Global Entry Program Expansion

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the expansion of the Global Entry Program (GEP). This program facilitates entry to the United States for qualified, trusted travelers.

Background on Global Entry Program

Details regarding the permanent creation of the GEP were provided in our NewsBrief, Global Entry Program Made Permanent (24.Feb.2012). This program allows approved travelers to use a GEP kiosk when entering the United States, rather than having to wait in line for processing by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. This can be quite a relief for frequent travelers arriving after a long international flight. As explained in the article cited above, the program allows participation by U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Citizens of Mexico, the Netherlands, and Canada may also apply for this program, under certain restrictions.

GEP Kiosks More Widely Available

GEP is available at electronic kiosk stations in selected port-of-entry airports. The kiosks have document readers and can process digital fingerprints. They were initially available at the twenty U.S. airports that generally process the most international travelers. The list of airports and other details are available on the GEP WebSite.

GEP is slated to expand to four additional airports on or before September 22, 2012. The newly included airports are: St. Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, MN; Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, NC; Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Phoenix, AZ; and Denver International Airport, Denver, CO. The exact date of availability at each airport will be posted on the GEP WebSite.

Conclusion

The expansion of GEP is an indication of the overall success of the global entry program. It reduces the waiting time for low-risk travelers while allowing CBP resources to be focused on others entering the United States. As many MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers are international travelers who appreciate the opportunity to reduce the stress and processing involved in reentering the United States, we will provide timely updates on changes and additions to this program, when they are made available.

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