Developed nations have APSS-type systems in place

PETALING JAYA: Systems similar to the Advanced Passenger Screening System (APSS) have been implemented in developed countries as part of their efforts to increase border security.

In Australia, the system is called the Advance Passenger Processing (APP), while in the United States, it is called the Secure Flight Program.

Both systems require airlines to provide the nation’s immigration authorities with information on all passengers and crew, including transit passengers.

For the United States, the information has to be transmitted to the Transportation Security Adminis­tration (TSA) at least 72 hours before travel or departure.

For Australia, the information is collected at check-in through the APP system, where it will be cross-checked against the country’s databases, before the flights land.

Airlines flying into, from or via the United States must provide passenger and crew information including full name, date of birth, gender and redress number.

As for Australia, the minimum data required for an APP processing are passport numbers, nationality code, and family name.

Among the benefits of the APP are to confirm that a person has authority to travel to Australia, to reduce fines on airlines for carrying inadequately documented passengers to Australia, facilitate arrival processing, provide immigration authorities with Advance Passenger Information, and to increase border security.

The Secure Flight Program helps decrease the chance for compromised watchlist data, provide earlier identification of potential matches which allows for faster law enforcement, and reduce possibilities of misidentified individuals.