by Lamar | November 18th, 2010
Tired of waiting in long lines to re-enter the U.S. after foreign travel? Well, you don’t have to do so any longer. You now have a faster choice. A new Global Entry program is in effect which rapidly speeds you through customs and out the door. The U.S. and the Netherlands is presently using this system and the goal is to develop it in the majority of the world’s nations. In the U.S. it can be used by both citizens and permanent residents.
Presently, in the 20 airports listed in the program directory as having Global Entry kiosks, world travelers can expect a much faster entry back into the U.S. When arriving, participants in the program go directly to a Global Entry kiosk. There they scan their machine-readable passport or permanent resident card, scan their fingerprints for verification, and make a customs declaration. The program participant then receives a transaction receipt from the kiosk and is directed to baggage claim and the exit.
The process removes most of the time spent in lines, but even Global Entry program participants are occasionally randomly selected for additional examination. A violation of the programs terms and conditions will result in revocation of a participant’s membership privileges and possible enforcement actions.
Participants must be pre-approved. They undergo a rigorous background check and a personal interview before being given membership in the program. If you have concerns about the detailed requirements: background checks, fingerprints, and an iris scan; maybe the program isn’t for you. Most of us have our personal information scattered all over the information highway anyway.
Most of the reasons for ineligibility are applicable to other programs as well: no false or incomplete application data, no criminal convictions, no previous custom’s violations, not be under state or federal investigation, inadmissible under U.S. immigration regulations, or be subject to any special federal registration programs.
The application process is simple.
- Fill out an online application and pay the $100.00 non-refundable application fee
- You will be contacted for a personal interview after the application is reviewed
- At the interview a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will question you, take your photo, scan your fingerprints and collect biometric data.
- Before approval, you will have to provide proper identification – passport, driver’s license for citizens or a permanent resident card if appropriate.
- If approved, you will immediately be put into the system and can begin to immediately use the kiosks at the 20 airports presently in service.
Though the program was designed for frequent travelers, there is no minimum number of trips necessary to qualify for the Global Entry program. Even if you only travel outside the country infrequently, it still may be worth your time and money to consider the program to avoid those long customs reentry lines
