March 27, 2006	Monday	Safar 26, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, March 26: The US government has asked Pakistan to convey it full information about the Pakistani nationals travelling to the US as soon as they book their flight. Official sources told Dawn on Sunday that the new rule concerning “Advance Passenger Information (API)”, which will come into force on April 1, appeared to be aimed at checking the movement of Al Qaeda elements. Consequently, the intending passengers would be asked to fill the API card when they book their air flight to US.

So far communicating the passenger’s passport number by the air carrier to the US authorities, prior to the departure of the flight, used to suffice. Transmission of the API at the time of booking the flight would give the US homeland security more time to check the background of the incoming passenger.

The new rule would be mandatory for all US-bound Pakistanis including the VIPs. Those holding US passports, however, would be exempted from its application.

In addition to the passport number, the passenger will have to give his or her complete name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, citizenship, the country from where he or she acquired the passport and the date it expires.

A Pakistani immigration officer said: “After the new rule is introduced, a passenger checking-in for a US-bound flight will be issued boarding card only after he or she is cleared by the US authorities on the basis of the passenger’s API faxed to them.”

The source said the new API system was to become effective on February 28, but was postponed to April 1 for unknown reasons.