US India one stop security check
 

US has proposed a one stop security check with India. Let’s see how long it takes to implement (if India is interested).


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...le68335774.ece

I'm assuming they are talking about pre-clearance as without that there is no way this can work in US. I've never been a fan of pre-clearance - specially the one in AUH. Over the years, I've had some nasty wait times to clear immigration in US but overall I'd still take that over the AUH pre-clearance experience. I can see though that it may benefit people on visa's and older folks who may find it easier to be done with all paperwork in India itself. Also, IIRC, the host country pays for the US CBP staff!

Erm... pardon the question but how is this supposed to work? It has to be in combination with pre clearance where you will do US immigration & customs in India. Otherwise you get in contact with your baggage on arrival in the US and the security has to be done all over.

Preclearance in India is a non starter. There is a reason why only AUH and DUB have preclearance facilities... big can of worms.

I don't see this working at all at the moment. Time will tell but India just doesn't seem to want to have the infrastructure in place to do this right now.

My experience with pre-clearance has not been good. You get cut off from most facilities (lounges, restaurants, shopping, etc) at the departure airport and are restricted to a small and often crowded area reserved for the US-bound crowd. I found it quite boring, made worse by flight delays. Just get Global Entry and immigration/customs in the USA will be a breeze. :)

he fundamental problem with US pre clearance is that you are bringing in foreign officers who make decisions in your sovereign territory. This in turn brings about a number of jurisdictional issues which is the main reason why no European country other that Ireland wants to implement US pre clearance.

There's a big difference in aligning security standards and immigration pre-clearance.

Security, honestly, I think in India has long been much more thorough than most Western countries. I see no reason for someone flying CDG-BOM-AMD to be re-screened at BOM. Or - worse - for someone flying AMD-BOM-CDG to be re-screened at BOM. I suppose it's a question of signing agreements and whatever, plus out governmental paranoia. I mean do you trust your own exaggerated CISF security that little that one can't even fly within the country without being screened at every possible step?

I can fly to from and through several countries with just once security check at the point of origin. But can't do a simple connection within India without screening at the connection point.

I believe this initiative is for that - which I'm all for.

When it comes to immigration pre-clearance, it's a different story completely. There are situations where it makes sense (Canada-USA, UAE-India) and many where it does not ) UAE-USA, India-Anywhere. When there are many flights from a few places in one country to several cities in another country (like Mexico-USA, or UAE-India, it makes sense). Enables flights to places in the destination country without the need to convert a little airstrip into an international airport and alleviates queues at arrival immigration.

None of this article makes any sense. A "security check" is when they make sure you are not carrying weapons. Are they proposing that flights from India will land in the domestic airside area of US airports, so that passengers can go to their connecting flights without further security (x-ray/body scans/etc)?
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Even if the article's author had any clue what they were writing about, I don't see how this could ever work.

First, whether the U.S. trusts foreign security screening is normally irrelevant since all non-preclearance passengers have access to all the sharp and liquid things in their checked luggage while clearing customs.

Second, India doesn't even trust its own security screening. I can fly GJT-DEN-ORD-AMS-HEL-RIX without ever reclearing security, but HYD-DEL-IXC requires reclearing security in Delhi. Also, TSA allows scary stuff like small pliers and cigarette lighters on flights, so I don't see the Indian authorities signing off on that. Don't tell them about how security at HEL let me through with a Swiss Army knife and a bottle of booze.

OSS is not about preclearance.
Basically, US-India-Other countries traffic will not have to re-clear security during their transit in India.
It is pretty easy to implement - when one gets off the plane, those with international connections go up to the boarding lounge and people entering the county follow the normal route to immigration.
As Indian airports are general pretty anal about ITI transit I'm not quite sure this will ever be seriously considered.

The reason for the 'anal' behaviour during international transit is some bad experiences of the immigration authorities of people misusing the system. Back in the day when DC10/B747/etc had limited range it was 'normal' for longhaul aircraft flying between SE Asia and Europe to make a stop in CCU/DEL/BOM and all pax deplaning directly into the concourse.

The GoI want AI to develop BOM/DEL into a hub and allow for quick connections. Clean security arrivals are usually reciprocal so India expects the EU & US to recognize the CISF security procedures as equivalent.... ;)

Agree, this article makes no sense. International arrivals into the US would need to undergo immigration at a minimum, and also customs unless the final destination airport also had customs facilities (which would then require the international bags to be segregated upon arrival at the first US location, and then be kept separated until the final destination), which is simply not happening. And if you clear customs upon arrival at the first location, then security check would be required since you've had access to checked bags.

If this is truly about ITI in India, that is totally different than what the article is talking about. Many countries have ITI, I suppose that is certainly feasible at BOM or DEL.