TWIC® Recurrent Vetting FAQ
TSA adjudicates recurrent vetting notifications by applying the same disqualifying factors and processes used to adjudicate the initial security threat assessment. Once TSA makes a determination of ineligibility based on recurrent vetting factors, the agency issues a preliminary determination of ineligibility to the TWIC® holder and allows the individual to appeal or apply for a waiver. If a final determination of ineligibility is made, TSA notifies the applicant and revokes the TWIC® card.
In some circ*mstances, an investigation may be needed, or the recurrent vetting may indicate that an applicant poses a serious or imminent threat. In such cases, TSA conducts investigations with DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations and other law enforcement agencies. When it’s determined a TWIC® applicant may pose an imminent threat, TSA can immediately suspend the applicant’s TWIC® card.
TWIC® recurrent vetting provides near real-time continuous monitoring of the eligibility status of approved TWIC® applicants for the length of the valid security threat assessment.
Since TWIC® was launched in 2007, TSA has conducted recurrent vetting of cardholders through the terrorist screening database and vetted individuals who may be wanted by police and/or who may have warrants out for their arrest via the National Crime Information Center.
In 2014, TSA expanded TWIC® security threat assessment recurrent vetting capabilities by enrolling TWIC® applicants in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT). IDENT is a system of databases that store and share biometric and biographical information, such as fingerprints and digital photographs, for more than 259 million individuals.
IDENT sends TSA a notification to indicate that information on a TWIC® holder was received via a biometric fingerprint match to an identity or individual in its database that may result in a TWIC® card being revoked. IDENT notifications include immigrant and non-immigrant benefit status changes, immigration enforcement activities, new arrests, arrest warrants and/or individuals who may be wanted by police, and terrorist watchlist communications which may indicate potential national security threats.
In fiscal year 2021, TSA will implement the FBI’s Next Generation Identification Rap Back for TWIC® holders. This program provides a subscription-based recurrent vetting service, allowing unsolicited notification of changes to a TWIC® applicant or cardholder’s criminal history records information.
When TSA decides to revoke a TWIC® card, the agency informs facility security officials via the TWIC® Canceled Card List and the Visual Canceled Card List. The two lists are publicly available (including only Federal Agency Smartcard Numbers (FASC-Ns) or Credential Identification Numbers (CINs); no personally identifiable information) and updated daily to display TWIC® cards that have been canceled, allowing facility and vessel operators to determine whether a presented TWIC® card is valid.
The presence of a TWIC® card on the Canceled Card List and/or Visual Canceled Card List cannot be used to infer derogatory information about the cardholder; it simply indicates the card is no longer valid. While the two lists include cards that are revoked after recurrent vetting, the lists also include cards that have been replaced because they are lost, stolen or damaged. TWIC® cards that are canceled cannot be removed from the two lists, and canceled cards should be returned to TSA.
