CBP Global Entry Program: Completing immigration screening in advance : ESTA Online Center

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About the Customs and Border Protection Global Entry Program: Completing immigration screening in advance

CBP Global Entry Program: Completing immigration screening in advance

the Global Entry Program which the U.S. recommends

The Global Entry (GE) Program is one of the programs developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that makes it possible to complete immigration screening in advance.
Under U.S. federal law, this program is provided for U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) as well as travelers to the U.S. who are nationals of the U.K., Germany, Singapore, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.

The GE Program made U.S. immigration procedures speed up by simplifying the process.

The most important goal of the Global Entry (GE) Program is to simplify and speed up immigration procedures to the United States. The U.S. immigration process takes considerably more time than those other countries, and it is not uncommon for travelers to have to wait in a long, meandering line for immigration at the airport after arrival.Travelers who have been approved in advance through the GE Program may go directly to automated kiosks after arriving at the airport in the U.S., bypassing the long lines for immigration screening.Customs declaration procedures are completed after the traveler’s machine-readable passport or green card is presented at the kiosk and his or her fingerprints are scanned. After customs procedures are completed, a receipt is issued for the traveler at the automated kiosk, and then he or she can head to pick up his or her checked baggage smoothly and quickly. By utilizing this system, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aims to make travelers less stressful through simpler and quicker immigration screening to shorten the time to enter the United States.The GE Program is operated as one of the Trusted Traveler programs recommended by CBP. There are also similar Trusted Traveler programs including NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST, although travelers eligible to sign up for these programs vary by program.

Signing up for the program

In order to complete immigration procedures through the Global Entry (GE) Program, it is required to sign up for the program in advance and become a member. The registration fee is USD100, and it is valid for five years. After your application is accepted, you will need to undergo an interview with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) staff at a registration center inside the designated airport. The main steps are outlined below.

Apply by filling out the online application form, and pay the (nonrefundable) application fee of USD100.
Following screening, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will contact you to confirm your appointment for an interview at the registration center inside the designated airport.
At the appointed day and time, undergo the interview at the registration center inside the airport. At this time, CBP will review your application documents and check your identification and eligibility. (Identification such as a driver’s license or passport is required.)
If you pass the screening process and are approved as a member of the Global Entry Program, CBP staff will photograph you for identification purposes and take your fingerprints.
After CBP staff explain the Global Entry Program to you, your approval procedures are complete.

Those travelers who are eligible to sign up for the Global Entry Program

The following travelers are eligible to sign up for the Global Entry Program at this time:

  • U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents aged 14 or above and residing in the U.S.
  • Mexican nationals holding U.S. visas
  • Panamanian nationals
  • British subjects
  • Singaporean nationals
  • Colombian nationals
  • German nationals who have registered in advance with the Federal Police of Germany
  • South Korean nationals who have registered with the Smart Entry Service (SES)
  • Those registered with NEXUS
  • Those registered with SENTRI

Global Entry available airports where GE kiosks are established

As of January 2022, automated kiosks (automated inspection booth) is available for Global Entry in more than 40 major U.S. airports, and it made it possible for stress-free & smooth immigration procedures. Note that the airports denoted with an asterisk (*) do not have centers where you can register for the Global Entry Program.

  • Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) * United Arab Emirates
  • Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport (ANC)
  • Alba Beatrix Queen International Airport (AUA) * Netherlands Alvar Aruba
  • Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG) Canada
  • Edmonton International Airport (YEG) Canada
  • Austin Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  • Ottawa McDonald Cartier International Airport (YOW) Canada
  • Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  • Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
  • Oregon Portland International Airport (PDX)
  • Orange County John Wayne Airport (SNA) *
  • California Auckland International Airport (OAK) *
  • California / San Jose International Airport (SJC) *
  • Calgary International Airport (YYC) Canada
  • Guam International Airport (GUM) Guam
  • Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
  • Saipan International Airport (SPN) * Northern Mariana
  • San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
  • San Diego International Airport (SAN) *
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  • San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) Puerto Rico
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
  • Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) *
  • Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
  • Shannon Airport (SNN) * Ireland
  • Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT)
  • Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
  • Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  • Dublin Airport (DUB) * Ireland
  • Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  • Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  • Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Canada
  • Nassau Sir Linden Pindling International Airport (NAS) Bahamas
  • New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
  • Hartsfield-Jackson-Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Burlington International Airport (BTV) *
  • Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) Canada
  • Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Canada
  • Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
  • Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
  • Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
  • Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
  • Phoenix / Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  • Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  • Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
  • Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
  • Baltimore – Washington International Saiguard Marshall Airport (BWI)
  • Miami International Airport (MIA)
  • Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
  • Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
  • Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) Canada
  • Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)
  • Lambert St. Louis International Airport (STL)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Raleigh / Durham International Airport (RDU) *
  • Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Advantages of the Global Entry Program

No need to line up for immigration screening at the airport after arrival, since the procedures were completed already
There is no need of filling out customs declarations since it is registered by automated kiosk.It is expected to see even wider use in the future since it is capable of simplifying and shortening the time for immigration screening.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is examining and increasing steadily the numbers of countries and travelers those able to use the Global Entry (GE) Program.

For details, see the Global Entry page on the CBP website.

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UPDATE : 2024/01/31