Your long international flight is finally over and you make your way out of the airplane, excited to be on U.S. soil and glad to be able to stretch your legs. You follow the corridors before eventually ending up in the arrivals hall where passengers are processed by immigration. Your initial excitement quickly dissipates as you look at the long lines and dutifully take your place at the back of them.
But what if you could skip those lines? What if you could walk right past everyone else, get your bags and go? Well, now you can thanks to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) new program called Global Entry.
Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the U.S. There are no processing lines and no paperwork to complete. Plus, participants get access to expedited entry benefits in other countries.
Program participants simply go to a Global Entry kiosk in the airport’s arrivals area. There they swipe their U.S. passport, place their fingertips on a scanner for fingerprint verification, and fill out the on-screen customs declaration. The kiosk issues a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.
While the program is designed for frequent international travelers, there is no minimum number of trips required to participate. Applicants “undergo a rigorous background check and interview before enrollment,” according to the CBP. There are several things that can disqualify an applicant for eligibility, including being convicted of any criminal offense.
There is a $100 non-refundable application fee. The application can be completed online, but the interviews must be done in person at a Global Entry enrollment center. There is an enrollment center at each airport that participates in the program.
Global Entry kiosks are currently available at 21 airports nationwide, including Boston, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Ft. Worth, LAX, JFK, Washington-Dulles, Miami, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and more. Visit http://www.globalentry.gov/ for more information.