(a) Filing Requirement
Except as provided in [Rule 1013](a)(2), all forms required to be filed by Article IV, Sections [1], [7], and [8], and Article V, Sections [2] and [3], of the FINRA By-Laws shall be filed through an electronic process or such other process FINRA may prescribe to the Central Registration Depository.
(b) Supervisory Requirements
(1) In order to comply with the supervisory procedures requirement in
Rule 3110, each member shall identify a registered principal(s) or corporate officer(s) who has a position of authority over registration functions, to be responsible for supervising the electronic filing of appropriate forms pursuant to this Rule.
(2) The registered principal(s) or corporate officer(s) who has or have the responsibility to review and approve the forms filed pursuant to this Rule shall be required to acknowledge, electronically, that he is filing this information on behalf of the member and the member's associated persons.
(c) Form U4 Filing Requirements
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this Rule, every initial and transfer electronic Form U4 filing and any amendments to the disclosure information on Form U4 shall be based on a signed Form U4 provided to the member or applicant for membership by the person on whose behalf the Form U4 is being filed. As part of the member's recordkeeping requirements, it shall retain the person's signed Form U4 or amendments to the disclosure information on Form U4 in accordance with SEA Rule 17a-4(e)(1) and make them available promptly upon regulatory request. An applicant for membership also shall retain in accordance with SEA Rule 17a-4(e)(1) every signed Form U4 it receives during the application process and make them available promptly upon regulatory request.
(2) A member may file electronically amendments to the disclosure information on Form U4 without obtaining the subject associated person's signature on the form, provided that the member shall use reasonable efforts to:
(A) provide the associated person with a copy of the amended disclosure information prior to filing; and
(B) obtain the associated person's written acknowledgment (which may be electronic) prior to filing that the information has been received and reviewed. As part of the member's recordkeeping requirements, the member shall retain this acknowledgment in accordance with SEA Rule 17a-4(e)(1) and make it available promptly upon regulatory request.
(3) In the event a member is not able to obtain an associated person's signature or written acknowledgement of amended disclosure information on Form U4 prior to filing of such information pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) or (2), the member is obligated to file the disclosure information as to which it has knowledge in accordance with [Article V, Section 2] of the FINRA By-Laws. The member shall use reasonable efforts to provide the associated person with a copy of the amended disclosure information that was filed.
(4) A member may file electronically amendments to administrative data on Form U4 without obtaining the subject associated person's signature on the form. The member shall use reasonable efforts to provide the associated person with a copy of the amended administrative information that was filed.
(d) Fingerprint Information
Upon filing an electronic Form U4 on behalf of a person applying for registration, a member shall promptly submit fingerprint information for that person. FINRA may make a registration effective pending receipt of the fingerprint information. If a member fails to submit the fingerprint information within 30 days after FINRA receives the electronic Form U4, the person's registration shall be deemed inactive. In such case, FINRA shall notify the member that the person must immediately cease all activities requiring registration and is prohibited from performing any duties and functioning in any capacity requiring registration. FINRA shall administratively terminate a registration that is inactive for a period of two years. A person whose registration is administratively terminated may reactivate the registration only by reapplying for registration and meeting the qualification requirements of the applicable provisions of the
Rules 1210 and 1220. Upon application and a showing of good cause, FINRA may extend the 30-day period.
(e) Form U5 Filing Requirements
Initial filings and amendments of Form U5 shall be submitted electronically. As part of the member's recordkeeping requirements, it shall retain such records for a period of not less than three years, the first two years in an easily accessible place, in accordance with SEA Rule 17a-4, and make such records available promptly upon regulatory request.
• • • Supplementary Material: --------------
.01 Delegation of Electronic Filing Functions. The designated registered principal(s) or corporate officer(s) required by paragraph (b)(1) to supervise the member's electronic filings may delegate to an associated person (who need not be registered) the electronic filing of the member's appropriate forms via Web CRD. The registered principal(s) or corporate officer(s) responsible for supervising the member's electronic filings may also delegate to the associated person making the electronic filings the requirement in paragraph (b)(2) to acknowledge, electronically, that he is making the filing on behalf of the member and the member's associated persons. However, the registered principal(s) or corporate officer(s) may not delegate any of the supervision, review, and approval responsibilities mandated in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) and shall take reasonable and appropriate action to ensure that all delegated electronic filing functions are properly executed and supervised.
.02 Third-Party Agreements. A member may enter into an agreement with a third party pursuant to which the third party agrees to file the required forms electronically on behalf of the member and the member's associated persons. Notwithstanding the existence of such an agreement, the member remains responsible for complying with the requirements of this Rule.
.03 Filing of Amendments Involving Disclosure Information. In the event a member is not able to obtain an associated person's signature or written acknowledgement of amended disclosure information on that person's Form U4 prior to filing of such amendment reflecting the information pursuant to paragraph (c)(3) of this Rule (examples of reasons why a member may not be able to obtain the signature or written acknowledgement may include, but are not limited to, the associated person refuses to acknowledge such information, is on active military service or otherwise is unavailable during the period provided for filing of such amendments under [Article V] of the FINRA By-Laws), the member shall enter "Representative Refused to Sign/Acknowledge" or "Representative Not Available" or a substantially similar entry in the electronic Form U4 field for the associated person's signature.
.04 Filing of Amendments Involving Administrative Information. For purposes of paragraph (c)(4) of the Rule, administrative data includes such items as the addition of state or self-regulatory organization registrations, exam scheduling, and updates to residential, business and personal history.