US Customs

[guido411]

Has anybody been dealing with DHS's new rules governing Private Aircraft and advanced reporting requirements? The way it looks by the publications I've been seeing Part 91 operators will be (are?) required to give outbound notification to US Customs. This true? How does it work? Is it already in effect?

I used to have a really good handle on this subject but that was 6 months ago.

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1226943273725.shtm

 

[siouxicide]

APIS guide

Main

Mandatory 19 May, 2009 compliance. Right now it's just voluntary.

 

[siucavflight]

I believe that it is TSA that wants the notice, not Customs.
If you use Flightpak through Universal it will automatically send your passenger list to the TSA and will check it against the no fly list.

 

[Hawker800]

Has anyone else had a problem purchasing the customs permit? Bought one back on 12/16/08 and still have not received it.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Has anyone else had a problem purchasing the customs permit? Bought one back on 12/16/08 and still have not received it.

I'm assuming you used your new number?

I just bought ours a week ago, hopefully it gets here before our trip in March.

 

[Hawker800]

The new number and permit is the one I am still waiting for. Used to turn these things around in two weeks.

 

[ksu_aviator]

The new number and permit is the one I am still waiting for. Used to turn these things around in two weeks.

We got our new number in October or November. If you didn't use that to get the new sticker, you might want to give Customs a quick call. That might be what is holding it up.

 

[Hawker800]

Called them last month. Said they were taking anywhere from four to six weeks. Also advised that mine was being processed and they had all payment confirmation. The lady said that they had nothing to do with Apis and could not advise on that. A couple of others in my area are also still waiting. Never had this much of a wait before.

 

[guido411]

Our stickers have also been held up. Website shows purchase is being processed. Called then to verify they said 6 weeks from order to delivery. Order your decals as early as possible. Fortunately not SUPPOSED to leave the country til March.

 

[CLR2LAN]

Can you purchase these stickers faster by visiting the office? What happens if you dont have one when you are re-entering the US?

 

[ksu_aviator]

Our stickers have also been held up. Website shows purchase is being processed. Called then to verify they said 6 weeks from order to delivery. Order your decals as early as possible. Fortunately not SUPPOSED to leave the country til March.

Last year, Laredo let us use the receipt as proof that we had payed our user fee. I had called and prearranged that. If you don't get your decal, give the local office a call and see what they say.

 

[Hawker800]

ksu aviator is correct. Had a friend just return from the islands. Customs allowed him to use his proof of payment.

 

[guido411]

Can you purchase these stickers faster by visiting the office? What happens if you dont have one when you are re-entering the US?

The decal is a proof of payment of Customs user fees for the year. I think if you show up without one you will have to pay the fee at that time.

 

[jross]

We just payed the extra fee to expedite and recieved our decal in a week.

 

[ksu_aviator]

We just payed the extra fee to expedite and recieved our decal in a week.

You'll still get it in March....maybe April or June. lol

 

[jetpig32]

Anyone played with eAPIS. Making a manifest is a joke. It has to be .xml file conforming to their xml schema. In laymans terms, you have to have software or be good with .xml reading. I'm just not that sharp.

 

[jross]

You'll still get it in March....maybe April or June. lol

Maybe you misunderstood my post. We paid for the expedited shipping and received our decal within two weeks of purchasing it online.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Maybe you misunderstood my post. We paid for the expedited shipping and received our decal within two weeks of purchasing it online.

I understood. This is the government you know.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Anyone played with eAPIS. Making a manifest is a joke. It has to be .xml file conforming to their xml schema. In laymans terms, you have to have software or be good with .xml reading. I'm just not that sharp.

I'm playing with it right now, and I am able to enter the information via the website. No xml required. I think the xml is for advanced users.

There is one serious flaw with the system. There is no way of making changes unless you can get on a computer. Fat lot of good that will do me in Mexico where internet service is spotty and many airports don't have internet.

BTW, Laredo (my favorite place to go) has told me that pilot's should still fill out the 178. So, nothing has changed except you have to get online before you cross the border. You still have to call. You still have to file a Customs Notification Flight Plan. You still have to have the 178. You still have to have the passenger fill out a personal decleration. Couldn't all of this have been solved by just requiring pilots to fax the Form 178 instead of just walking in with it?

 

[Hawker800]

Ours came in over the weekend finally. 7 weeks start to finish. Now for this Apis business.

 

[jetpig32]

Perhaps I am missing something on eAPIS. There are 3 steps, right. You need a notice of Departure, notice of Arrival, and have to upload a manifest. This manifest must be in .xml, does it not?

 

[ksu_aviator]

Perhaps I am missing something on eAPIS. There are 3 steps, right. You need a notice of Departure, notice of Arrival, and have to upload a manifest. This manifest must be in .xml, does it not?

NO. Two steps. File a notice of departure and notice of arrival. When you do that, you fill in the manifest information. It is four pages: Aircraft info, Flight info, Crew info, Passenger info. It is all very easy...unless you can't get to a computer. Then you are f******.

 

[AC560]

You'll still get it in March....maybe April or June. lol

I ordered one on the DTOPS site on 7JAN not exactly sure how long it took to get as I was traveling but when I got home on 25JAN it was in my mail box.

 

[jetpig32]

Got it now. Was just looking too deep in to the eAPIS handbook.

 

[Pez D. Spencer]

I'm assuming you used your new number?

I just bought ours a week ago, hopefully it gets here before our trip in March.

ours took nearly 8 weeks. lousy. hope you get 'em in time.

 

[ksu_aviator]

BTW...I've been going back and forth with CBP on this eAPIS deal. It appears there is no way to make changes via phone. Your only option is to find an internet capable computer. If you can't get to a computer, you can't come to the US. You can designate someone to make submissions for you and you can file weeks and months in advance. I have a company secretary and my wife checked out on eAPIS so that I don't get stuck.

If you have changes to the passenger manifest, you have two options.

*If you have a deletion, you do nothing more than call the local CBP of landing and report the deletion (this is the only exception to the computer rule).

*If you have an addition, you can go online and submit a new manifest with only the new passenger's (and the crew member's) information under the same tail number.

All other changes require an entirely new submission.

EAPIS replaces nothing. You still have to call the local CBP and inform them that you will be arriving. They don't automatically get the manifest. They have to pull the manifest off the computer and they won't know to do that if you don't call. My understanding is that you still have to have Form 178 and the Personal Declaration, even though all the information on the eAPIS is on the 178 and P-Dec. You no longer have to fax the Form 178.

As always, you still have to file a flight plan with the US and activate it before crossing the border. That probably goes without saying, but I threw it in there just in case.

Hope this helps...if anyone has anything else to add, I'd love to hear it. I'm learning new stuff everyday. The tutorial is woefully lacking in information.