The U.S. Homeland Security Department today proposed to make permanent its ongoing Global Entry pilot program, which expedites and automates the customs process for prescreened travelers entering the United States.
The pilot program, initially launched in June 2008 at three airports, has since expanded to include 20 major U.S. entry points, including airports in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Washington, D.C. Releasing the program from pilot mode would enable DHS to further expand the program. The proposal now undergoes a public comment period, ending Jan. 19, 2010.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency that operates the program, said Global Entry is available to travelers who pay a non-refundable $100 enrollment fee and undergo a background check to demonstrate clean criminal, customs and immigration records.
When arriving in the United States, Global Entry members can bypass lines for customs agents and scan their passport through an automated kiosk, where a photo is taken, declaration questions are fielded and the traveler is asked to submit fingerprints to be matched against those on file. CBP said the kiosk then prints a receipt, which the traveler must present to a CBP officer upon leaving the customs area.
"Global Entry expedites the customs and security process for trusted air travelers through biometric identification while helping DHS ensure the safety of all airline passengers," Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano said today in a statement. "Making Global Entry permanent will improve customer service at airports across the country and enable law enforcement to focus on higher-risk travelers."
Though the program is largely limited to U.S. citizens, DHS has made efforts to expand Global Entry to citizens of other countries through reciprocal agreements with other governments. Citizens of the Netherlands also may apply under a special arrangement that links Global Entry with the Privium program, while CBP expects Germany and the United Kingdom to join the fold, pending final agreements and implementation
(BTNonline, April 29).
DHS today said the pilot has grown to include more than 27,000 members, and through the program CBP has processed about 100,000 entries. DHS said the program "reduces average wait times by more than 70 percent, with more than 75 percent of travelers using Global Entry processed in under five minutes."