Difference in Background check for Clear and CBP Trusted Traveler Programs
 

I've seen a few posts talking about CBP's trusted traveler programs (GE, NEXUS, etc) and their strict requirements. But I can't seem to find anything about Clear (and similar programs). With the new TSA Trusted Traveler program starting, I'm wondering how the delta between the two programs will be merged? And will TSA startup their own program of vetting travelers (instead of relying on airline and CBP data)? Anyone have any ideas/thoughts?

Hopefully not by the numbers of complaints filed, or TSO's pi$$ed off or I will be in big trouble.

I think the only answer that can be given is "nobody knows". Or, at least, those who know aren't speaking publicly ...

Neither are trusted traveler programs. Both are cut to the front of the lines for a fee programs.

The CBP programs are actual trusted traveler programs, so I don't know what you are talking about.

I mean Clear and the proposed new system.

I guess that is TBD. If all it ends up being is a cut-in-line program, then sure, the background check is pointless; as everyone gets treated equally, and TSA can accept anyone. But, if TSA actually offers a reduction in the screening process, then there will need to be some sort of normalization between the "Clear background standard" and the "CBP background standard".

I believe that at one very early point, Clear had background checks, but I don't think they do now. It's my understanding that the idea of "trusted traveller" is to identify segments of the travelling public (e.g., very frequent fliers) that should be considered low risk by using information other than background checks. But that's based on my interpretation of all the various media stories and could well be wrong.

What kind of background checks could Clear actually perform? Were they able to query NCIS (or whatever the national criminal database is)... I know of two people with (albeit decades old) felony convictions that both were approved for Clear without any problem.

I guess my other question is exactly why does any felony automatically disqualify someone? There are a lot of things out there that are felonies that in no way, shape or form imply that someone is a terrorist wannabe. Just curious.

Oh. Got it.

Clear is certainly a paid pass to the front of the line and nothing more.

With respect to the new TSA pilot, it is neither paid (unless eligibility is based on a CBP TT membership) nor a pass to the front of the line. The reason it is not a pass to the front of the line is that access to expedited screening lanes is only granted at the TDC. Up until that point, a traveler eligible for expedited screening will be in the same lines as all other passengers.

As far as the expedited screening pilot being a trusted traveler program, it is sort of a hybrid. The primary component is essentially a risk analysis program being added to the SecureFlight process which will combine data from existing government databases with airline frequent flyer history and analyze it to determine if a traveler is a low risk. The parameters as to what the computer will consider a low risk traveler is obviously not public information.

The other way one can qualify for use of an expedited screening lane is though membership in a CBP TT program. It appears that membership in such a program is somewhat of an override of the risk analysis program and will grant expedited screening lane eligibility without any frequent flyer data. It also appears from reading between the lines that membership in one of these programs is an automatic grant of access to the expedited screening lane with the exception of random rejections to keep the bad guys guessing.

If the traveler is deemed to be low risk, SecureFlight sends a code back to the airline that the airline is supposed to put in the encrypted 2-D barcodes already on boarding passes. The passenger, of course, does not know if he has been selected for use of the expedited screening lane in advance (to keep the bad guys guessing). When the TDC scans the boarding pass, the traveler will be directed to the expedited screening lane—or not.

So, it is a risk analysis program where, reading between the lines, all trusted travelers are considered to be low risk. Like I said, a hybrid.

Originally, they sent the application information to TSA.

I'll reiterate the fact that Clear isn't a trusted traveler program. You are paying and providing biometrics simply to skip to the front of the line. No background check is run and you go through regular security.

I was looking around tsa.gov today and found something interesting: https://hraccess-assessment.tsa.dhs....quirements.pdf That PDF details the criminal and financial checks a TSO needs to pass. Now someone correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't CBP's Trusted Traveler Program have higher standards? (I.e. zero felonies (of any kind) and no misdemeanors in the last 10 years.) I find it (slightly) ironic that the people operating the screening equipment (that themselves don’t get screened on the way to work) have lower standards than the passengers they screen.

That would be NCIC.

It is unclear exactly what the TSA requirements for Clear were, but it was certainly not based on a backgound check in any traditional sense of the term. My best guess is that the only requirement for Clear was not having your name anywhere in the TSDB.

Yup.

CLEAR is now coming to SFO in Q-2 of 2012. As noted above, clear simply allows you to bypass the line up to the useless ID checker drone (which can vary depending on the checkpoint and TOD). It does not let you bypass the WTMD lines or the MMW or BKSW lines.

So fairly pointless for most elites though given the dysfunctionality at UA T-3 may be useful to UA elites @SFO if you could use the GS lane or equivalent.