With customs and border security increased dramatically over the past two decades, airline travel has become more time-consuming, particularly for international travelers. This is especially true for tourists seeking entrance into the United States. However, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been taking steps to ease the process for low-risk passengers. The CBP recently announced a dramatic expansion of its popular and successful Global Entry program, which should significantly ease travel times for visitors enrolled in the program.
According to the latest announcement, the CBP intends to expand its program to five key international airports within North America: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, San Francisco International Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. The expansion enables conditionally approved applicants to the program to conduct their final interview at the airport when completing the Global Entry program’s somewhat stringent enrollment process. This should dramatically shorten the otherwise lengthy process for passengers landing at these five terminals.
Called Enrollment on Arrival, the new policy significantly shortens the application process for conditionally-approved travelers. The standard procedure normally requires applicants to schedule and complete their interview process at a later date. With the new procedure, conditionally-approved, low-risk travelers can instead finish processing and interviewing, along with submission of biometric data, at a designated Enrollment on Arrival booth upon landing in one of the participating airports.
CBP’s program already has roughly 4 million members and plans to add this expedited procedure to additional international airports will hopefully inspire more travelers to join, shortening wait times across the board.
The program has been met with much praise, with applicants highlighting the relative ease of applying, as well as the helpfulness of agents responsible for administering the application process. This move towards streamlining and flexibility will only cultivate further interest among travelers in joining the program.
