WASHINGTON (TVR) – The expedited customs security program Global Entry just surpassed five million members, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced, a key benchmark for the initiative that lets trusted travelers skip frustratingly long lines upon re-entry into the United States.
“This membership milestone is the result of substantial growth of the Global Entry program in recent years with the expansion of eligibility to foreign nationals from more than a dozen participating countries and kiosks available to members at 70 airports worldwide,” CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in a release this week.
In fact, the number also represents a doubling of enrolled members in just the past three years; there were 2.4 million enrolled in fiscal year 2015 and now 5.1 million in FY2018, CBP said.
“Global Entry remains one of CBP’s most successful programs—improving both traveler facilitation and security,” McAleenan said.
To enroll, travelers must pass a background check and in-person interview. Membership is $100 for five years and includes TSA Pre-check, an expedited security program for domestic U.S. travel.
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Global Entry is now available to enrolled passengers at 57 airports and 13 pre-clearance facilities in foreign countries.
Initially only available for U.S. citizens, U.S nationals and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, the Global Entry program now accepts applicants from Argentina, Colombia, Germany, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
In addition, Canadians who are part of NEXUS can also use Global Entry kiosks upon arrival into the U.S.
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As part of CBP’s push to expand the ranks of Global Entry participants, the agency has added “enrollment on arrival” at key international gateways.
Travelers flying into 38 U.S. airports can now submit for their required interview when they arrive back into America, thus eliminating the need for a separate trip to a Global Entry enrollment center to complete the application process.
Members, however, can have their participation in the program revoked at any time.
CBP warns that “any violation” — no matter how small — of Global Entry’s rules “will result in appropriate enforcement action and may result in the revocation of the traveler’s membership privileges.”
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