote:SCC wrote:
How does the visa thing work? Do they stamp your passport or do you still get the whole page visa thing?
Is it always 3 months you get in Vietnam/China?
Is it extendable?
What type of visa do you actually get in your passport, business or foreign expert?.
Do you think it may be of relevance to a teacher moving around in SE Asia if they could swing the paperwork?
You are issued a small plastic card. This is effectively your visa to all those countries, because your government has applied for - and got - preapproved visas before issuing you the card.
There is no whole page visa thing. When you enter a country like Vietnam or China, instead of having the full page sticker you hand them the passport and card and they simply stamp your passport with the normal entry stamp.
I will check, but I think it's always a minimum of three months to places like VN / CHina. It depends on the deal those governments have got with your own goverment. Some are longer - six months entry. Thailand is definitely minimum three months.
Not extendable. It lasts three years, after which you can apply for a new one. I am now on my third. Never had an issue getting a new one, although you have to tie it to a passport so aligning the timings of expiring passports can be a pain. If your passport expires while the card is still valid, they issue a new one with your new passport number on it very quickly - the visas are just 'transferred' over.
You don't get any visa 'in your passport'. The card IS your visa. All you get in your passport is stamps upon entry. They usually scribble APEC or ABTC in the stamp and give you the allotted time.
Sorry, can't comment on teaching. It is meant for bonafide business travellers. Having said that all i have ever had to show was a business card and that was proof enough. NZ seems very relaxed about it; i'm told other governments including HK and Australia are stricter.
Hope this helps.
Funny I always thought you were English.
K440 : Lucky cheese for the gentry; poultry and death for the peasants.
"Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad."
"Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad."
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