CBP Provides Additional Details on New Electronic ACE Portal Application
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a notice to its Web site and issued a press release announcing that the Automated Commercial Environment application can now be completed, signed digitally, and emailed directly to CBP.
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CBP notes that those who do not wish to submit their information electronically may continue to submit a signed paper application to CBP via mail. (CBP sources state that prior to this new electronic process, the only way to submit an ACE application to CBP was via mail.)
New Application Streamlines the Process for Gaining ACE Access
CBP states that it is streamlining the process for gaining access to ACE by allowing companies to include a digital signature on ACE Secure Data Portal account applications.
With the new process, applicants can download the ACE portal account application via the CBP Web site, complete the data fields electronically, select the digital signature option, and e-mail the completed application to ACE.Applications@dhs.gov.
Email Submission Should Reduce Time Required to Obtain Delivery Confirmation
CBP states that submission via e-mail should significantly reduce the time traditionally required to obtain delivery confirmation and enable any questions about the application to be promptly resolved via an e-mail dialog between CBP and the applicant.
To further reduce processing delays due to incomplete information, the new application prompts users to complete all necessary data fields before saving and e-mailing the application to CBP.
Application Supports Recently Deploy ESAR A1 Capabilities
The new electronic application supports recently deployed ACE Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue (ESAR) A1 capabilities, which expanded and enhanced ACE account types. New account types, including service providers, facility operators, cartmen, lightermen, sureties, and Foreign Trade Zone operators, in addition to enhanced account types, such as importers, brokers, and carriers, can use the new electronic application to apply for an ACE portal account.
(CBP previously issued an ABI administrative message announcing that the ACE application had been revised and that it could be submitted electronically. CBP sources state that CBP's press release and notice are announcing the same thing, but provide additional details. See ITT's Online archives or 09/27/07 news, 07092705, for BP summary of the ABI message.)
For more information on the electronic ACE portal application process send an e-mail to CBP.CSPO@dhs.gov
(See ITT's Online archives or 10/19/07 news, 07101910, for BP summary of CBP issuing its Federal Register notice on its NCAP/ACE test for ESAR.
See ITT's Online Archives or 09/20/07 news, 07092005, for most recent BP update on the September 9, 2007 deployment of ESAR A1.)
CBP notice on the electronic ACE account process (dated 10/19/07) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/whats_new/elec_ace_app.xml
CBP press release on the electronic ACE application (dated 10/18/07) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/10182007.xml
Updated ACE application (posted 10/22/07) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/ace_app_info/ace_portal_app.ctt/ace_portal_app.pdf