How are Foreign Nationals Vetted for PreCheck?
Oct 5, 2017, 8:03 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 468
The people ponying up the $$ for pre-check are likely the ones who are here long-term. So it's not a complete shocker.
Oct 5, 2017, 8:21 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Are you talking about people who have paid for Pre or are being given it gratis? GUWonder mentioned a few months ago that she knew of foreign nationals who were getting it without enrolling.
Oct 5, 2017, 8:27 am
#18
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I did indeed say that, but I've been seeing this happen less in recent months than several months ago and earlier.
Oct 5, 2017, 8:29 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Aussie in ORD
Programs: Marriott Plat, Ua Gold, GE.. Sucker for punishment
Posts: 4,237
No idea but as a FN H-1B holder with UA*G status I lucked out probably 1/10 times for pre..
As soon as I had LPR I applied for GE.
I will point out, as a visa holder working at a national lab I was already very thoroughly vetted
As soon as I had LPR I applied for GE.
I will point out, as a visa holder working at a national lab I was already very thoroughly vetted
Oct 5, 2017, 10:03 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,717
Responding to the OP, the key response is that the myth being propagated that info sharing within the US is strong and that the outside world is just a scary collection of savage hostile territories is simply inaccurate.
In particular, the federal security agencies will have a lot closer relationships with many non-US national security agencies than they will do with state or local authorities.
In particular, the federal security agencies will have a lot closer relationships with many non-US national security agencies than they will do with state or local authorities.
Oct 5, 2017, 8:20 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YQR
Programs: NEXUS; alas, no status anymore.
Posts: 1,181
I suspect a lot of the Pre foreigners have trusted traveler status. I'm Canadian and I get Pre, by virtue of having NEXUS. (i.e. I have been vetted.)
NEXUS is rather a bargain: you get NEXUS, Global Entry, SENTRI and TSA Pre for only $50/5 years. The only down side is that you have to be interviewed at or near the Canadian border, or at a Canadian airport with a NEXUS centre.
NEXUS is rather a bargain: you get NEXUS, Global Entry, SENTRI and TSA Pre for only $50/5 years. The only down side is that you have to be interviewed at or near the Canadian border, or at a Canadian airport with a NEXUS centre.
Oct 7, 2017, 7:45 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: UA S, Marriott P
Posts: 1,154
I've recently sent off my in-laws back home. They are the very definition of non-frequent traveller. Guest visa holders. Tickets were bought one-way each way. Credit card used - not in their name.
Imagine my surprise when both of them got a precheck on their tickets... Randomness?
Imagine my surprise when both of them got a precheck on their tickets... Randomness?
Oct 7, 2017, 8:37 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
I've recently sent off my in-laws back home. They are the very definition of non-frequent traveller. Guest visa holders. Tickets were bought one-way each way. Credit card used - not in their name.
Imagine my surprise when both of them got a precheck on their tickets... Randomness?
Imagine my surprise when both of them got a precheck on their tickets... Randomness?
(And they still Jekyll-and-Hyde my wife: On US-bound flights she's liable to get SSSSed.)
Oct 7, 2017, 10:38 pm
#24
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Yeah. Some of her relatives came to visit. B2 visa, two of them had never set foot in the USA before, none spoke meaningful English. We took a side trip, booked entirely on my credit card so the names didn't match but I was one of the passengers. We were 5 for 5 on pre-check. Age seems to be a big factor--my wife usually got pre-check, since I turned 50 I've been 100% on pre-check if the departure is early enough in the morning.
(And they still Jekyll-and-Hyde my wife: On US-bound flights she's liable to get SSSSed.)
(And they still Jekyll-and-Hyde my wife: On US-bound flights she's liable to get SSSSed.)
Oct 9, 2017, 7:58 pm
#25
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
It's been a long time since she's been on a flight that I haven't also been on--and I never get SSSSed. They are picking on her for some reason--but it must be a nonsense reason because they usually give her pre-check outbound.
Oct 9, 2017, 9:55 pm
#26
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Join Date: Apr 2017
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To the person who mentioned the Indian investigation process... I used to spend a lot of time in India. I recall just about anyone could be paid off for anything. I don't have much faith in the vetting process.
While we may be of the opinion that GE/PreCheck is just a fundraising effort, the stated purpose is to provide expedited clearance for low-risk travelers. Ostensibly this means DHS has an obligation to properly vet such travelers.
Oct 10, 2017, 1:48 am
#27
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The "foreign" name affiliation and the security contractors used.
Oct 10, 2017, 7:04 am
#28
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 106
I have no way of knowing whether the foreign nationals I've seen in PreCheck have gone through the application process and interview or have been given it for free. So I'm talking about both.
To the person who mentioned the Indian investigation process... I used to spend a lot of time in India. I recall just about anyone could be paid off for anything. I don't have much faith in the vetting process.
While we may be of the opinion that GE/PreCheck is just a fundraising effort, the stated purpose is to provide expedited clearance for low-risk travelers. Ostensibly this means DHS has an obligation to properly vet such travelers.
To the person who mentioned the Indian investigation process... I used to spend a lot of time in India. I recall just about anyone could be paid off for anything. I don't have much faith in the vetting process.
While we may be of the opinion that GE/PreCheck is just a fundraising effort, the stated purpose is to provide expedited clearance for low-risk travelers. Ostensibly this means DHS has an obligation to properly vet such travelers.
1) The long wait time for Global Entry is almost like harassment for genuine Indian travelers who pose no threat.
2) You don't know whom to pay off to expedite your background check, and there is no way for the you to follow up once you've applied for Indian leg of your background check.
It seems to me like the process simply weeds out Indians with less patience, like a lot of government offices in India.
Oct 10, 2017, 10:13 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
However, most of the time it's out of PVG (which makes the whole thing moot anyway, SSSS does nothing there) and most of the plane has foreign names. (Although she's probably rare in having a Chinese + German name--although it must have come from the 19th century or earlier.)
Dec 16, 2017, 7:27 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 106
I have no way of knowing whether the foreign nationals I've seen in PreCheck have gone through the application process and interview or have been given it for free. So I'm talking about both.
To the person who mentioned the Indian investigation process... I used to spend a lot of time in India. I recall just about anyone could be paid off for anything. I don't have much faith in the vetting process.
While we may be of the opinion that GE/PreCheck is just a fundraising effort, the stated purpose is to provide expedited clearance for low-risk travelers. Ostensibly this means DHS has an obligation to properly vet such travelers.
To the person who mentioned the Indian investigation process... I used to spend a lot of time in India. I recall just about anyone could be paid off for anything. I don't have much faith in the vetting process.
While we may be of the opinion that GE/PreCheck is just a fundraising effort, the stated purpose is to provide expedited clearance for low-risk travelers. Ostensibly this means DHS has an obligation to properly vet such travelers.
Also - it is the Indian government which insisted that all Indian nationals applying for Global Entry be vetted by the Indian government. This was not an original condition for Global Entry\TSA Pre application.