What kind of travel documents do spouses, reporters and guests need when traveling in and out of other countries on Air Force One? Do these civilians go through customs when they re-enter the USA? Baggage search? Body scanners? Everything I can find refers only to officials and their diplomatic passports. Thanks for any input…
Since no one has responded, I have not been on Air Force One but I have been on other US government aircraft. Passports, visas, and customs forms were all required. Processing as you flew into other countries was expedited, like nobody had to wait in line at some counter to get their passport stamped. But nobody was exempted from any of the process, it was just made easy.
ETA: But there were no metal detectors, frisking, taking shoes off, etc. So, forget all the TSA security check stuff, but all the other border checks was just the same, including our baggage being inspected by customs agents.
IIRC, an immigration official goes on the plane and checks passports, etc. That is why, when AF1 lands there is the long wait before anyone emerges.
Same thing when other high level diplomatic planes cross borders. I remember watching when Clinton brought back the two women from North Korea. The US immigration official entered the plane and checked everyone out. Meanwhile the press was filling time while the viewers were wondering what was taking so long.
When president Bush, Jr visited Sweden he had a large entourage of helpers, assistants, journalists, whatever with him. Each and everyone, except for the president, had to have a work permit to be allowed into the country and my sister-in-law signed them all.
I believe in most cases reporters travel on the backup plane, the other 747 that goes along on big trips such as overseas trips. Nat Geo channel did a show on Air Force one in 08 and they showed it again this week. It covered a Bush trip to Africa in 08. They also took along regular Air Force cargo planes to carry the limos and helicopters. One interesting thing was that the pilots and all other AF crew wore civilian clothes, not their AF uniforms. They said that is standard on overseas trips , they don’t want it to appear as if the military is sending a lot of people.
So does Obama have to fill out the same US customs form we do when entering the US?