Planning to fly south? Be aware that failing to
make a direct notification to the United States Customs Service of your intended
arrival at a “U.S. Customs facility airport” on a flight from Canada may result
in at least a heavy fine.
The procedures for clearing U.S. Customs and Immigration when flying a private
aircraft from Canada into the United States are not prohibitively difficult. The
most important thing to understand is that the onus for arranging for those
procedures and following them is on the pilot, not the American authorities.
Things have tightened up since Sept. 11, 2001.
Gate
Forget GATE, the General Aviation Telephonic Entry system for clearing customs
and immigration into the U.S. has been suspended indefinitely.
U.S. Customs Facility Airports
The pilots of all aircraft landing in the United States after departing Canada
must plan to make their first landing at a U.S. Customs facility airport. These
are listed in several different American airport guides including “AOPA’s
Airport Directory” available to AOPA members in hard copy or online.
The U.S. Customs airports are also listed on the International Council of
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Web site:
www.iaopa.org/proc/usairports/.
Advance Notice
American Customs requires advance, direct notice of an aircraft’s intended
arrival to U.S. Customs at the airport of entry. Failure to do so violates
Customs regulations and will result in a severe penalty. More than one COPA
member has been fined $5,000 (US) for “inappropriate method of reporting an
arrival.”
Since pilots must confirm that their notice has been received, the only way to
do this is by telephone. Faxes are not acceptable. Neither are flight plan
notices. Even though flight plan notification service is available, pilots
should contact Customs directly.
Since the confirmation of notice received is verbal, ask the officer on the
telephone for a badge number to be used in the case of miscommunication later.
To assure timely inspection in all states, U.S. Customs requests that all calls
(advance notices of arrival), regardless of when service is required, be made
during regular business hours indicated in the airport listings. When “Service
on-call only” is listed, Customs usually does not staff that airport. Therefore,
requests for service outside the usual operating hours should only be made by
telephone.
Please note
Each U.S. Customs office is different in terms of staffing and hours.
Notification of arrival can vary from one hour to 48 hours.
To avoid overtime charges, contact Customs before departure to verify the hours
during which free service normally can be expected.
Landing rights airports
Some Customs facility airports are designated “Landing Rights Airports.” Prior
permission to land at a landing rights airport to clear Customs must be obtained
from Customs personnel. This requirement does not apply when landing at an
international airport of entry.
User fee airports
User fee airports are those which, while not qualifying for designation as
international or landing rights airports because of insufficient volume or value
of business, have been approved by the Commissioner of Customs to receive the
services of Customs officers on a fee basis for the processing of aircraft
entering the United States and their passengers and cargo. When “user fee
charges will apply” is indicated, pilots are advised to call the airport for an
estimate of the charges. Fees may range from $100 to $300, depending on the time
of service.
ADCUS
Pilots flying to a U.S. destination from Canada must file a flight plan and
follow it. It is advisable to indicate “ADCUS” (for “advise customs”) on the
flight plan. Although this can not be considered the primary or only way of
giving the U.S. Customs notice of arrival, it backs up the primary notice and
provides a method of updating the Customs officer when you change your estimated
time of arrival through flight service.
Please note: This only works at airports where flight service can easily contact
the officer.
User fee decal
Private aircraft, including corporate aircraft, that enter the United States
must purchase a User Fee Decal. In order to qualify as a private aircraft
requiring a decal, the aircraft cannot carry passengers who pay airfare. The
Private Aircraft Decal costs $25 (US) per calendar year.
Decals can be obtained via an Annual User Fee Decal Request Form (CF-339):
(a) from a local U.S. Customs port,
(b) by calling Decal Inquiries, Tel.: 317-298-1200, ext. 1245, or
(c) by downloadable form via the Internet: www.customs. gov/travel/forms.htm.
Applying for decals online via the Internet is quick because electronic
processing is utilized.
This is also the most accurate option for applying. To receive your order in
four to six days, you may use a “ship to” address in the United States and
select the optional shipping method. To use this method, click on the online
button under Options for Applying for Decals.
Please note: U.S. Customs offices no longer carry these decals for sale. It is
permissible to arrive in the United States without one as long as you have a
credit card to use in the application.
Questions should be directed to: Decal Inquiries, Tel.: 317-298-1200, extension
1245, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST, or via e-mail:
decals@customs.treas.gov.
Documentation
Canadian citizens seeking tourist or business entry into the United States must
carry proof of citizenship. Most other foreigners require an American VISA.
Please note: It is the pilot’s responsibility to ensure that passengers are
properly documented for entry into the U.S.
For instance, when vehicles cross the border they can be turned back, however,
that doesn’t work for aircraft. The officer has little choice except to impound
the aircraft and passengers until suitable arrangements can be made.
Call ahead to find out what is needed for non-Canadian passengers foreign to the
U.S.
I Declare
The same is true for goods that are being taken into the United States. There is
a long list of “don’ts” that appear on the U.S. Customs Web site:
www.customs.treas.gov/travel/visi.htm. The pilot is responsible to know that
no one onboard is carrying illegal goods. This can be something as simple as
meat.
Business travellers should also be wary of what they are carrying and why they
are entering the United States. Product samples may be limited in quantity.
Check the Web site or ask the officer when arranging an arrival time.
Anything else?
Cross-border flyers with recent experiences that differ from the above are asked
to let us know about them. The same goes for pilots with more information to
add.
Contact Adam Hunt, COPA manager Membership Services, Tel.: 613-236-4901, E-mail:
ahunt@copanational.org.