3 days ago
What is preclearance? Everything to know about the 'US border' in Irish airports
Travelling to the US, regardless of who's in charge, can be a bit daunting due to border patrol.
The country's immigration and border patrol has made headlines in recent weeks, particularly due to reports that some people have been denied entry to the country over social media posts that are criticising the current administration — and even if that weren't the case, border patrol can be intimidating, regardless of how much of a law abiding citizen you are.
But for those who are nervous about heading stateside, particularly in this current political climate, there is a way to get cleared to enter the US (or get denied before you even step on the plane — which would save you a lot of time!): pre-clearance. Both Dublin and Shannon Airport have preclearance to the US. Pic: Getty
Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport both have pre-clearance to flights heading to the US, meaning that technically the border from Ireland to the US starts in the airport.
First introduced as a legal treaty in 1903 for ferry passengers who were heading to the states from Canada, pre-clearance was extended to air travel in the 1950s, with Dublin being the first airport outside of North America to receive this. The TSA checks will be in Ireland, and once approved you'll be able to board the quite easy to go through pre-clearance.
First off, you check in as normal with your airline and go through Dublin Airport security, and then when you're advised by the flight information screens, present yourself to US pre-clearance (just follow the American flags).
You must then present your boarding card to enter the pre-clearance area, and complete the TSA security screening (the American security screening). The TSA screening is different to regular screenings as follows: All footwear must be removed from those between the ages of 12 and 75
Jewellery and belts do NOT need to be removed
need to be removed Pockets do NOT need to be emptied
From there, you present your passport and boarding pass to a US pre-clearance officer for inspection. If you're approved, you just get on the plane as per usual, but if you're denied, you just go home. You won't be detained and you won't be in the US, you just won't be allowed on the plane. Convenient in that way, eh? You'll still need an ESTA to enter the US, with uncertainty surrounding immigration as a result of the new administration. Pic: Shutterstock
You must have an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation to the US (ESTA) filled out no later than 72 hours before your scheduled journey. This is required under the US Visa Waiver Programme and will allow or deny authorisation.
For $14 per person, this will authorise your journey to the US, and it is valid for two years. However, it won't guarantee your entry — it can still be denied for one reason or another.
While this has been in practice for decades, there's some uncertainty surrounding travel to the US from, well, anywhere, due to the uncertainty surrounding immigration from the Trump administration.
There are claims that Mr Trump will be 'escalating' its visa vetting process, with CBS News reporting that the US State Department were expecting to expand social media screening and vetting.
It is understood that people may be asked to set their social media accounts to public in the event that they need to be reviewed, but did not specify what type of content that they'd be looking for — although the US Citizenship and Immigration Services said that they'd be taking into account 'antisemitic activity on social media' as 'grounds for denying immigration benefit requests.
