New Delhi: A proposal that allows passengers travelling from India to the US to complete their immigration and customs formalities in New Delhi or Mumbai is to be discussed between the two countries when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the US later this month. While the facility will spare passengers time and trouble when they arrive in the US, it could also help the Delhi and Mumbai airports develop as hubs. Currently, the pre-clearance facility for travel to US is offered in a handful of countries: Ireland, Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas and most recently Abu Dhabi.
The civil aviation ministry has written to the ministry of external affairs which, in turn, will take up the matter with the US authorities, sources familiar with the development said. The immigration checks would be carried out by US Customs and Border Protection officials and aviation experts believe the facility might encourage international airlines from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore to fly to the US via India. Approximately 1 million Indians travel to the US each year.
“We want to offer the Mumbai and Delhi airports to the US border agencies for setting up an offshore immigration centre since it helps both countries given the large number of travellers. Talks are on but things will move only after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) upgrades our air safety rating, which we expect will happen by September-October,” a civil aviation ministry official said.
03/09/14 RRoudra Bhattacharya , HumaSiddiqui/Financial Express
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The civil aviation ministry has written to the ministry of external affairs which, in turn, will take up the matter with the US authorities, sources familiar with the development said. The immigration checks would be carried out by US Customs and Border Protection officials and aviation experts believe the facility might encourage international airlines from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore to fly to the US via India. Approximately 1 million Indians travel to the US each year.
“We want to offer the Mumbai and Delhi airports to the US border agencies for setting up an offshore immigration centre since it helps both countries given the large number of travellers. Talks are on but things will move only after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) upgrades our air safety rating, which we expect will happen by September-October,” a civil aviation ministry official said.
03/09/14 RRoudra Bhattacharya , HumaSiddiqui/Financial Express
