United States Customs and Border Protection announced yesterday the addition of Global Entry kiosks to the Nassau Preclearance facility at Lynden Pindling International Airport.
Global Entry, a CBP trusted traveler program, provides expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers and currently accounts for an average of 9 percent of all international air arrivals.
“CBP is pleased to expand the Global Entry program to Nassau,” said Robert Allen Smith, area port director for CBP Nassau Preclearance. “Global Entry is quick, easy and efficient for travelers and allows CBP officers to focus on travelers they know less about prior to reaching the United States.”
Global Entry members bypass the traditional CBP inspection lines and use an automated kiosk to complete their admission to the United States. Travelers scan their passport and fingerprints, answer customs declaration questions using the kiosk’s touch screen and proceed with a receipt to the exit. The whole process takes only about one minute.
With the addition of the Nassau Preclearance facility, Global Entry kiosks are now located in 42 U.S airports and 13 Preclearance airports. These locations serve 99 percent of incoming travelers to the United States.
Global Entry members also receive the added benefit of being pre-eligible to participate in TSAPre✓™, the Transportation Security Administration’s expedited screening program.
More than 2 million members are enrolled directly in Global Entry with more than 3.3 million trusted travelers with Global Entry benefits. The kiosks have been used more than 14 million times since the program began.
U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents may apply for Global Entry, as well as citizens of certain countries with which CBP has reciprocal agreements, including Mexico, the Netherlands, Germany, Panama and the Republic of Korea.
Canadian citizens and residents enrolled in NEXUS may also use Global Entry. Persons under the age of 18 who meet the general eligibility criteria and have the consent of a parent or legal guardian are eligible to participate in Global Entry as well.
Interested individuals may apply online at CBP’s Global Online Enrollment System.
Applicants must possess a machine-readable U.S. passport or permanent resident card, pay a non-refundable $100 application fee, undergo a background investigation with fingerprint check, and complete an in-person interview with a CBP officer at one of the 89 Trusted Traveler enrollment centers. Global Entry membership is good for five years.
CBP Preclearance operations allow for advance inspection of passengers and special coordination with law enforcement upon arrival in the United States.
Through preclearance, the same immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections of international air passengers performed on arrival in the United States are instead completed before departure at foreign airports.
When pre-cleared passengers arrive in the United States, they can use domestic terminals and/or connect to a domestic flight without further processing. Currently, preclearance operations exist at 15 foreign airports in six different countries, benefitting air passengers, airports, and air carriers, in the United States and abroad.
Global Entry is part of a comprehensive strategy to optimize CBP’s current resources. CBP continues to explore automation, innovation, sustainable initiatives and trusted traveler programs to streamline the traveler inspection process.
Automated Passport Control kiosks are located in 34 airports and last August, CBP rolled out Mobile Passport Control at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and has since expanded it to travelers arriving at Miami International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
CBP has enrolled more than 3.5 million travelers in trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, NEXUSand SENTRI.
These programs allow CBP officers to process travelers safely and efficiently while enhancing security and reducing operational costs.
