Airport security in the USA

[Guest Traveller]

WJKK WJKF

Sangat ji,

I am planning to travel to New York for the first time and feeling quite anxious about airport security as I am a kesadhari Sikh who wears a dastar.

Would anyone be kind enough to offer any advice?

What should I expect in terms of security procedures etc?

Is there anything I can do to avoid the security staff from touching my dastar?

Thanks in advance

WJKK WJKF

[Guest singh]

check out this link. you can find the detailed security procedures that are followed at US airports for turban wearing sikhs

http://sikhcoalition.org/resources/air-travel

[nanosecond]

Nothing to worry about. The only thing is if you are flying out of New York( or any US airport) and if that is your first boarding point, you are very likely to be screened for your turban. Basically once you go through the security screening like any other passenger, the TSA passenger will ask you that they need to screen the turban. He will ask you if you want in private or in public. he would also offer you if you want to 'touch' your turban with your own hands and then touch your hands with a paper( which is then placed on a machine to detect chemical explosives) vs if you want him to do the same. I usually dont care of its in public and I do the the turban touching thing myself and swipe my hands on their paper. Usually this additional step takes < 30s.

If you are travelling into NY or any US airport and if this is your port of entry in US, then nothing major should be expected. At most, the visa officer at port of entry may refer you for special screening which is usually not based upon if you Turban wearing or not. That is more if your name is on their name of "hit list".

Overall, I wont worry too much about it, carry yourself with pride and confidence, nobody will bother you much.

[Guest NY Singh]

I live in New York, and I travel quite frequently. The most I have had to do is lightly pat down my own dastaar. They then swab your hands and then put it in a machine to check for any traces of explosives. That is all. It takes less than 5 minutes.

[SeekingTheLight]

I live in New York, and I travel quite frequently. The most I have had to do is lightly pat down my own dastaar. They then swab your hands and then put it in a machine to check for any traces of explosives. That is all. It takes less than 5 minutes.

yeah, its very quick and easy (so I've heard). My parents went two years ago and had no problems.

[Guest Guest]

Thank you all so much for such a rapid response. The advice above is more helpful than you'll ever know!.

My next hurdle will be driving in New York. Coming from England, I suspect it will be quite a challenge...!

WJKK WJKF

[Guest Traveller]

Not sure if my second post will appear, but I'd just like to say a huge thank you to all that replied :smile2:

WJKK WJKF

[nanosecond]

Yes driving in NYC is a mess. i try not to do it.

[Guest Traveller]

How bad can it be? Is it really that different to driving in London at peak time?