Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC™)
Update as of November 5: On Oct. 21, the government facility that houses the TWIC system experienced a building-wide power outage. Though power was quickly restored, the part of the system that facilitates card activations was affected. TWIC program enrollment and pre-enrollments are still available nationwide, and we encourage workers to enroll for your TWIC.
Activations have been resumed for workers in the Oct. 15 compliance grouping (Captain of the Port Zones Northern New England, Boston, and Southeastern New England) (click here). Effective immediately (Nov. 5), walk-ins for activations are available at the Nov. 28 and Dec. 1 compliance ports. (click here). Appointments at the Nov. 28 and Dec. 1 compliance date ports will be available Monday, Nov. 10.
Additionally, activation appointments and walk-ins will be available at enrollment centers within the December 30 compliance group (Captain of the Port Zones Baltimore, Delaware Bay, Mobile, Pittsburgh, Ohio Valley, Lower Mississippi River and San Diego) beginning Monday, Nov.10, 2008. Activations for all other ports will be available nationwide later in November.
Note: As a result of rescheduling activations, the compliance date for workers located in the Captain of the Port Zones Buffalo, Detroit, Lake Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie and Duluth (click here for specific ports) has been moved from Oct. 31 to Dec. 1, 2008.
We will provide updates with more information as it becomes available on our Web site, as well as through our help desk, 1-866-DHS-TWIC.
Click here for activation system Q & AsGeneral
Transportation Security Administration
TSA-36 OSC Privacy
Transportation Security Administration
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 22202-4220
Transportation Security Administration
TSA-20 OSC Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Transportation Security Administration
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 22202-4220
Rulemaking
Activation and Enforcement Change Q & As
While we work to resolve this issue, workers nationwide will not be able to activate their cards until Nov. 3. At that time, workers in New England ports (click here) already in compliance will be able to activate their cards. By the week of Nov. 10, activation appointments will be available for workers at ports going into compliance Nov. 28 and Dec. 1 (click here). Activations for all other ports will be available nationwide later in November.
Effective immediately (Nov. 5) walk-in activations are be available for workers at ports going into compliance Nov. 28 and Dec. 1. Appointments for activations will resume on Monday, Nov. 10. These enrollment centers include:
Activations for all other ports will be available nationwide later in November.
We are still able to offer services to all those who need to enroll and pre-enroll. Continue to monitor the Web site, www.tsa.gov/twic, for updates and/or call the help desk at 1-866-DHS-TWIC.
General
(1) Department of State - Certificate of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350);
(2) Department of State - Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240); or
(3) U.S. Passport.
Disqualification
Part A – Permanent Disqualifying Offenses
Conviction for one of the following felonies is disqualifying regardless of when it occurred, and the applicant is not eligible for a waiver.
- Espionage or conspiracy to commit espionage.
- Sedition, or conspiracy to commit sedition.
- Treason, or conspiracy to commit treason.
- A federal crime of terrorism as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2332b(g), or comparable State law, or conspiracy to commit such crime.
Conviction for one of the following felonies is disqualifying regardless of when it occurred, and the applicant may apply for a waiver.
- A crime involving a transportation security incident. A transportation security incident is a security incident resulting in a significant loss of life, environmental damage, transportation system disruption, or economic disruption in a particular area, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 70101. The term "economic disruption" does not include a work stoppage or other employee-related action not related to terrorism and resulting from an employer-employee dispute.
- Improper transportation of a hazardous material under 49 U.S.C. 5124, or a State law that is comparable.
- Unlawful possession, use, sale, distribution, manufacture, purchase, receipt, transfer, shipping, transporting, import, export, storage of, or dealing in an explosive or explosive device. An explosive or explosive device includes an explosive or explosive material as defined in 18 U.S.C. 232(5), 841(c) through 841(f), and 844(j); and a destructive device, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(4) and 26 U.S.C. 5845(f).
- Murder.
- Making any threat, or maliciously conveying false information knowing the same to be false, concerning the deliverance, placement, or detonation of an explosive or other lethal device in or against a place of public use, a state or government facility, a public transportations system, or an infrastructure facility.
- Violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. 1961, et seq., or a comparable State law, where one of the predicate acts found by a jury or admitted by the defendant, consists of one of the crimes listed in Column A.
- Attempt to commit the crimes in Part A, items 1 - 4.
- Conspiracy or attempt to commit the crimes in Part A, items 5 – 10.
Part B – Interim Disqualifying Offenses
Conviction for one of the following felonies is disqualifying if the applicant was convicted, pled guilty (including 'no contest'), or found not guilty by reason of insanity within 7 years of the date of the TWIC application; OR if the applicant was released from prison after conviction within 5 years of the date of the application. The applicant may apply for a waiver.
- Unlawful possession, use, sale, manufacture, purchase, distribution, receipt, transfer, shipping, transporting, delivery, import, export of, or dealing in a firearm or other weapon. A firearm or other weapon includes, but is not limited to, firearms as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3) or 26 U.S.C. 5 845(a), or items contained on the U.S. Munitions Import List at 27 CFR 447.21.
- Extortion.
- Dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation, including identity fraud and money laundering where the money laundering is related to a crime described in Columns A or B. Welfare fraud and passing bad checks do not constitute dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation for purposes of this paragraph.
- Bribery.
- Smuggling.
- Immigration violations.
- Distribution of, possession with intent to distribute, or
importation of a controlled substance.- Arson.
- Kidnapping or hostage taking.
- Rape or aggravated sexual abuse.
- Assault with intent to kill.
- Robbery.
- Fraudulent entry into a seaport as described in 18 U.S.C.
1036, or a comparable State law.- Violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. 1961, et seq. , or a comparable State law, other than the violations listed in Part A, item 10- Conspiracy or attempt to commit felonies listed in Part B.
Waivers and Appeals
General
• Applicants can save time by pre-enrolling online or via phone (optional) • During pre-enrollment, applicants will: - Enter biographic information required for the security threat assessment - Make an appointment at the enrollment center • Pre-enrollment is available by clicking here |
• Applicants are required to bring identity documents to the enrollment center • Click here to access the latest listing of acceptable documents (to include those documents required to prove immigration status if not born in the U.S.). |
• Applicants must visit an enrollment center where they will: - Complete a TWIC Disclosure and Certification Form - Pay the enrollment fee - Provide biographic information (if applicant did not pre-enroll) and a complete set of fingerprints - Sit for a digital photograph |
• Applicants will be notified by email or phone, as specified during enrollment, when their TWIC is available at the enrollment center • Applicants must return to the center at which they enrolled to pick up their TWIC • TWICs will be issued to workers 3 – 4 weeks after enrollment • Applicants can check the status of their card and schedule a pick-up appointment by clicking here |
Required Documentation
Applicants are encouraged to complete the TWIC Disclosure and Certification Form and bring it with them to the enrollment center.
Payment
In all cases, payment will be made at the enrollment center at the beginning of the enrollment process.
Security Threat Assessment
Note: For those applicants seeking to pay the reduced fee, they must present their HME, FAST card, MMD, or MML (meeting the requirements outlined above) at the time of enrollment.
Card Issuance
Card Technology and Durability
General
October 15, 2008 |
Northern New England |
November 28, 2008 |
Corpus Christi |
December 01, 2008 |
Long Island Sound Buffalo Duluth Detroit Lake Michigan Sault Ste. Marie |
December 30, 2008 |
Baltimore |
January 13, 2009 |
Hampton Roads |
February 12, 2009 |
Honolulu |
February 28, 2009 |
Puget Sound Portland(OR) San Francisco Bay |
March 23, 2009 |
New York |
April 14, 2009 |
Guam Houston/Galveston Los Angeles/Long Beach San Juan Port Arthur |
General
Members of TSA and the Coast Guard will continue to meet with unions, associations and other industry stakeholder groups to provide updates on the status of the program and will update materials on the TSA and USCG web sites. Small entity guides for TWIC applicants and owners/operators are available here. The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) is also available. The majority of stakeholder outreach efforts supporting the deployment of the program will be coordinated and carried-out by TSA's contractor, Lockheed Martin.
The following responses are to questions submitted to TSA and the U.S. Coast Guard by the International Biometric Industry Association (IBIA). These questions and responses are specific to the November 19, 2007 public meeting to discuss the TWIC reader hardware and card application specification.
Estimate of Number of TWIC Readers
Feature Extractor Used to Store Reference Fingerprint Minutiae Templates
Pre-Pilot Reader Test and Certification
Pilot Test
Section 4.2.1.2 - 4th and 6th bullets
Reference Sections 5.1.4, 5.1.4.1, and 5.1.4.2
Reference Section 8 - Last Paragraph
Reference Section 11.1
Reference Appendix A.2 - 8) b)
Reference Appendix A.3
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