As of July 9 full legislation comes into full effect which seeks to prevent the entry of weapons or contraband into the United States.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
On November 25, 2008, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published the regulations for Importer Security Filing (ISF 10 +2) which requires importers and carriers to submit additional cargo information to the CBP before the goods are shipped to the U.S.
In major U.S. international airports delays at immigration and customs controls can last more than three hours.
"Authorities are warning of extreme delays in the next few months on entering the United States, after waits of over three hours were recorded in the second quarter, which is low season, at control points of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, or CBP" reported Laprensa.hn.
As of December 21 Delta Airlines will fly every Saturday non-stop between New York's JFK and Guatemala City.
The route will be operated by a Boeing 737-700 with capacity to carry 124 passengers.
According to the company's website, the flight's departure from New York is scheduled for 8:30 am, while from Guatemala City the flight will depart at 2:00 pm
Regulators in New York and El Salvador have signed a memorandum of understanding between their two jurisdictions.
It was signed by New York State Insurance Commissioner James J. Wrynn and Victor Antonio Ramirez, commissioner of the Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero de El Salvador (SSF).
The document establishes a formal basis for cooperation and coordination, including the exchange of information relevant to each authority’s supervisory and regulatory responsibilities.