Advance Passenger Information (API)

Q What is Advance Passenger Information (API)?
A Advance Passenger Information (API) is information about you (the passenger) which is required by the US government prior to travel.

Q Which airlines do I need to supply my API to?
A You only need to supply API to your airline if you are either flying with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic.

Q Why do I have to supply API?
A Security has been increased and there is now an additional focus on airlines to supply more information about passengers. Airlines already obtain some information from machine-readable passports and supply this to the US Customs and Border Protection Agency.

Due to additional US regulatory and legislative requirements, from 4 October 2005, there will be a need to collect Advance Passenger Information which is then transmitted to the US Customs and Border Protection Agency before your flight departs.

We strongly advise that you supply API to the airline before you arrive at the airport. The details that you need to supply must match the information that you provide on the Visa Waiver form onboard.

Q How can I supply API?
A You need to supply API prior to travel. Therefore we recommend that as soon as you receive your holiday documentation (which will be approx. 2-3 weeks prior to travel), you then log-on to the airlines website, alternatively you can call the airline directly and provide the information over the telephone.

If you are flying British Airways, please click here
If you are flying Virgin Atlantic, please click here

We would ask that all passengers continue to provide their valid travel documents and details of their full US destination address for US Immigration.

Q What do I need to supply?
A Full name (last name, first name, middle name if applicable)
 - Date of birth
- Gender
- Country of residence
- Travel document type (normally passport)
- Document number
- Document country of issue
- Document expiry date
- Citizenship
- Address where you’ll be staying in the US (if staying in an allocation-on-arrival villa, please use the address on your voucher)

Q What do the airlines do with API?
A Once you’ve supplied your API, the airlines hold the info in their system and will submit this electronically to the US Customs and Border Protection Agency shortly after each flight has departed.

Airlines are bound by UK data protection and privacy laws and airlines will not forward this information to anyone or show it to anyone who does not have appropriate security clearances (namely the US Authorities). They will not use it for any other purpose than to provide passenger information to the US Authorities who will verify this against their databases.

Q What will the US Authorities do with my information?
A The API data is checked against the combined federal law enforcement database, known as the Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS). Names are also checked against the FBI National Crime Information Center wanted persons database.

The US Authorities are bound by data protection and privacy laws so that the information cannot be forwarded to, or seen by anyone who does not have appropriate security clearances. It will only be used for its intended purpose.

Q What if I don’t want to provide API?
A Airlines are required by the US Government to collect API for all passengers before travel to or from the US. Passengers who refuse to supply API will not be allowed entry to the US and therefore will not be accepted for travel at check-in.

Q What if I don’t know the US Address?
A The US authorities require an address or an indication of where you are staying. Your accommodation address will be clearly shown on your holiday documentation. If you are staying in an staying in an allocation-on-arrival villa, please use the contact address on your voucher.

Q Where do I go if I require further information?
A For more information on APIS, please refer to http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/home.xml