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International Cruise (Sea) Passenger

Fee

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The AQI program inspects international cruise vessels and their passengers arriving

from outside the customs territory of the United States.

International cruise passenger fee regulations are listed in 7 CFR 354.3(f).

The Cost and What It Covers

The current international cruise passenger fee is $1.68 (7 CFR 354.3(f)). This fee

covers the direct and indirect costs to inspect international cruise vessels and their

passengers, including:

Analyzing incoming passengers before arrival

Inspecting or preclearing passengers for agricultural products

Inspecting passenger baggage using U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

agriculture canines and specialized nonintrusive inspection equipment

Inspecting the ship to ensure it is free of contaminants, prohibited articles, or

invasive pests
Inspecting the ship’s stores to ensure there are no prohibited items or that any

prohibited items are properly safeguarded

Monitoring the storage and removal of the ship’s regulated international

garbage to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements

Exemptions

Some categories of passengers are exempt from paying an AQI user fee (see 7 CFR

354.3(f)(2)).

Paying the Fee

The ticket or travel document issuer is responsible for collecting and remitting the

appropriate international cruise passenger user fees as described in 7 CFR 354.3(f).

APHIS provides a Remittance Worksheet to assist with this process. APHIS personnel

run periodic audits to verify compliance.

How To Set Up a Payment Account

To set up a payment account with APHIS’ Financial Management Division, send a

completed New Account Packet – Cruise Lines to the location indicated on the

worksheet.

Companies need a separate APHIS account for each user fee type, such as

international air passenger, treatment monitoring, reimbursable overtime, and other

types.

Refunds

As specified in 7 CFR 354.3(f)(5)(ii), remitters may take a “refund” of collected user

fees, in conjunction with unused tickets or travel documents, by netting the amount

against the next remittance. Remitters must note on their documentation that they

are taking a refund and provide documentation for passengers receiving refunds

directly from the remitter. An Account Credit Request Worksheet is available to help

with this process.
Additionally, account holders may request in writing a refund due to overpayment.

You must include proof that any applicable exemption criteria were met and that

you paid the user fee(s). The request should include the following:

Company name, address, and phone number

Contact person

Taxpayer identification number (TIN)

Carrier name (if applicable)

All certified supporting documentation

Send inquiries and refund requests to APHIS' Accounts Receivable Team at

ABSHelpline@usda.gov. The team will review each refund request on a case-by-case

basis. Customers should receive a refund check within 4-6 weeks after the Accounts

Receivable Team processes the refund.

Reimbursable Overtime Services

Customers may request and receive AQI services associated with activities typically

covered by an AQI user fee outside the normal tour of duty of the employee(s)

providing the requested service. In such cases, overtime charges may be assessed

as outlined in 7 CFR 354.1.

APHIS Reimbursable Overtime Services

Refer to the APHIS Reimbursable Overtime Services web page for additional

information including how to pay the reimbursable overtime fee.

CBP Reimbursable Overtime Services

Any requests for agriculture reimbursable overtime will be made in accordance with

CBP port policy. Please contact your local CBP Port of Entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can companies remit payments more frequently than specified in the Code of Federal

Regulations (CFR)?
To minimize administrative costs, please remit payments as outlined in 7 CFR

354.3(f).

Are companies required to open a separate account at their bank to handle USDA fee

collections?

No. Companies must account for user fee collections separately from their other

business within their own accounting methods and systems.