Admissibility Branch
Account Security
Description: Information on Customs Brokers and Importers who have applied
for release from Customs prior to Payment of Duties and/or Acceptance of Uncertified Cheques privileges.
Document Types: Records include original Surety and/or Bank Bonds; original
riders/endorsements; annual security review letters; copies of acknowledgment/rejection letters pertaining
to the submission of bonds/riders/endorsements; and various correspondence relating to the brokers and
importers Account Security Profile e.g., B205, interim payment, defaults etc. Importer files are currently
maintained with Brokers Licensing and Account Security programs, pending the scanning of the records
by Information Management Division. Correspondence relating to the two options available to brokers,
Direct Security and Goods and Services Tax, Direct Payment, is retained, as are copies of the Goods
and Services Tax Agreement Letters, Direct Security Letters and acknowledgment letters. Note that not
all Customs Brokers have a working paper file, as many brokers do not use the Direct Security or Goods
and Services Tax Direct Payment Options.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 001
Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS)
Description: Authorizes Border functions to assess a range of graduated monetary
penalties for all contraventions of the Customs Act and the Customs Tariff Act and the regulations pursuant
to these acts. This penalty regime largely replaces seizures and ascertained forfeitures for commercial
importations and exportations of goods.
Document Types: Administrative Monetary Penalty System is based on an automated
system called the Integrated Customs System. Each time a violation of border functions requirements
is identified, a Notice of Penalty Assessment is issued against the client using the Integrated Customs
System. Integrated Customs System records the violator's name, address and client identifier, which
is a business number, carrier code or warehouse sub-office locator code. The Notice of Penalty Assessment
also includes the description of the infraction, the penalty amount payable, and recourse options.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 002
Admission of Persons to Canada (shared with Citizenship and Immigration Canada)
Description: Information on policies, procedures and programs concerning the
admission of persons to Canada.
Document Types: Admission data on immigrants according to component groups
(economic, social and humanitarian immigrants) and of visitors, including tourists, temporary workers
and foreign students. Related background information includes labour market and demographic data, description
of selection criteria and processing systems.
Access: Paper and electronic records.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 003
Air and Marine Division
Description: The Air and Marine Division is responsible for the development
and maintenance of policies, programs, and procedures related to the air and marine people processing
mode. The division also develops and maintains internal and external working relationships with other
government departments and agencies, and other stakeholders. The Division provides expert guidance and
advice related to the delivery of people processing programs, involving admissibility of people, as
well as plant, animal and food products accompanying individuals at the border. The divisional units
are: Air Policy and Programs, Marine Policy and Programs, and Program Development.
Document Types: D and R Memoranda, forms and brochures relative to the processing
of people in the air and marine modes; provides functional guidance and interpretation on CBSA people
processing policies and procedures to internal and external stakeholders, regional and headquarter program
areas; developing, implementing, maintaining and reviewing existing programs and new initiatives, policies
and programs, in conjunction with internal and external clients, to strengthen people processing at
the border (i.e. Transit Without Visa, Electronic Primary Inspection Line, Transfer Departure Facilities,
CANPASS Private Boat, Private Air, and Corporate Air and the U.S. Direct Programs);providing expertise
and impact analysis for ongoing and new activities that affect the CBSA people processing programs;
and providing subject matter expertise to international organizations to enhance secure border management
practices.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 041
Program Transformation Initiatives Division
Description: The Program Transformation Initiatives Division is responsible
for the development of policies and procedures related to the delivery of people processing programs
at the border. The divisional units are: the Registered Travellers Policy and Programs, Core Services
Review and Horizontal Policy and Liaison.
Document Types: Provides functional guidance and interpretation on CBSA people
processing policies and procedures, including the Registered Traveller Programs (NEXUS/FAST Driver/Commercial
Driver Registration Program/CANPASS Air) and the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) Business Travel
Card, to external stakeholders, local, regional and headquarter program areas. Is responsible for the
second level review of appeals of denials and revocations of Registered Traveller program authorizations.
Has conducted, in conjunction with internal and external clients, the Core Services Review. Provides
expertise and impact analysis for ongoing and new activities that affect the CBSA people processing
programs.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 046
Dumping Investigations
Description: Information on the analysis of complaints alleging injurious
dumping and on investigations into these complaints; consequent activities including reviews of normal
values and expiry reviews.
Document Types: Original complaint; initial evaluation; factual investigation;
re-investigations of normal values and expiry reviews; and calculations and working papers.
Access: Files are maintained by commodity.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 004
Appeals and requests for Review/Redeterminations (Anti-dumping and Countervailing)
Description: Information on the processing of B2 appeals against anti-dumping
and countervailing decisions made under the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA); and in the case of requests
for judicial review to the Federal Court of Appeal or, in the case of goods from NAFTA countries, at
the choice of the interested party, to a Bi-national Panel of final determinations made by the CBSA
in the course of dumping or subsidizing investigations, an Administrative Record comprised of an Index,
information taken into consideration in the course of the investigation and related documentation.
Document Types: Appeal documents and related working papers.
Access: Files are maintained by commodity.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 005
Brokers Licensing
Description: Information on the licensing and control of Customs Brokers.
Document Types: Customs Brokers Qualifying Examinations, Licensing Advisory
Committee; Customs Brokers $50,000 Performance Bonds; Customs Brokers documents agents; power of attorney.
Access: Customs broker's records are filed alphabetically by name and location.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 006
Telephony Reporting Center System (TRCS)
Description: Allows individuals entering Canada by private and corporate aircraft,
private boat, NEXUS marine and snowmobile to report their arrival and any declarations to CBSA via telephone.
The TRCS is an automated system that captures and stores traveller and conveyance information such as
traveller name, conveyance name, license, date and time of arrival. It accepts calls from NEXUS and
CANPASS permit holders, as well as non-permit holders.
Document Types: Travellers rates and declaration database; conveyance passage
database; line officer reference manuals for all telephone reporting and modes of travel; procedural
documents for problem reporting and resolution for CANPASS.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 007
Carrier Control
Description: Information on legislation, regulations and policies regarding
the reporting and control of conveyances and cargo entering and transiting Canada. Information on the
report and control of the use of non-duty-paid instruments of international conveyance entering, exiting
and transiting Canada; all modes of transport and transport-related equipment in accordance with Customs
and transportation policy.
Document Types: Carrier policy and procedures, carrier code, temporary importation
of vessels, intoxicating liquors, and post audit system. Remission orders for, vessels, aircraft; policy
directives and information of a general or specific nature relating to carriers of all modes; cargo
containers.
Access: Information is contained in the D Memoranda, which can be accessed
numerically. Case files are divided into different carrier modes and are filed by carrier codes.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 008
Casual Refund Program
Description: The CBSA Casual Refund Program authorizes the refund of duties
and taxes that were collected, but should not have been, on certain goods imported by mail or courier
or carried by the traveller, for casual (non-commercial) use. The Casual Refunds System (CRS) and the
Casual Refund Electronic Data Interchange Transaction System (CREDITS) are the systems that facilitate
the casual refund process by the electronic filing and forwarding pertinent information at the Casual
Refund Centre (CRC) to Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) for cheque productions and
distribution.
Document Types: Casual Refund regulations, operational policies, processes,
and procedures. Each refund claim is assigned a unique bar code label for filing and can also be accessed
by the claimant's name and address.
Access: Information regarding the Casual Refund Program is found in D6-2-6,
D6-2-2, D11-6-1, D11-6-4, D17-1-0, and D17-1-19.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 019
Casual Refund System / CREDITS – Maintenance and Support
Client Service – Fees for Documents
Description: Information on the application of fees when clients request copies of
documents related to the import or export of goods.
Document Types: General, policy/regulations (D1-3-1), public complaints, regulatory
review process.
Access: Files are arranged numerically.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 011
Special Service Charges
Description: Information on the application of service fees pursuant to section 167
of the Customs Act for ad hoc border service provided outside authorized hours, at a location other
than a border office or which is outside the normal realm of a border officer's duties.
Document Types: General, policy/regulations (D1-2-1), public complaints, regulatory
review process.
Access: Files are arranged by number and subject.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 012
Commercial Border Policy Division – Contracting Out
Description: Information related to the data capture of entry accounting and cargo
data by private sector firms using CBSA's equipment and facilities.
Document Types: Operating procedures manual; Public Works and Government Services
Canada contract; various reports, forms and files.
Access: Manual is filed by name and files are indexed numerically and by subject.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 029
Commercial Verification
Description: Information on policies and procedures respecting the legislation administered
by CBSA prior to the release of commercial goods to the importer or his agent and similar information
on goods exported from Canada.
Document Types: Regulations, operational policies, processes, and procedures,
contravention's and sanctions, and verification processes and methodology.
Access: Memoranda and files containing instructions can be accessed alphabetically.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 013
Compliance and Performance Surveys
Description: Information on the compliance of travellers; commercial goods arriving
by highway, air and marine container; and courier and postal shipments.
Document Types: Traveller and commercial compliance rated, for travellers,
the dollar value of duties evaded, percentages of travellers sampled who were fully satisfied to fully
unsatisfied with border function service.
Access: Files are arranged by CBSA office name and by date of survey.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 014
Subsidizing Investigations
Description: Information on the analysis of complaints alleging injurious
subsidizing of goods imported into Canada and on investigations into these complaints; consequent activities,
including reviews of amounts of subsidy and expiry reviews.
Document Types: Original complaint; initial evaluation; factual investigation;
re-investigations of amounts of subsidy and expiry reviews; and calculations and working papers.
Access: Files are maintained by commodity.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 015
Courier Low Value Shipment (LVS) Program and Procedures
Description: Information on the legislation, regulations and policies governing
couriers involved with the importations and clearance of low-value shipments (importations valued at
less than $1,600) through the Courier LVS program of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Document Types: Courier LVS policy and procedures, Courier Imports Remission
Order (CIRO), participation in the Courier LVS Program, cost recovery, statistics, and correspondence
with courier companies and associations.
Access: Information is filed by subject matter. Related information can be
found in CBSA D-Memos D5-1-13, D8-2-16, D17-1-0, D17-1-2, D17-1-22, D17-4-0 and D17-4-1.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 016
Drawbacks and Refunds
Description: Information on the administrative policies for drawbacks of border
duties on imported goods, the refunds of border duties under various regulations (excluding appeals)
and the development of Canadian legislation covering the drawback and refund programs.
Document Types: Correspondence on drawbacks – claims and claimants;
refunds – claims and claimants; exports; obsolete or surplus goods; ships' stores; Textile and designer remission
Orders in Council.
Access: Subject files and case files are arranged by subject or company name.
Refund and drawback claims are filed by claim number.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 020
Duty Deferral
Description: Information on duties deferral unit and the development of Canadian legislation
covering various relief/refund/remission programs.
Document Types: Duties relief of duty paid on imported goods that are subsequently
exported; payment of claims withheld to offset debts due to the Crown; post-audit procedures; seizures
arising from drawback or refund investigations; and trade talks and negotiations.
Access: Files are arranged by subject, company, country or Agency.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 021
Duties Relief, Drawback and Customs Bonded Warehouse
Description: Customs Bonded Warehouses are departmentally licensed and related facilities
operated by the private sector. Goods in a customs bonded warehouse are considered to be imported into
Canada but have not been released from CBSA. These facilities provide for the complete deferral of border
duties, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, excise duties (except excise levies on tobacco and alcohol
destined for release into Canada as these goods are not allowed in a customs bonded warehouse) and taxes
including the GST.
Document Types: Customs Bonded Warehouses; Duties relief and Drawback.
Access: Individual Bonded Warehouse records are filed alphabetically by name
and held in various CBSA offices. A license number is provided to the client by the CBSA regional office.
Related information can be found in CBSA D-Memos D7-4-1, D7-4-2, D7-4-3, D7-3-2, D7-4-4 and D8-11-1
to D8-11-7.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 022
Duty Free Shop Licensing
Description: Information on the objectives and implementation of the duty free shop
program at the land border, and information on airport duty free shops.
Document Types: Criteria and procedures for licensee selection; standards
of operations; duty free shop regulations and directives.
Access: Individual land border and airport duty free shops records are filed
by site; general information is filed by subject matter.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 023
Entry Accounting and Adjustment Policy
Description: Information on the entry of commercial goods and related documentation:
invoicing and adjustments against accounting documents.
Document Types: B3 entry documentation; provisional entries; B2 requests for
adjustment; amending entries; Canada Border Services Agency invoicing requirements.
Access: Records are filed alphabetically.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 024
Export Reporting
Description: Information on export policy and procedures applicable to commercial
goods exported from Canada, permanently exported conveyances, goods moving in transit through Canada
and the reporting of carrier conveyances and cargo.
Document Types: Export regulations and directives; forms and information pamphlets:
electronic and manual reporting of goods and cargo.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 025
General
Description: Information on the overall functions of commercial entry systems (e.g.,
audits, co-operation and liaison, meetings, projects and reports).
Document Types: Commodity coding; contingency plans; Customs Act revisions;
co-operation with the Canadian Exporters' Association, Canadian Society of Customs Brokers, Canadian
Importers' Association, Canadian Industrial Traffic League, and external agencies in general.
Access: Information is contained in the D Memoranda, which can be accessed
alphabetically.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 026
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System
Description: Information on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding
System (HS).
Document Types: Results of the Harmonized System Committee of the World Customs
Organization (WCO) and the HS Review Sub-committee; the HS Nomenclature; Canadian tariff and statistical
nomenclature based on the HS.
Access: Files and reports are filed by topic.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 027
Highway and Rail Division
Description: Development of policies, procedures, alliances and working partnerships
needed to maintain the facilitation of entry for returning Canadians, permanent residents, immigrants
and visitors. Information relating to the administration and application of specific tariff items and
remission orders pertaining to travellers' entitlements and control and processing of travellers and
their goods entering Canada by highway and rail modes. Responsible for admissibility activities related
to highway and rail mode, including: letters, briefing notes and ministerial correspondence; policies,
directives, manuals, forms and pamphlets, operational memoranda on specific immigration and border functions
and obligations; the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations, the Customs Act and Regulations,
Customs Tariff and Regulations and input into proposed amendments thereto, including other related statutory
instruments.
Document Types: Interpretive guidance on tariff items pertaining to immigrants,
visitors, former residents, and their goods; liaison with other departments and inspection procedures.
Examination of persons entering Canada including primary and secondary examinations; documents required
by persons seeking to enter Canada; examinations of Canadian citizens, registered Indians, permanent
residents, and visitors; processing of study and work permits; preparation of voluntary withdrawals;
border services officer functions related to immigration examinations at ports of entry; special treatment
of unaccompanied minors; determinations of eligibility under the Immigration and Refugee Protection
Act to have a claim to be a convention refugee referred; and Smart Border Accord Initiatives.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 045
Integrated Customs Systems
Description: The Integrated Customs System is based upon the Customs Blueprint initiatives
designed to streamline and expedite legitimate trade and facilitate processing of low-risk travellers,
enhanced import and export control effectiveness, and ensure Government revenues are collected. The
Integrated Customs Systems combines new components, applications, and technical infrastructure, with
interfaces to existing Commercial Traveller, and Enforcement systems.
Document Types: Documentation includes information on the design, development,
testing, and implementation of the components, applications, and infrastructure that comprise Integrated
Customs Systems. Systems descriptions, conceptual designs, database models, project development and
deployment schedules, procurement records, integrated testing strategy and problem reporting instructions,
and problem management strategy.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 028
Origin and Valuation Audits
Description: Information on audit and verification policies, procedures and activities,
respecting the rules of origin regulations under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the
Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA), the Canada-Costa
Rica Free Trade Agreement (CCRFTA) and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Market Access Initiative.
Document Types: Policies and procedures, related legislation and regulations,
NAFTA Audit Manual, origin and valuation correspondence and working paper templates, audit plan and
case files.
Access: Files are arranged by FTA and/or subject and/or company name.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 030
Policy and Procedures (Anti-dumping and Countervailing)
Description: Information on the development of Canadian legislation covering anti-dumping,
countervail, and the development and review of systems and procedures relating to the application of
these programs.
Document Types: Legislation; policy and technical interpretation of anti-dumping
and countervail programs; correspondence and manuals; Agency involvement with the World Trade Organization
(WTO) Agreement; trade negotiations such as multilateral trade negotiations (DOHA Round) and North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Record Number: CBSA ENT 031
Policy and Administration (Origin)
Description: Information for the policies and procedures of the Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) for the Exchange of NAFTA-Related Information Between the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
and the CBSA that have been established in order to fulfill our commitment under Section 512 of the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to collect and exchange information and statistics regarding
the importation and exportation of goods in order to ensure equitable implementation of the NAFTA and
ensuring all exporters of a level playing field.
Document Types: Reasons for the exchange of the trade data, policies and procedures,
the Customs Notice 514-Memorandum of Understanding for the Exchange of North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA)-Related information, related legislation and Regulations, required data elements and documentation,
manner in which data is to be exchanged and the timing of the exchange (monthly/quarterly).
Access: The individual origin verification determinations are filed by period.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 032
Policy and Administration (Valuation)
Description: Information on the development of Canadian legislation covering valuation
and the development and review of systems relating to the administration of valuation; information on
the delivery of international technical assistance; liaison with other Government Departments and other
branches and divisions within CBSA; valuation legislation, policies and practices of World Trade Organization
(WTO) signatories to the International Valuation Agreement.
Document Types: Legislation, policy and technical interpretation of the valuation
program; correspondence and training material; documents concerning Agency participation at General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement meetings and at the Customs
Cooperation Council (CCC) World Customs Organization (WCO) Technical Committee on Customs Valuation
meetings. Participation on Government Trade Agreement Initiatives (e.g. APEC, NAFTA, EFTA, FTAA, Chile,
etc.).
Record Number: CBSA ENT 033
Postal Policies, Procedures and Automated Systems
Description: Information on various policies, procedures, operational and automated
systems respecting the importation of goods through the postal system by commercial and non-commercial
importers; also co-operation and liaison with domestic and foreign authorities.
Document Types: Interpretations of legislation, regulations and policies;
postal methods of payment for duties and taxes; postal import remissions; postal release procedures;
complaints; control of bound international mail; co-operation and liaison with domestic (and foreign)
authorities such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Agriculture Canada, Health Canada, Canada Post
Corporation and Statistics Canada on issues such as admissibility of mail items, treatment of inadmissible
and prohibited items, delivery of mail and collection of duties and taxes, and trade data.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 034
Recourse Directorate (Enforcement related disputes)
Description: Information on all appealed enforcement actions made under the Customs
Act, Excise Act, Excise Act 2001, Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act, Proceeds
of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act for contravention of these or other Acts of
Parliament for which the Agency has administrative authority.
Document Types: Information retained includes original enforcement action
documents, officer reports and supplementary reports, the letter of appeal, the Notice of Reasons for
Action, and the decision.
Access: Cases are files by number.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 018
Recourse Directorate (Trade related disputes)
Description: Information on dispute resolution processes, including policies and procedures
relating to K14D disputes for re-determinations of tariff classification, origin or value for duty decisions
made under the Customs Act; appeals to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal and Federal Court;
referrals and inquiries from regional appeals offices; consultations with the Department of Justice;
the analysis of facts and positions as well as their ramifications with respect to Canadian International
Trade Tribunal/Federal Court cases; objectives, organization and responsibilities; work plans; workload
and resource projections and resource allocations; training; procedural type policies and manuals.
Document Types: Procedural guidelines; mandates; authority delegations; regional
referrals; K14D's and notices of appeal with related documentation; position papers; protocols with
other branches.
Access: Filed by Harmonized System Subheading, court reference number, and
subject.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 017
Trade Incentives
Description: Information on the eligibility of companies and types of commodities
for relief or remission of duties and taxes under standing or special remission Orders in Council, Canadian
Goods Abroad (Customs Tariff Sections 101 to 105) and the development of Canadian legislation covering
the trade incentives program.
Document Types: Applications, background information, research data and decisions
relating to standing and special remission Orders in Council; Canadian goods abroad, temporary entry
and export provisions.
Access: Cases are filed by company name, subject and Order in Council number.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 036
Rules of Origin
Description: Information on the determination of tariff treatment in accordance
with the Canadian rules-of-origin regulations and trade agreements (the North American Free Trade Agreement
in particular).
Document Types: Inquiries; reports; requests for information; verifications;
investigations and final decisions on such things as entries; invoicing; preferential tariff; and direct
shipment.
Access: Files are arranged by subject and country.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 037
Tariffs
Description: Information on the overall functions and programs that concern the Tariff
Policy Division.
Document Types: End-use privileges; CBSA laboratory reports; industry complaints
and reviews; Consultations with other government departments and bilateral and multilateral negotiations
on tariff classification issues; the Customs and Excise Offshore Application Act; and regional referrals.
Access: Files are arranged by tariff item and commodity.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 039
Valuation
Description: Information in support of regionally conducted valuation verifications
concerning the value for duty of imported goods.
Document Types: Instructions to importers; documentation, information on formal
requests for re-appraisal.
Access: Files are maintained by file number for the commodity and by importer
name.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 043
Warehouse Licensing
Description: Information on the licensing and operation of various types of
Customs warehouses.
Document Types: Customs sufferance warehouses; frontier warehouses.
Access: Individual sufferance warehouse records are filed alphabetically by
name and location.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 044
Comptrollership Branch
Contracting, Assets and Telecommunications Division
Description: Information on Procurement and Contracting; Policy, Quality Assurance
and Training; Telecommunications and Assets Management.
Document Types: Policies, processes and procedures; lists of service levels;
procurement records; contracts; project plans and reports.
Record Number: CBSA COM 002
Enforcement Branch
Anti-Evasion
Description: Information on anti-evasion, smuggling and fraud initiatives, on liaison
with other organizations involved in anti-evasion, smuggling and fraud initiatives; on coordinated law
enforcement activities.
Document Types: Research, analysis and assessment of smuggling and fraud;
co-ordination of the activities on anti-evasion, smuggling and fraud; money laundering; organized crime.
Record Number: CBSA ENF 002
Commercial Enforcement
Description: Information on the development of enforcement policies, techniques and
procedures.
Document Types: Import and export enforcement policies and procedures; policies
on the utilization of intelligence data in enforcement programs.
Access: Files are in numerical order.
Record Number: CBSA ENF 003
CBSA Intelligence Data
Description: Electronic or paper information exchanged with foreign Customs administrations
and law enforcement agencies who collect, analyze, develop and share information on individuals, organizations,
events, and activities involving or suspected of involving national and international illegal cross-border
activities and potential border violations.
Document Types: Offence-related data; profiles of individuals, companies,
and organizations considered to be high-risk border offenders; information on past infractions by companies
or persons; suspect files of individuals or companies; commodity data pertaining to goods likely to
be smuggled; methods of concealment, modus operandi of the smuggler, routing; demographics of smugglers,
etc.
Access: All data can be retrieved via printouts matching various selected
fields or search of file material. Individual names, company names, addresses and telephone numbers
can be the subject of search criteria. All fields can be sorted according to the data (i.e. alphabetically
or numerically).
Record Number: CBSA ENF 004
Detection and Investigations
Description: Information specific to non-compliance, avoidance, evasion with respect
to the Customs Act, Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and other related laws. The information
relates to the detection, identification and investigation of potential, alleged, and actual violations
with respect to the provisions of the Acts.
Document Types: Information pertaining to persons, businesses specific to
non-compliance, and duties avoidance, evasion and fraud.
Access: Cases are filed numerically by enforcement in the Criminal Investigations
Information Management System (CIIMS database).
Record Number: CBSA ENF 005
Immigration Enforcement
Enforcement
Description: General correspondence relating to enforcement activities, including
letters, briefing notes and ministerial correspondence; policies, statistics, directives, manuals, forms,
operational memoranda on specific Immigration enforcement functions and obligations; the Immigration
and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations, proposed amendments thereto, historical amendments and Regulatory
Impact Analysis Statements (RIAS), and other related statutory instruments.
Document Types: Investigations, Removals, Hearings, and Detentions, including
the monitoring of released security certificate cases; Lookouts; Section 44 reports, Maritime procedures;
Search and seizure of documents and private vehicles, Holding, detaining and seizing vehicles operated
by transportation companies; Obligations and liabilities of transportation companies; Memorandum of
Understanding with commercial transporters; Verification of departure; Reciprocal Arrangement with the
United States Memorandum of Understanding with Health Canada; Canada/US Accord on our shared border;
Advance Passenger Information (API) / Passenger Name Record (PNR); Advance Passenger Processing (APP);
Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance with the United States; Investigations (peace officer status; use
of force; police liaison); Searches and seizure; Arrests; Unaccompanied minors; Detention reviews and
release including the monitoring of released security certificate cases; Admissibility hearings; Issuance
of removal orders with respect to detention and release; Appeals of removal order by a permanent resident,
a protected person, or a holder of a permanent resident visa; Refugee claims, Minister's interventions;
Refugee vacation; Temporary Suspension of Removals; Removal order deferrals, stays of removal; Escort
function; Warrants; Our Missing Children Program; General information on cooperation and liaison activities
with law enforcement agencies, in particular the RCMP and CSIS; Memorandum of Understanding with CPIC
services; Memorandum of Understanding with various police agencies; Administrative Framework Agreement
with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada; Removal Arrangements with Jamaica, Vietnam, Slovenia,
the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Serbia and Portugal; Permanent Resident Card Project; Canada/US
Border Vision; Intergovernmental Consultations on Refugee Asylum Policies and Migrations in Europe,
North America and Australia (Working Group on Return).
Record Number: CBSA ENF 008
Immigration Intelligence
Strategic Intelligence
Description: Statistics, correspondence and reports.
Document Types: Activities involving organized irregular migration; co-operation
and liaison with domestic and international enforcement agencies concerned with irregular migration;
improperly documented arrivals at Canada's ports of entry; irregular marine migration; International
irregular migration trends; intelligence assessment products.
Record Number: CBSA ENF 012
Integrated Customs Enforcement System (ICES)
Integrated Primary Inspection Line (IPIL) System
Description: Information on the design, development and implementation of the IPIL
System. IPIL supports the primary Border Services Officers function by performing name and associated
date of birth queries against the Integrated Customs Enforcement System (ICES) and Field Operations
Support System (FOSS) databases.
Document Types: Systems Designs and Architecture Documents: Implementation
plans and system descriptions.
Access: Files are indexed numerically by subject matter.
Record Number: CBSA ENF 010
Transportation
Description: Information on the transportation of persons to, from or within Canada.
Document Types: Transportation by air, land or sea; companies' obligations
for the provision of examination facilities; payment of detention, removal and medical costs; administration
fees, deposit of security for persons conveyed in companies' vehicles; responsibilities and regulations
of travel agencies, and consultations with Transport Canada.
Record Number: CBSA ENF 011
Innovation, Science and Technology Branch
Accelerated Commercial Release Operations Support System (ACROSS)
Description: Information on the design, development testing and implementation of ACROSS,
the major automated release system in the Customs Commercial stream. Included is information on the
following ACROSS sub-systems: Goods Control (Cargo and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Release, including
Air Highway and Rail Cargo as well as Advance Commercial Information (ACI) Marine Cargo and ACI Air
Cargo); Release Notification System (RNS); the Automated Import Permit System (EXCAPS); G7 Import (One-step);
the Customs Self-Assessment Program (CSA), the Commercial Driver Registration Program (CDRP); and Export
(G7 and CAED). ACROSS interfaces with other systems including Other Government Departments (OGDs ) such
as CFIA, ITCan, NRCan and Statistic Canada).
Document Types: System descriptions, Conceptual System Design (CSD), Business
System Design (BSD), ACROSS Participant Requirements Document (PRD) RNS PRD, CSA PRD, EDI Rail Cargo
PRD, ACI Marine Client Document (CD), and ACI Air CD; Implementation Plans; ACROSS User Guide; Bulletins
and training material including Quick Reference Guides.
Access: Files are indexed numerically and by subject matter.
Record Number: CBSA TEC 001
Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record Program (API/PNR)
Description: Information on related legislation, policies, and procedures as well
as the design, development, testing, and implementation of the Passenger Information System (PAXIS).
Legislative program authority is derived from the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection
Act. The PAXIS system supports targeters and intelligence officials in their role of identifying travellers
that are related to or may be involved with serious transnational crime. The API/PNR program receives
personal information collected by commercial carriers on passengers and crewmembers destined for Canada.
This includes name, date of birth, travel document details and travel itinerary information. The High
Risk Traveller Initiative (HRTI) also forms part of the API/PNR Program. Under HRTI, travellers are
risk-scored and Canada and the United States may share API/PNR, passage history, lookouts and related
enforcement information on suspected high risk persons.
Document Types: Regulations; operational policies and procedures; correspondence;
system descriptions and test packages; evaluation reports; user manuals and training material; memoranda
of understanding; disclosure release forms; statistics.
Access: Files are indexed numerically and by subject matter. Advance Passenger
Information / Passenger Name Record data can be searched by name, flight and date of travel.
Record Number: CBSA ENF 001
Branch Automated Equipment Acquisition and Inventory Control and Management
Description: Information on automated systems equipment (hardware, software, communications
devices) acquisition, inventory, determination of funding levels for technology support costs, deployment
and replacement processes.
Document Types: Acquisition forms, inventory database, costing formulas, funding
reports.
Access: Files are indexed numerically and by subject.
Record Number: CBSA TEC 003
Customs Commercial Systems
Description: Documentation on the development, implementation and maintenance of computer
systems pertaining to commercial accounting and reporting.
Document Types: Importer and carrier identification, Commercial rates, B2
and B3 electronic documents, and accounting databases, as well as data dictionary and schemas; procedural
documents for problem reporting and resolution for CCS/FIRM/G11.
Record Number: CBSA TEC 004
Electronic Data Processing (EDP) Systems (shared with Citizenship and Immigration Canada)
Description: EDP systems are used to gather or update the information needed for the
operational support of citizenship and immigration programs. Citizenship and immigration-related programs
and services are delivered using integrated clerical, manual and EDP systems. The EDP component consists
of the sub-systems listed below. All sub-systems are linked to each other, either by a full computer
connection (interface), or by common data elements that allow comparisons of information across systems.
Therefore, actions in one sub-system may affect the smooth running of others. Approximately 500 separate
immigration forms, with a total volume of 1,000,000 documents, are processed through these sub-system
search years. Enforcement Information Index (EII): Please see Citizenship and Immigration Canada PPU
041 for details. A set of EII (CIC PPU 041) cases produced on CD was distributed to posts (Embassies
and Consulates) abroad. Enforcement Data System (EDS): Please see Citizenship and Immigration Canada
PPU 001 for for details. A set of EDS (CIC PPU 001) cases produced on CD was distributed to posts (embassies
and consulates) abroad. Field Operations Support System (FOSS): The FOSS database is a central repository
of information on all persons who have been, may be or are wanted to be seen by Immigration staff. FOSS
is the main operational support system for Immigration operations in Canada. The system comprises of
numerous components including query functions, status entry, document creation, refugee monitoring,
case processing support, medical profiles, registry functions, client name and address, statistical
functions, airport primary inspection line functions, access and security, appeals and litigation, quality
assurance and records maintenance. All Immigration staff that work with the public and the staff that
support these officers use FOSS. It is also used at all international airports by Border Services Officers
and by a number of specialized groups, such as: Case Management, Query Response Centre, Social Insurance
Registry, Immigration Health, Immigration Statistics, External Affairs Protocol Office and the U.S.
Immigration Offices at Detroit and Buffalo. There are over 14 million client records and over 23 million
document reference records. Computer-Assisted Immigration Processing System (CAIPS): CAIPS is the automated
system for immigration application processing outside Canada. Information is entered in the system from
application forms and supporting documentation submitted by applicants for immigrant and visitor visas,
returning residence permits and student and employment authorizations. This information is transferred
electronically to FOSS to facilitate inland processing. In addition, CAIPS users have real-time access
to FOSS via the CAIPS-FOSS Integration module. Customs Processing Centre System (CPCS): The CPC system
supports the processing of all in-Canada applications for the following six lines of Business: in- Canada
sponsorship of family class; extension of visitor visas; extension of employment authorizations; extension
of student authorizations; applications for Citizenship and Immigration Canada 385 permanent residence;
applications based on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds; and for persons deemed refugees. The system
is tied very closely to FOSS. Citizenship Registry System (CRS): CRS manages processes related to citizenship,
namely grants of citizenship and proofs of citizenship. The main functions are: Collect Fees; Collect
Data; Certificate Preparation; Clearance; Decision: Scheduling; Log In (results) and File Retention.
All record scheduling and workflow data related to citizenship processes are kept in this database and
there is an interface with FOSS. National Case Management System (NCMS): The NCM system replaces several
regional case tracking applications–Tracking Resource Allocation and Client Scheduling (TRACS), Système
d'Affectation des Ressources et Calendrier des Enquêtes (SARCE), Investigations Tracking System (ITS),
Investigation Case Management System (ICMS), Système Informatique pour le Suivi des Appels (SISA), and
Appeals Tracking System (ATS). NCMS provides functionality that supports critical case tracking requirements
from the regions and NHQ. It provides a facility aimed at satisfying management information needs. Key
enforcement data is stored centrally to provide an integrated client case history for all domestic users.
Its functions include case tracking, bring forward, scheduling, workload management, file registry,
and forms and letters modules for all of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's major enforcement business
lines (except port of entry examinations).
Document Types: Information systems generally; standard statistical coding
for completing forms; information gathering systems (employment clearance, occupation, transportation
tables, native language); data systems (immigrants processed abroad and in Canada, permanent residents,
monthly program reports, special information retrieval procedures, foreign nationals visiting Canada).
Record Number: CBSA TEC 011
Mechanized Systems Development
Description: Information on ensuring effective border control over the movement and
processing of international mail, by means of improved facility designs and both mechanical and non-mechanical
systems.
Document Types: Facility improvements, correspondence and drawings, machinery
and equipment.
Access: Records are filed by subject and by the border office
Record Number: CBSA TEC 006
Personal Computer/LAN Systems Maintenance and Testing
Postal Import Control System (PICS) – Maintenance and Support
Program Development – Systems Management and Enhancements
Description: Information on problem resolution, design and implementation of system
enhancement, for ACROSS.
Document Types: Systems change procedures; system enhancements; various test
packages to assess the different valid and invalid situations in the system functional specifications;
security profiles.
Access: Files are indexed numerically and by subject matter.
Record Number: CBSA TEC 009
Project Management – Customs Commercial Systems (CCS) Systems Maintenance
Description: Information on problems resolution; design and implementation of system
enhancements; audits and post-implementation reviews.
Document Types: CCS Priorities; systems problems; systems enhancements; pre-implementation
and post-implementation audit reports and responses, various test packages to assess the different valid
and invalid situations in the system functional specifications.
Access: Files are indexed numerically and by subject matter.
Record Number: CBSA TEC 010
Scientific/Engineering Services Scientific/Advisory Services
Description: Information on the scientific and engineering services provided in support
of the administration of the Customs Tariff Act and related legislation; the Excise Act and related
legislation and the Spirits Instrument Certification Program; on Forensic Document Analysis in support
of investigations and prosecution of fraud; on scientific and technical research and development work
in support of the administration of Customs and Excise policies, regulations and procedures and border
security.
Document Types: Technical information and methodology for the analysis of
commodity importations, suspected contraband, seized spirits and tobacco products, denatured alcohols
and other goods subject to excise duty and/or taxes; laboratory reports and certificates on analysed
products; certificates issued for the Spirits Instruments Certification Program; and laboratory reports
related to the examination of fraudulent documents. Project reports and working papers associated with
the investigation and development of scientific methods, systems and equipment for the detection and
identification of goods subject to Customs and Excise control; reports from external consultants providing
specialized laboratory services; and information from scientific equipment manufacturers.
Access: methods, laboratory reports and certificates indexed on EDP database;
and project reports filed numerically by project or electronically, external consultants' reports filed
by date and equipment filed by subject and manufacturer.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 038
Temporary Accounts Receivables System (TARS)
Description: Information on the maintenance of the TARS system used by collections
officers in the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the collection of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
receivables. The information includes the TARS user guide and bulletins issued to collections officers
concerning TARS problems and changes.
Document Types: Systems maintenance instructions, systems problems and enhancements.
Access: Files are arranged by subject and date issued.
Record Number: CBSA TEC 005
Traveller Entry Processing System/ Postal Import Control System/ Primary Automated Lookout
System/ Commercial Cash Entry Processing System/Tariff Publishing and History System (TEPS/PICS/PALS/CCEPS/TPHS)
Description: Documentation on the development, implementation and maintenance of computer
systems pertaining to Commercial, Postal, Traveller, and Enforcement systems in the Customs and Trade
Administration environment
Document Types: Commercial and Travellers rates and declaration database,
postal rates and declaration database, vehicle passage database; as well as data dictionary and schemas,
procedural documents for problem reporting and resolution.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 040
Operations Branch
Headquarters
Operational Service – Service Delivery at Border Services Offices
Description: Information concerning levels of service at Border Services (where, when
and how service is provided) and on opening/closing of offices, hours of service offered, designation
of at airports and other points of entry.
Document Types: General; policy, directory of Canada Border Services Offices
(D1-1-1). Service Delivery Framework (operational procedures).
Access: Files are arranged by subject matter and by file name of Borders Services
office.
Record Number: CBSA OPS 001
Operational Services – Special Service Charges
Description: Information on the application of service fees pursuant to section 167
of the Customs Act for ad-hoc customs service provided to a person in charge of imported goods or goods
destined for export outside authorized hours, at a location other than a customs office or which is
outside the normal realm of a customs officer's duties.
Document Types: General, policy/regulations (D1-2-1), public complaints, regulatory
review process.
Access: Files are arranged by number and by subject.
Record Number: CBSA OPS 002
People's Year in Review
Description: The People's Year in Review is an annual publication providing an analytical
look at statistical data (national and regional), and compliance measurement. It includes overviews
of key events and activities within the CBSA.
Document Types: Summaries of compliance measurement stints conducted annually,
traveller volumes, examination rates, enforcement rates and numbers of small collections on a national,
regional and select CBSA office basis.
Access: The Year in Review is available on the Intranet and distributed to
select managers in HQ and regionally.
Record Number: CBSA ENT 042
Regional Operations
Description: Information on the application of the programs, developed by the headquarters
directorates, that pertain to the control of the international movement of people, goods and conveyances;
the collection of revenue; entry examination and control; detection of smuggling; operation of warehouses;
control of the operation of all modes of transport; and the primary inspection of services at all ports
and outposts.
Document Types: Transportation documents on all modes, their manifests, special
conditions such as diversions, temporary entry, freight forwarding; cargo, carrier and warehouse control;
seizure reports; powers of attorney; uncollectible – records of individuals, firms; Carrier Penalty
Assessments; temporary entries; ships' registries; investigation case files; detention orders; cultural
properties – export permits; and commodity code rulings complaints.
Access: Carriers are filed by mode of transport and alphabetically by company;
warehouses are filed alphabetically by name and location; Customs Brokers are filed alphabetically by
name and cross-referenced by an assigned control number.
Record Number: CBSA OPS 003Arming
Task Force
Description: Information is maintained regarding implementation, systems development,
acquisitions, training, policies and procedures, and human resources.
Document Types: Policies and procedures on firearm management, training and
recertification, human resources management and incident reporting and review; incident reports; letters;
briefing notes; presentations; ministerial correspondence; manuals; memoranda of understanding; general
correspondence relating to implementation activities.
Record Number: CBSA OPS 004
Strategy and Coordination Branch
Access to Information and Privacy
Description: Information pertaining to requests made under the Access to Information
Act and Privacy Act for access to records under the control of the department, as well as information
concerning the administration of this legislation.
Document Types: Access requests, privacy requests, complaints, Federal Court
cases, consultations, policies and procedures, statistical information, reports, training.
Record Number: CBSA STR 009
Agency Transition
Description: Information on the approach adopted by Canada Border Services Agency to effect
its transition, including legislative development. Information on working papers (agendas, minutes,
progress reports, consultants' reports on specific aspects of transition) of ad-hoc Agency transition
committees.
Document Types: Stemming from the December 12, 2003 announcement regarding
the creation of the CBSA.
Record Number: CBSA STR 001
Audit Directorate
Description: Information is maintained for the planning, conduct, reporting and presentation
of internal audit reports. Methodologies for the development of the annual audit plan and individual
audits are also developed and maintained in the Directorate.
Document Types: Annual Audit Plan, completed audit reports and audit working
papers. The Directorate also maintains materials required for the presentation of the annual audit plan
and audit reports findings and recommendations to the CBSA Audit Committee.
Record Number: CBSA STR 010
Briefing and Parliamentary Affairs (BMP)
Description: Information on written and oral questions in Parliament and other information
required b y Parliament, its committees, or other government institutions.
Document Types: Order Paper questions and petitions; question period; government
and private members; bills; motions for the production of papers; parliamentary committees; tabling
of annual reports and returns.
Record Number: CBSA STR 002
Cabinet and Intergovernmental Affairs
Description: Information on Cabinet submissions as well as information on interdepartmental
initiatives that impact the CBSA or in which it plays an active role.
Document Types: Records include Cabinet briefings, Cabinet documents and briefing
material on interdepartmental meetings.
Record Number: CBSA STR 011
Business Strategies and Concepts
Description: Business Strategies and Concepts Unit, Strategy and Coordination Branch,
is responsible for CanSim (border simulation computer model); coordination of CBSA position/portfolio
input to PS and providing CBSA input to new and emerging border initiatives at a multiagency and bi-national
level.
Document Types: Recommendations to Senior Management on CBSA business and
documents, including position papers, decks and aide-memoirs; briefing material on interdepartmental
meetings; briefing material for Senior Management in preparation for pre-Cabinet or Parliamentary Committee
meetings; information on border processing practices such as processing times, examination rates, etc.
Record Number: CBSA STR 012
United States Relations
Description: The United States Relations unit, Strategy and Coordination Branch, manages
the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) overall bilateral border relations with the U.S., provides
analysis and advice concerning this partnership and acts as the primary point of contact with U.S. officials.
Document Types: Briefing material for senior management on Canada-U.S. strategic
policy issues as well as material pertaining to the Shared Border Accord, Smart Border Declaration and
associated initiatives on Canada-U.S. relations, including: Briefing notes/books and presentations,
Framework documents, position papers, recommendations, and Memoranda and letters, Coordination/planning
for meetings/conferences, such as: The Shared Border Accord Coordinating Committee (SBACC) meetings,
visits to Canada of senior U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, and other key bilateral meetings of senior CBSA officials
with their U.S. counterpart.
Record Number: CBSA STR 013
Corporate Planning and Research
Description: Information on the Agency's corporate planning and reporting, and corporate
research and statistics.
Document Types: Strategic and operational planning, Environmental Scan, Enterprise
Risk Profile and Integrated Risk Management Framework, Report on Plans and Priorities, Departmental
Performance Report, Management Accountability Framework, Corporate Statistics, Socio-Economic Research,
Senior Management Performance Management Agreements, Management Resources and Results Structure / Program
Activity Architecture, Performance Measurement Framework.
Record Number: CBSA STR 003
Evaluation
Description: Manages evaluation activities in the CBSA, conducts evaluations and special
studies, and provides advice and guidance on evaluation and results-based management and accountability
frameworks to CBSA management.
Document Types: CBSA Evaluation Plan, results-based management and accountability
frameworks, evaluation strategies, evaluation study and special study reports.
Record Number: CBSA STR 004
International Representation
Description: Information on Agency activities with various international organizations.
Document Types: World Customs Organization (WCO) ; World Trade Organization
(WTO) ; Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); Four Country Conference (FCC); Customs Caribbean Law
Enforcement Conference (CCLEC); and others.
Access: Filed by subject; organizations, by name; and trade negotiations,
by country.
Record Number: CBSA STR 005
Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) Related Records
Description: Records pertaining to Privacy Impact Assessment submissions.
Document Types: Correspondence and documents relevant to PIA issues for the
Agency.
Record Number: CBSA STR 006
Regulations and Remissions
Description: Information on the development and amendment of regulations under the
Customs Act, the Customs Tariff, Excise Act, Excise Act 2001 and the Immigration and Refugee Protection
Act, and recommendations on requests for remission of customs duties and other taxes.
Document Types: Research, correspondence and recommendations on proposed regulations
and remissions.
Access: Filed by subject.
Record Number: CBSA STR 008