Effective July 12, 2016, the U.S. Customs and Border announced that all United Kingdom Citizens can apply for the Global Entry trusted traveler program which facilitates entry into the U.S. at participating international airports. This is an expansion of the 2013 Pilot Program where only certain U.K. Citizens were eligible.
At this time, the final rules have been published and U.K. Nationals can visit the U.S. CBP website for instructions on how to apply. Additional application process info can be found at the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) website.
In addition, qualified U.S. Citizens may now be eligible to apply for membership with United Kingdom’s reciprocal trusted traveler program, Registered Traveller.
Brief Background on U.S. Global Entry:
Global Entry is part of an effort to push security screening beyond U.S. borders for international travelers. Participants pay a fee to join Global Entry and provide extra information about themselves in exchange for faster entry at U.S. ports. The advantage to Global Entry is that participants avoid long Customs lines when arriving from abroad since they can simply answer questions and have their fingerprints checked at an airport kiosk.
Once enrolled, participants are also eligible for expedited domestic screening under the Transportation Security Administration’s Pre-check program (varies among airline carriers).
This news alert provides only general information on this traveler benefit. If you have any question or concerns, we invite you to contact our offices for additional guidance.
