It is not surprising that the United States values its border security. It can sometimes feel like an invasion of privacy at all times. It makes sense, given their history, that they have decided to look closely at who is entering or leaving the country.
What is APIS?
The Advance Passenger Information System (or APIS) requires that international passengers traveling by air or sea be provided to the Department of Homeland Security before they can enter the country. US Customs and Border Protection is responsible for APIS information. This means that commercial flights will be conducted by an airline that gives information about every passenger, starting with their passport number and ending with their nationality and country.
The United States is not the only country with passenger information rules. Canada, France, and China have similar systems for tracking individuals traveling across borders. You should be aware that not all airlines require this information 72 hours before the flight. This is why it is essential to plan for international travel. Since the rules were established, the process for submitting required details has been simplified. All those questions that you have to answer when you try to book a seat on a plane? Before the flight departs, the airline collects and forwards the information to the appropriate agencies.
What is eAPIS?
How does it work? Private planes use eAPIS. This website allows commercial airlines to send data electronically to the CBP. The manifest for the trip is sent along with this information at least one hour before the plane takes flight. The pilot is responsible for collecting all information required on each passenger and sending it to the US government.
Private flights that depart from remote areas without internet access may have to land again in the USA to transmit passenger lists. Because eAPIS can be accessed through a website portal managed by the American government, this is common. This system has some exciting glitches, including forgetting your pilot password.
Address in the USA
You’ve probably been asked where to stay upon arrival in the US. This information is required for many customs forms. However, in the US, you must know the exact street address and zip code of the place you’ll be staying while you are there. Passengers on cruises must know the name and address of the ship.
There may be some flaws in the API system, which is not surprising. Flagging travelers can happen for entirely fictitious reasons. If this is the case, but you are otherwise allowed to fly, you might be issued a redress code. This is a reference number issued by DHS in these cases to help someone’s future entry to the US.
