The new ASIC rules that were introduced on 1 August have forced changes on every ASIC Issuing Body, and caused one–RAAus–to withdraw from the program.
Amongst the new regulations was the requirement for the Issuing Body to sight and verify the identify documents with the person applying in front of them. Although that means that approved people such as Justices of the Peace, police and pharmacists aren't involved in the process anymore, it also means that ASICs can't be processed purely by mail either.
As a consequence, ASIC Issuing Bodies such as AviationID Australia, Security ID Australia and CASA have had to establish agent networks around the country so that customers would have a way of getting their documents verified and receiving the ASIC.
CASA, for example, is saying they now have a network of over 70 agents around the country in locations as remote as Bourke, Roma and Christmas Island, as well as the capital cities and regional centres. Other Issuing Bodies have similar arrangements in place.
The process of getting an ASIC appears to be standardised across most issuing bodies thus:
- Collect all the information and copies of identity document as normal
- Nominate somewhere you would like to go to collect your ASIC
- Mail off the application and identity document copies to your Issuing Body
- When notified, take the originals of the identify documents to the agent you nominated for verification.
Once that is done, you will be able to collect your new ASIC and hand back the old one to the agent. However, if you don't produce the originals you won't be given your ASIC. This process may vary slightly with some Issuing Bodies, but that is the bones of what needs to be done.
However, some agents–which can include flying schools and aero clubs–may charge a fee for this service, which will see you pay more for your ASIC.
Most curiously, none of the Issuing Bodies Australia Flying checked have published the names of their agents in advance, including CASA. Explanations as to why this is so have proven elusive.
Have you used the new ASIC system yet? Tell us what you reckon in the comments section below.