Capacity Building: Travel document fraud detection

Train the trainer

The BMG secured APEC TILF funding for capacity building and training in the detection of fraudulent travel documents for APEC economies. The efficient detection of fraudulent travel documents leads to greater border security and increases processing capacity, for business travellers at the border. Australia and Hong Kong (China) jointly conducted train-the-trainer workshops in Beijing on 19-21 February 2001. Officials from Brunei Darussalam (2), Indonesia (1), Russia (2), Thailand (2), and Vietnam (2) attended the workshop. The United States also attended as an observer. The US and Canada also conducted a train the trainer workshop in Glynco, USA, on 24-26 April 2001, that was attended by officials from, Chile (2), Mexico (4), and Singapore (5). Australia, Hong Kong (China) and Japan also participated as observers. APEC TILF Funding will also be used to purchase detection equipment for recipient APEC economies.

Training resources

Following the Glynco USA workshop in April 2001, document fraud experts from Australia, Hong Kong (China), Japan, and the USA developed a generic training package for document examination and fraud detection. Drawing on the expertise of all of these economies, the workshop compiled a standard set of training materials. These materials will form the basis of a complete training course in document fraud detection. In 2002 trainers from APEC economies received training in the use of the generic training package, at workshops held in Malaysia and the US. This will help establish a standardised and effective regime for the detection of fraudulent travel documents across the APEC region.

Standards for document fraud detection

Participants at the Glynco workshop which developed the generic training package also developed a draft standards paper, outlining standards required for an effective regime for the detection of fraudulent travel documents. This work builds on the original generic standards paper by applying its principles to a specific immigration program area. The document fraud standards paper developed at the workshop was endorsed by APEC economies at SOM III in Dalian, China on 17 August 2001. A copy of the document fraud standards paper may be viewed here.