U.S. Customs To Pilot International Registered Traveler Program

APRIL 14, 2008 -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection this summer plans to pilot a voluntary expedited entry process for U.S. travelers willing to pay a $100 application fee, submit to a background check and provide the government with biometric data. CBP on Friday said it would begin taking applications from U.S. citizens on May 12 and launch the Global Entry program on June 10 at New York's John F. Kennedy International, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental and Washington Dulles International airports.

CBP said it is working in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, with plans to "to foster close ties among Global Entry and other vetted populations, such as TSA's Registered Traveler Program, where appropriate." Those agencies also are seeking bilateral coordination with other governments to allow for similar expedited passport control when U.S. travelers go abroad or foreign travelers come into the United States.

CBP said the program, which automates passport control, would be available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have clean criminal, customs and immigration records. When arriving from international travel, a Global Entry member would bypass any lines for customs agents and scan the passport into a kiosk, where a photo is taken, declaration questions are fielded and the traveler is asked to submit fingerprints to be matched against those on file. CBP said the kiosk then prints a receipt, which the traveler must present to a CBP officer upon leaving the inspection area.

The National Business Travel Association today praised the program and encouraged a rapid expansion. CBP did not identify any other airports to which it would expand the program, though it said any expansion would be detailed in the Federal Register.

NBTA executive director and COO Bill Connors stated, "Many other countries have seen the value of international registered traveler programs like Global Entry, and we will work with governments and private sector players around the globe to establish a network of trusted traveler programs to make international travel as secure and efficient as possible."
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