Left: Global Entry kiosks found at US airports
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has today (November 3) announced that it will be extending its expedited clearance program ‘Global Entry’ to include UK citizens.
Global Entry, a CBP Trusted Traveler Program, allows for expedited clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Passengers from the UK will now be eligible to register for Global Entry from December 3, 2015.
R Gil Kerlikowske, commissioner for CBP, said, “CBP is excited to expand our partnership with the UK on this flagship program by offering Global Entry to UK citizens. Through this cooperation, CBP’s Global Entry and the UK Border Force Registered Traveller programs will enhance security and better facilitate travel between our two countries.”
Currently available at 46 US airports and 13 preclearance locations, Global Entry streamlines the screening process at airports for trusted travelers. The program has enrolled more than 2.5 million members, and CBP receives approximately 70,000 new applications each month.
In May 2011, CBP launched a pilot program with the UK to allow a limited number of UK citizens to participate in Global Entry as the first phase of a trusted traveler arrangement. As part of the pilot, more than 1,400 UK citizens enrolled in Global Entry. Nearly five million Britons visited the USA in FY2015 and more than 125,000 of those visitors traveled to the USA four or more times.
To register for Global Entry, UK travelers must apply through the UK Home Office website and pay a £42 (US$65) processing fee. If the applicant passes the UK vetting process, they will then receive a ‘UK Access Code’, which applicants enter when applying for Global Entry through CBP’s Global Online Enrollment System (GOES). The non-refundable application fee for a five-year membership is US$100 and applications must be made online. Once the application is approved, a CBP officer will conduct a scheduled interview with the applicant and then make a final eligibility determination.