Air travel has made the world a smaller place, but also a more complicated one. It’s great that we can eat breakfast in New York and be in London in time for tea, but with added access comes added security concerns and the endless miles of red tape that come with it. For frequent international travelers, this was simply a part of the process that couldn’t be avoided: a necessary evil. But new and expanded programs allow for simpler immigration procedures for trusted travelers.
Global Entry is a program that allows frequent, trusted international travelers to bypass standard immigration procedures. By passing a pre-screening process, travelers will be able to enter the country far more quickly through an automated kiosk.
Interested? To sign up for Global Entry, travelers need to file an application with US Customs and Border Protection. The application process includes an interview, background check, and $100 fee. But once you’ve been approved, entry is as simple as a fingerprint-scan and a swipe of your passport.
The program debuted as a program called INPASS during the late 90’s and early 2000’s with a focus on collaboration with similar programs in Canada and Europe. The program required a traveler handprint and was only available out of New York’s JFK airport, though it later expanded to LA, Miami, Atlanta, and Chicago.
The newer Global Entry program eases the customs process at a number of new airports and has far more partner countries. Twenty-two airports in the US and Canada(with US pre-clearance) now use Global Entry including most major hub cities:
- Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
- Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston (IAH)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- San Juan-Luis Múñoz Marin International Airport (SJU)
- Toronto Canada Pearson Airport (US pre-clearance) (YYZ)
- Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport-SeaTac (SEA)
- Vancouver Canada (US pre-clearance) (YVR)
- Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Need to get through even faster? Global Entry is integrated with the TSA’s Expedited Screening Pilot program. As of October 4th, 2011 all members of Global Entry are eligible for the program which eases security on US citizens who travel frequently. Participants will be allowed to keep their shoes on, keep laptops in their bags, keep their belts on and other reprieves of typical TSA security procedures. Participation is only available through American and Delta Airlines at the following airports:
- Harrison-Jackson Atlanta (Delta)
- Dallas/Ft. Worth (American)
- Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (Delta)
- LAX (American)
- McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas (American and Delta)
- Miami International (American)
- Minneapolis St. Paul International (Delta)
