The U.S. Transportation Security Administration this month is putting some finishing touches on its next-generation passenger prescreening system, Secure Flight, to pave the way for a full rollout this summer. TSA in October 2008 announced the final rules for the program, which shifts the responsibility of watchlist matching from airlines to the government. However, carriers and travel agencies under the program have to collect a passenger's full name, date of birth and gender at the time of reservation. The American Society of Travel Agents this month issued guidance to agencies on data collection requirements to fulfill the new system. TSA administrator Kip Hawley this month told BTN, "The rule is out and is final and from the technology perspective is ready to go." Still, a couple of remaining procedural items remain before Secure Flight's liftoff, Hawley said, including fulfilling the 10 conditions that Congress in 2004 required the U.S. Government Accountability Office to examine
(BTNonline, March 28, 2005). "They will make some pronouncement to Congress very shortly," Hawley said. "We will be in position to accept feeds from carriers sometime in January or February to begin that process. It won't be widely felt until August, when it will be required for everybody. We have an interim deadline in March by when airlines need to send us data they have, but that's before going completely live. In January, carriers have legal authority to ask their customers for information. In March, those who are collecting the information will send it to us. In August, they all will send us the information in the proper format and we'll do the watchlist matching." The systems are being tested now. "When we get the first feeds from the airlines," Hawley said, "that's the real test."
U.S. Implements Electronic Travel AuthorizationTravelers from Visa Waiver Program countries as of Jan. 12 must obtain entry approval through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's newly launched Electronic System for Travel Authorization. DHS in August last year launched the ESTA online tool to screen and authorize U.S.-bound travelers prior to boarding transportation to the country. Through the ESTA site, travelers can submit information online and, once approved, the clearance is valid for up to two years or until the applicant's passport expires, whichever comes first. DHS said the online ESTA program collects the same information as the I-94W form, which travelers typically completed onboard aircraft prior to entering the United States. However, DHS said passengers should complete the online ESTA application 72 hours before departing to the United States.The program is available to citizens or nationals from the 35 Visa Waiver Program countries, including eight countries that joined the program last year: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and South Korea. Since launching ESTA last year, DHS said more than 1.2 million applicants have filed requests through the system, with a 99.6 percent approval rate. "DHS will take a reasonable approach to travelers who have not obtained an approved travel authorization via ESTA, and will continue an aggressive advertising and outreach campaign throughout 2009," the department said in a statement. "Travelers without an approved ESTA are advised, however, that they may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry."