1

Company Name:

Company Address:

TIN:  Phone Number:

Contact Email: Company Contact:

2

No

Do you serve meals on your flights? (Not including beverages and prepackaged snacks)

3

No

4

5

Signature

Title Date

6

(preferred)   OR

        Attach a copy of your current W‐9 and send along with this completed application.

I have read the exemptions as defined by current regulation and understand how 

to apply them for this company. (Attached)

2) eFax : (612) 336‐3563

Once this application has been processed and an account has been created we will use the above contact information to get you the 

account numbers needed to make the quarterly payments as required.

Please return this application fully completed with all documentation attached to:

Do any of your aircrafts have less than 64 seats?

Do you carry any fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh or processed meats, plants or any 

other item(s) listed in the Commercial Aircraft Clearance Exemptions?

Yes

Does this company fly passengers into the US?

The below questions will help make sure you understand some of the requirements of AQI User Fees.

Yes

 Does this company do any code sharing or ticket interlining? *

This company is able to complete and return the required remittance each 

quarter as required by regulation? (Copy of remittance attached)

New Account Application

Page 1 of 4

Will there be times when this company will have exemptions to AQI User Fees?

This company is able to pay the User Fees due in US dollars.

The below questions will help determine what type(s) of AQI account is needed.

Answer "yes" even if this only occurs sometimes.

How long have you had International flight operations into the US?

Does this company fly cargo into the US?

 Does this company own aircraft or wet‐lease/dry lease/ACMI aircraft? *

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Marketing and 

Regulatory Programs

Financial 

Management 

Division

Debt Management Team 

Minneapolis, MN 55403

APHIS ‐ Agriculture Quarantine Inspection (AQI)

Please complete the below as shown on your W9 / W8 and include a copy with this application

 Does this company sell tickets on behalf of another operator flying into the US?*

1)Email :  ABSHelpline@usda.gov 
BACKGROUND

INTERNATIONAL AIR PASSENGER USER FEES 

COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT USER FEE

USER FEE RATES AND EFFECTIVE DATES

Passenger Rate

$3.96

$3.83

Quarter

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

Any fees associated with the financial transaction chosen (ie bank funds transfer, credit card, etc) are the responsibility of the remitter. 

Please check with your financial institution for fee considerations.  

October, November, December January 31st

Page 2 of 4

The procedures below are for payments to USDA APHIS FOR AQI User Fees.  Payments are accepted via Check, Money Order, ACH, Wire 

Transfer, PayPal, Debit Card, Credit Card, or IPAC.

January, February, March May 1st

April, May, June July 31st

July, August, September October 31st

Months Covered Due Date

December 28, 2015 through December 1, 2022

QUARTERLY REPORTS

Quarterly activity reports must be submitted every quarter to USDA, APHIS. These activity reports must list the total number of 

passengers per quarter (if your company has a passenger account) and/or the total number of flight arrivals at each port of entry (if your 

company has an aircraft clearance account). An activity report is also required if no activity has occurred during the quarter. It is 

permissible to submit summary activity reports; listing every passenger or landing is not necessary.

If another company is responsible for remitting your fees, a list must be attached showing the responsible party’s name, address, tax 

identification number, contact person and phone number. This list must also include the remitting quarter and the exact number of 

passengers, flights, or spaces contracted for. 

Please send your quarterly report by either email to ABShelpline@usda.gov (preferred) or fax by fax to (612) 336‐3563.

PAYMENT PROCEDURES

Both international air passenger and commercial user fees must be received within 31 days following the end of each calendar quarter 

for which the fees were assessed. Our payment schedule is as follows:  

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/

Information on USDA APHIS User Fees 

The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, as amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, authorized 

the USDA, APHIS, to establish user fees for agricultural quarantine and inspection services provided in connection with the arrival of 

international air passengers and commercial aircraft at a port in the customs territory of the United States, or the pre‐clearance or pre‐

inspection at a site outside the customs territory of the United States.  APHIS is also authorized to assess interest, penalties, and 

administrative costs for late payment of user fees. 

The Code of Federal Regulations can be accessed at the following website: 

Browse: Title 7 – Agriculture, click Go.  Browse Parts: 300‐399.  Scroll down to Part 354, Select 354.3.  Section (a) gives the definition and 

Section (e) pertains to the aircraft clearance fees and Section (f) refers to passenger user fees. 

December 1, 2022 through Current

December 28, 2015 through Current

APHIS user fee regulations require all companies issuing tickets or travel documents on or after May 13, 1991, to collect the APHIS 

international air passenger user fee for all passengers transported into the customs territory of the United States.  When APHIS user fees 

are collected from international passengers, they must be accounted for separately and held in trust until such time as they are 

voluntarily remitted.

Effective February 9, 1992, a user fee was assessed to every commercial aircraft entering the customs territory of the United States, and 

for any subsequent stop in the United States until the flight terminates at its final destination.  Each airline must voluntarily remit to 

APHIS the appropriate commercial aircraft fee.

Effective Date Aircraft Rate

$225.00
AQI REMITTANCE ADVICE 

Make payable to “USDA APHIS”. Checks drawn from a foreign bank must say “Payable in US Dollars”. 

Mail your payment to:  For Overnight Payments:

USDA, APHIS, AQI  US Bank

PO BOX 979044  Attn: Government Lockbox 979044

St. Louis, MO 63197‐9000  1005 Convention Plaza

St. Louis, Mo 63101

Contact Phone Number: 315‐425‐1818

Payments can be made at www.pay.gov.

Processed through Remittance Express by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. 

You will need the following information to remit a payment via ACH, if not using pay.gov:       

ABA:  051036706

Name on Account: USDA, MRP, APHIS 

Account Number:  540021

Processed through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 

You will need the following information to remit a payment via ACH, if not using pay.gov:       

ABA:  021030004

Name on Account: USDA, APHIS 

Account Number:  12403400

LATE PAYMENTS

AUDITS

Yearly audits are conducted to make sure all User Fees are paid as required by Federal Regulation.  If during this audit it is determined  

that a company has not paid as required there will be interest and penalty added to the amounts owing going back to when they were

first due.

EXEMPTIONS

Page 3 of 4

For step‐by‐step Pay.gov instructions please ask your Debt Management Specialist at: ABShelpline@usda.gov.

The remittance advice included on your payment(s) is crucial to ensuring the proper posting of your payment. For AQI payments, please 

include your account number and the quarter and year for which you are paying (ex. Acct 3214567 Qtr 1 Yr 2017).

DO NOT USE THE BANK SWIFT CODE for any Wire Transfers.  This may cause your payment to be rejected.

Must be sent through a US correspondent bank (i.e. third party or intermediary bank) before going to the Federal Reserve Bank of 

New York. The US correspondent bank information should be in bold.

Check or Money Order

Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal or ACH

Bank ACH

Wire Transfers

International Wire Transfers

As directed by regulation 31 USC, Section 3717, interest and penalties will be assessed on delinquent debts. The Department of Treasury 

establishes the rate of interest to be charged. An additional 6% per annum penalty will be charged for payments more than 90 days past 

due and additional administrative charges may be assessed to cover the cost of collecting this debt .

The following exemptions can be found in Federal Regulation.  There are different exemptions that apply to each user fee type, and an 

exemption from one type does not automatically signify an exemption from the other type.  To be exempt from both passenger and 

aircraft clearance fees, a carrier must satisfy separate passenger and aircraft clearance exemptions.   There also may be instances where 

there are exemptions that happen on some flights or for some passengers and not others.
(i)

(ii)

(iv)

(vi)

(vii)

(viii)

(ii)

(iv)

PROGRAM CONTACT

Passengers arriving on an aircraft due to emergency/forced landing when the original destination of the aircraft was a foreign port

If you have any further questions on AQI User Fees please contact us at ABSHelpline@usda.gov.

Any aircraft making an in transit stop at a port of entry, during which the aircraft does not proceed through any portion of the 

Federal clearance process, such as inspection or clearance by APHIS or the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, no cargo is 

removed from or placed on the aircraft, no passengers get on or off the aircraft, no crew members get on or off the aircraft, no food 

is placed on the aircraft, and no garbage is removed from the aircraft. 

Page 4 of 4

Passengers arriving on any commercial aircraft used exclusively in the governmental service of the United States or a foreign 

government, including any agency or political subdivision of the United States or a foreign government, so long as the aircraft is not 

carrying persons or merchandise for commercial purposes. Passengers on commercial aircraft under contract to the United States 

Department of Defense (DOD) are exempted if they have been precleared abroad under the joint DOD/APHIS Military Inspection 

Program

Passengers moving from the United States Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico

Any aircraft moving from the United States Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico

Any aircraft making an emergency or forced landing when the original destination of the aircraft was a foreign port

COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT EXEMPTIONS

Any aircraft used exclusively in the governmental services of  the United States or a foreign government, including any Agency or 

political subdivision of the United States or a foreign government, as long as the aircraft is not carrying persons or merchandise for 

commercial purposes

Any passenger aircraft with 64 or fewer seats, which is not carrying the following cargo: Fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, plants, 

unprocessed plant products, cotton or covers, sugarcane, or fresh or processed meats; and which does not offer meal service other 

than beverages and repackaged snacks that do not contain meats derived from ruminants, swine, or poultry or fresh fruits and fresh 

vegetables. Aircraft exempt from the user fee under this paragraph would still be subject to the garbage handling requirements 

found in Sec. 330.400 of this chapter and 9 CFR 94.5

(v)

PASSENGER EXEMPTIONS

Crew members who are on duty on a commercial aircraft

Airline employees, including “deadheading” crew members, who are traveling on official airline business

(iii)

(i)

(iii)

(v)

Passengers departing and returning to the United States without having touched a foreign port

(vii) Passengers transiting the United States and not subject to inspection

Diplomats, except for United States diplomats, who can show that their names appear on the accreditation listing maintained by 

the United States Department of State. In lieu of the accreditation listing, an individual diplomat may present appropriate proof of 

diplomatic status to include possession of a diplomatic passport or visa, or diplomatic identification card issued by a foreign 

government
Company Name

Address

Company Contact

Telephone Number

AQI User Fee Type

APHIS Account 

Number Amount Due

Aircraft Landing x =

 Aircraft Passenger * x =

 Cruise Ship Passenger * x =

Treatment x =

AQI User Fee Type

APHIS Account 

Number

Aircraft Landing 

Aircraft Passenger

Cruise Ship Passenger

Treatment 

Additional information to disclose:

 AQI Reporting Quarters

Quarter

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

Signature: Date:

October, November, December January 31st

* Companies are not authorized to keep any overpayments of fees collected from customers. If you find that you have over collected the fees your choices are to

refund the customers the overages or to submit the overages to us in your payment.

If you are reporting ACTIVITY for the above quarter complete the line for all AQI User Fees you had activity for.

Count of AQI User 

Fees for the Quarter

AQI User Fee 

Amount

Total US Dollars Remitted:

If you are reporting NO ACTIVITY for the above quarter complete the line for all AQI User Fees you had no activity for.

I certify our company 

had no activity

I certify that our company had activity 

but is exempt according to the 

exemptions in 7CFR354.3

E-Mail Address

You can complete and return this remittance as required to do so by Federal Regulations by:

Payments can be made by check, money order, credit card, bank ACH or wire transfer.

Please see the next page for more information how to make the quarterly payment of your AQI User Fees.

If you have any further questions on AQI User Fees please contact us at ABSHelpline@usda.gov.

January, February, March May 1st

April, May, June July 31st

July, August, September October 31st

Months Covered Due Date

$3.83

$1.68

$237.00

$225.00

1) Email : ABSHelpline@usda.gov (preferred) OR 

2) eFax : (612) 336-3563

Calendar Quarter & Year

United States Department of 

Agriculture

Marketing and Regulatory 

Programs

Financial 

Management 

Division

Debt Management Team 

Minneapolis, Mn 55403

APHIS - AQI - Quarterly Remittance Worksheet