INS Pre-Inspection

Trial Program at Shannon International Airport Gao ID: GGD-87-71 April 30, 1987

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO evaluated: (1) the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) trial pre-inspection program at Shannon International Airport in Ireland; and (2) the program's effect on international airports in the United States. Under the program, INS examines travelers' documents before they board United-States-bound flights to determine their eligibility to enter the country.

GAO found that: (1) INS pre-inspected at least 109,175 travelers during the trial at Shannon; (2) a sample of pre-inspected passengers, participating airlines, and the Irish government favored pre-inspection; (3) since airlines did not adjust their schedules based on the pre-inspection program, U.S. airports were not affected; (4) INS paid about $351,000 in connection with the program, of which participating airlines reimbursed about $51,000; and (5) a special user fee for international travelers would cover the cost of a permanent pre-inspection program.



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