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CBP Posts Updated Information on the C-TPAT Status Verification Interface

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site updated information on its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Status Verification Interface (SVI).

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According to CBP, SVI is an Internet based user interface that allows consenting certified C-TPAT partners to verify the participation status of other consenting certified C-TPAT partners. Certain SVIP criteria must be met, including: accepting the terms of the electronic C-TPAT Consent to Use Company Name form, to be located in the C-TPAT Security Link Portal; generating an SVI alpha-numeric status identification number (ID) in the C-TPAT Security Link Portal; etc.

Updated Frequently Asked Questions on SVI

CBP has updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding SVI, which were originally posted in April 2004, in order to (partial list):

indicate that the C-TPAT SVI function is accessed via the C-TPAT Security Link Portal;

reflect changes in who has access to the SVI interface;

modify instructions for querying multiple SVI IDs simultaneously;

revise the list of information that will be received when a SVI ID is queried; and

remove questions regarding failure to receive a SVI participant (SVIP) user ID and password; the loss or need to change a SVIP password; other SVIP password-related issues; and how often the SVI information will be updated.

SVI PowerPoint Presentation

CBP has also newly posted a PowerPoint presentation entitled "C-TPAT Security Link Portal Status Verification" which covers topics such as eligibility, functionality, obtaining access to the SVI, SVI issuance, C-TPAT company name search, and revoking consent to the SVI.

Updated SVI Overview

In addition, CBP has posted an updated overview of SVI which reflects changes in CBP's description of SVI, revised participation requirements, revised access information, etc.

CBP FAQs (dated 05/25/06) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/svi/sviFAQ.ctt/sviFAQ.doc.

CBP PowerPoint presentation (dated 05/25/06) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/svi/instructions_svi.ctt/instructions_svi.ppt.

CBP's SVI overview available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/svi/sviOverview.xml.

BP Notes

At the recent meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC), CBP officials stated that the new, mandatory C-TPAT Security Link Portal was expected to be available on May 24, 2006. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/18/06 news, 06051805, for BP summary.)

BP is checking with CBP on the status of the C-TPAT Security Link Portal and will update readers as new information is available.