eAPIS: New Border Crossing Rules Go Into Effect May 18, 2009

As you know by now, for any flights that depart or return to the USA, Customs & Border Protection (CBP) is implementing a new rule requiring advance notification of the flight and passengers aboard effective at midnight May 17, 2009.

You MUST notify CBP via the internet only at least 60 minutes before your departure from any US airport or foreign airport. It applies to any flight outside the Continental US. The system is called Electronic Advance Passenger Information System, or eAPIS.

Now is the time to register with CBP. You will have to await their reply message (may take a couple of days) with your unique Sender ID and initial password. Here's the link to register, https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov/

Before you can file a departure, you will have to login to the same CBP site, with the ID and password sent to you and reset your password. CBP is requiring changes to the password every 90 days. (Something you do not have to worry about if you use eAPISfile.com) After successful login, establish your “Crew & Pilot Information.” You must use the current information on your pilot certificate and passport. If you changed your mailing address, but not your pilot certificate, that could be a problem.

Time to get rid of that paper certificate. You will need a certificate that says “English Proficient” by March 2010.

PRINT a copy of everything CBP sends you when you file a manifest, take it with you on the flights, call the CBP facility at your arrival airport in the US at least 60 minutes before your ETA. Most CBP personnel say the eAPIS replaces the normal report we have made for years.

Read & Watch eAPIS HELP

Read our help section and watch our set by step Help Videos in our eAPIS Help Section. It will provide you all the information you need to become an expert on filing eAPIS and crossing the USA Border. It also has all you need to know about flying internationally and how to generate Mexico forms & International flight plans.

Sign-up on CBP Website

Sign up on the Customs and Border Protection eAPIS Website and receive a Sender ID. This is required to file eAPIS flight plans and travel internationally to or from the USA.

Sign-up on eAPISfile.com

Sign up on eAPISfile.com and enter your member profile and contact information.

Complete eAPIS Information

Complete the required eAPIS information for Aircraft, Pilot, Passengers, Manifest, eAPIS Route, & Intl Route

File eAPIS Flight Plan

Quickly and Safely file your eAPIS Flight plan and receive an immediate confirmation via Web and Email.

Print Intl Flight Plans

Quickly print your completed international Documents for Mexico, Bahamas or Canada. No more forms to complete. All the information comes directly from your information you already have on file. These include ; International Flight Plans, Entrance Documents and Arrival Documents.

Review eAPIS Filing History

Lost or forgot your eAPIS Confirmation Number.  Not with eAPIS flight plans that you filed thru eAPISfile.com.  We keep that eAPIS flight plan history for you so you can easy re-file similar plans or make edits and re-file any time as well as quickly look up your confirmation number when you need it to prove you filed your eAPIS plans.

Make Changes and re-file

eAPIS stores all your filed information so it is very quick to add or delete a passenger, change your route and quickly re-file a complete eAPIS flight plan.