Increased travel documentation starts today

Just so you know, starting today, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security will require airlines to collect additional Advance Passenger Information (APIS) from customers traveling to, from, and via the United States.

So going south (for Canadians) will require putting up with a little more hassle.

Under the existing APIS program, passengers checking-in for flights to or from U.S. destinations or with an itinerary that includes a U.S. destination, are currently required to provide the following information in advance: Full Name, Gender, Date of Birth, Citizenship, and Passport Number.

As of today, airlines will be required to collect the following additional information upon check-in: Passport country of issuance (if passport required); Passport expiry date (if passport required); Travel Document Type; Country of residence; For customers traveling to the U.S., address for the first night in the U.S. (for non U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents); Alien registration number, where applicable.

Initial APIS requirements came into effect in January 2002 in accordance with the United States Aviation and Transportation Security Act, with amendments to the Canadian Aeronautics Act enabling Canadian carriers to provide basic passenger information to foreign governments where such information is required by law.