ACI eManifest Software User Guide (CBSA)
|
🔖 This article is part of the BorderConnect ACI eManifest Guide |
Advance Commercial Information (ACI) is the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) eManifest / advance commercial reporting program. It provides customs officers with electronic pre-arrival information to support risk assessment and border processing.[1]
For highway carriers, CBSA requires that cargo and conveyance data be received and validated a minimum of one hour before arrival at the Canadian port of entry.[2][3]
Program rollout and enforcement (highway)
ACI/eManifest for highway carriers entered an informed compliance period beginning November 1, 2012, during which CBSA emphasized adoption and readiness while indicating it would provide advance notice before mandatory enforcement dates were confirmed.[4][5]
Under CBSA’s Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS), CBSA guidance and penalty references identify a grace/zero-rated period from July 10, 2015 to January 10, 2016 for certain eManifest-related contraventions, after which monetary penalty levels apply.[6][7]
BorderConnect ACI eManifest software offers a user-friendly web-based solution to comply with eManifest requirements, complete with 24/7 technical support.
ACI eManifest Requirements
One Hour Prior Notice (Highway)
- Under CBSA requirements, highway carriers must ensure that cargo and conveyance data is received and validated by CBSA at least one hour prior to arrival at the port of entry.[2]
- CBSA notes that failure to submit accurate/complete data, including not submitting data one hour prior to arrival, can lead to delays and monetary penalties under AMPS.[3]
- BorderConnect provides ACI eManifest Compliance software features that help reduce the risk of missed timeframes and common compliance errors.
ACI Lead Sheet (Highway)
When arriving at the First Port of Arrival (FPOA), the driver must present a lead sheet (sometimes referred to as an eManifest lead sheet or portal lead sheet) that helps CBSA retrieve the submitted ACI/eManifest data.[8][9]
CBSA describes the following lead sheet options:
- A bar-coded Conveyance Reference Number (CRN) (also called a trip number), or
- A bar-coded Cargo Control Number (CCN) with a handwritten CRN, or
- A handwritten CRN if an alternate bar-coded document associated with the shipment is also presented with the lead sheet (for example, a bar-coded PARS document).[9][8][1]
Additional CBSA guidance:
- CBSA recommends that for non-PARS releases the words "eManifest Lead Sheet" or "Portal Lead Sheet" be printed on the document presented as the lead sheet.[8]
- CBSA indicates the Border Services Officer will stamp and return the lead sheet; carriers should retain the stamped lead sheet as part of their proof/reporting records.[1][8]
ACI lead sheets can be generated from within BorderConnect, either from the manifest or as a set ahead of time. The carrier can also design and produce their own lead sheets, provided that they meet the barcode requirements above.[8][9]
Corrections and changes
- CBSA requires that corrections be sent as soon as you become aware of them.[3]
- CBSA notes that changes do not restart the one-hour clock; only cancelling and re-submitting a transmission restarts the clock.[3]
- Drivers cannot choose an alternate port of entry without updating the ACI/eManifest data accordingly.[3]
AMPS penalties (examples)
CBSA may assess monetary penalties under AMPS for non-compliance. For example:
- Contravention C378 – failure to submit prescribed pre-load/pre-arrival information relating to cargo and/or conveyance (penalty amounts escalate by occurrence).[10]
See CBSA’s AMPS overview and Master Penalty Document for additional contraventions and penalty structure.[7][6]
As always, if you have any questions please contact us for further assistance and support.
Getting Started
CBSA registration / identifiers (highway carriers)
Before transmitting ACI/eManifest, highway carriers must have a valid CBSA-issued carrier code and complete the appropriate CBSA setup steps (for example via CBSA’s CARM Client Portal and/or eManifest Portal registration process, depending on transmission method).[11][12][13]
If you have not already done so, the first step is to register for ACI with CBSA. Even if you are already set up for ACI with CBSA's eManifest Portal or another software provider, you will need a separate registration in order to use ACI through BorderConnect. You can generate the registration forms at any time when logged into BorderConnect account under Account and Company. You can also call a BorderConnect representative at any time to have the forms emailed or faxed over to you.
The next step is create profiles for any drivers, trucks and trailers that may be crossing the border. Please note that if you are also a user of BorderConnect's ACE eManifest software you should not need to enter any additional data as the profiles are shared between the ACE and ACI software. Otherwise, it is recommended that you enter the profile information ahead of time to facilitate creating eManifests. Please refer to the individual sections for instructions on entering and maintaining:
Once you are registered to use ACI with BorderConnect and you have created the driver, truck and trailer profiles, you are ready to begin creating and submitting eManifests to Customs!
ACI eManifest Instructions
Please refer to the individual sections for complete instructions on the following:
- Creating and submitting a new ACI eManifest
- Generating ACI Lead Sheets
- Correcting rejected ACI eManifests
- Updating or correcting an accepted manifest
- ACI eManifest Status Guide
- ACI eManifest Compliance Guide
- Keeping a close eye on a particular manifest
- Manifesting different types of shipments
- Preparing an ACI eManifest when taking another carrier's PARS or giving away your own
- Creating an empty ACI eManifest
- Checking the CFIA Inspection status of a meat shipment
ACI eManifest Tutorials
References:
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/manif/eccrdhi-deccerout-eng.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/aci-manif-ipec/req-exig-eng.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/aci-manif-ipec/hcc-ctr-eng.html
- ↑ https://cscb.ca/sites/default/files/legacy/uploads/Preparing_for_eMan_Chklist_for_Hwy.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/agency-agence/consult/manif/comm-eng.html
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/amps/mpd-dmi-eng.pdf
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/amps/menu-eng.html
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d3/d3-4-2-eng.html
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/manif/portal-portail/guide-eng.html
- ↑ https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/amps/contraventions-infractions/c378-eng.html
- ↑ https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/manif/portal-portail-eng.html
- ↑ https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/carrier-transporteur/hc-tr-eng.html
- ↑ https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/carrier-transporteur/hccap-ddctr-eng.html