New CBP Rule Changes How Airlines Report Passenger Gender Information

On July 7, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) instructed airlines and other travel carriers on a new rule that they must submit "M" (male) or "F" (female) in the sex field of the pre-departure information they transmit to CBP through the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), even if the traveler's passport contains a sex indicator other than M or F or does not otherwise indicate the sex of the traveler. This new rule, which has been in practice since July 14, 2025, is based on Executive Order 14168, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.

Read more

You Probably Shouldn't Say That....

When I hear some of the things foreign nationals say to immigration officers at the border when trying to gain admission to the US, I break out in a cold sweat. If the officer becomes overly “concerned,” or doesn't believe what he/she is hearing, a foreign national may be refused entry. I thought I would share a few examples and explain what might cause concern to an immigration officer.

Read more