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US announces CBP Final Rule to take effect on Oct. 4

The US, stepping up its homeland security measures, said yesterday it will require all visiting commercial aircraft and ships to submit passenger and crew information in advance.

New system

In a statement issued by the American Institute in Taiwan, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it will employ the advanced passenger information system (APIS), called the CBP Final Rule, starting Oct. 4.

The CBP Final Rule requires airline and shipping companies to reprogram their reservation systems so that they can forward APIS data electronically to US immigration authorities, according to the statement, which was released by all US embassies in foreign countries.

The data must include each passenger and crew member's full name, date of birth, passport or alien registration number, country of residence, US destination address and passengers' airline reservation number.

Crew members

The data must also include crew members' address of permanent residence and the pilot certificate number.

The CBP unveiled the APIS in the Federal Register on April 7, triggering protests from many foreign airlines because the measure will definitely increase their operational costs.

It is also likely to cause consumer disputes because with APIS, the US could bar people suspected of being terrorists from boarding flights in foreign countries even if they will not enter the US, or detain them during transit in the US.
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