Sep 1 2005

DHS Implements New Requirements for Advanced Passenger Information

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented new regulations for individuals visiting the U.S. by air and ship. This new rule related to Advanced Passenger Information will be effective October 4, 2005 and is similar to the rule required of individuals leaving the U.S. that took effect in April of this year. After the October date, individuals traveling to the U.S. or individuals on foreign carriers who will travel through the U.S. will be required to provide the following information to the air or sea craft personnel:

   1. Full name
   2. Date of Birth
   3. Gender
   4. Citizenship
   5. Travel document type (e.g.: a passport or permanent resident card)
   6. Document number
   7. Document’s country of issue
   8. Document’s date of expiration
   9. Country in which person currently resides
   10.Address where person will be staying while in the U.S.
   11.Final destination (if the person is traveling through the U.S.)

Individuals with Machine Readable Passports will have a majority of this information hardwired into their passports (with the exception of the last 3 bulleted requirements). It is essential that individuals know the address where they will be staying while in the U.S. (with the exception of U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents and passengers traveling through the U.S.). If the traveler is staying at a U.S. hotel, they must provide the name of the hotel, along with its street name, area, city and state (and possibly its zip code). If travelers intend to board a sea vessel in the U.S. they will need to provide the name of the cruise line or other vessel and the name of the city in which they will board. This information, which will be obtained at departure, will be forwarded to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and will be checked against a federal database to ascertain whether the individual has a criminal record or is wanted by a law enforcement agency. Any person that does not provide this required information will not be admitted into the U.S.