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Compliance Unit

Compliance Unit is an entity within the JRCC tasked with ensuring compliance of Advance Passenger Information (API) legislation by all aviation and maritime carriers entering and transiting the Region. This unit ensures that carriers submit API by using various web portal services currently available to them in conjunction with API requirements and legislation.

API Legislation requires the electronic transmission of Advance Passenger Information for passengers and crew members onboard all maritime and aviation carriers regardless of size to transmit API in advance of arrival in and departure from any country within the Region.

Submission of passenger information to the JRCC is a necessary component of the Region’s continuing program of ensuring passenger, aviation and vessel safety, national security and the Region’s borders.

The submission of API assists in the efficient screening of passengers and crew members and thus facilitates the enforcement of APIS Legislation.

The Compliance Unit on a daily basis enforces the Data elements requirements and Method of Transmission that must be observed by carriers when transmitting Advance Passenger Information to the JRCC on behalf of each Member State.

API Legislation mandates that the information transmitted must include

Vessel Data:

  • Traveler’s Status (Passenger, Crew)
  • Flight Identification (IATA Airline code and flight number)
  • Flight Identification (IATA Airline code and flight number)
  • Schedule Departure/Arrival (Date and Time)
  • Place/Port of call(Last, Initial, and Subsequent)

Passenger Data

  • Official Travel Document (number, issuing state, Expiration date
  • Passenger’s Name (Given name/Family name)
  • Nationality
  • Date of Birth Gender
  • Additional Data Elements (Visa Number, Place and date of issue)

Regarding API transmission, the compliance unit enforces the transmission method stipulated by law. API Legislation requires carriers to transmit passenger information by using:

     

  • UN-EDIFACT format if the capability exists through ARINC at BGITTXA (Test Address) and BGICUXH (Live Address).
  • If this capability does not exist, carriers may transmit by using downloadable XLS file or XML format which is available at the caricomeapis.org.
  • Notwithstanding these transmission methods, carriers can also transmit API by using the online web portal service available at caricomeapis.org.

The unit also coordinates with border security personnel and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the data transmitted by Carriers to the JRCC DEX on behalf of member states is in sync with those captured by member states at the respective ports of entry.

Variations are noted and the necessary actions are taken to ensure compliance and that the integrity of information received is in sync with those stipulated by Legislation.

 

© 2009 Joint Regional Communications Centre