Frequent fliers know the frustration of waiting in customs lines, but an innovative self-service solution is slicing wait time for thousands of travelers entering the United States.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry program, which recently expanded to include the country's top 20 international airports, allows participants to bypass regular passport control lines by using state-of-the-art kiosks. About 60,000 travelers are currently enrolled in the program, known generally as Trusted Traveler, and a new marketing campaign is expected to lure thousands more to try the kiosks this year.
The machines, designed by KIOSK Information Systems, are part of the company's expanding line of security kiosks. Along with the U.S. Global Entry program, KIOSK has deployed similar systems in other countries.
Unlike slow-moving customs lines, the Global Entry kiosks take just a few minutes to process clearance for travelers who preregister. A participant inserts her passport or U.S. permanent resident card to activate the system, which then photographs the traveler and directs her to provide digital fingerprints that are biometrically compared with fingerprints on file. After completing those steps and answering customs declaration questions, the traveler is issued a transaction receipt that must be presented to customs officers before leaving the inspection area.
Those seeking to enroll in the Global Entry program must complete an extensive background check. The traveler first must pay a non-refundable $100 application fee and fill out an online application which U.S. Customs reviews. If the application is approved, the traveler visits a Global Entry Enrollment Center at a participating airport to have her fingerprints taken and passport scanned. The traveler then must undergo an interview by a customs official. Once approved, the traveler is shown how to operate the kiosk.
Along with trimming time for travelers, the kiosks enhance operational efficiency and overall security measures, says Joanne Ferreiram, a spokesperson for the program.
"Since we already know more information about travelers who sign up through the Global Entry program, we're able to concentrate our efforts more on customers we know less about," she said.
About 16,000 members used Global Entry Kiosks more than 50,000 times during a one-year pilot program that began in 2008 at seven airports, according to Ferreiram.
The program is not just for jet-setters. Applicants do not have to make a minimum number of trips to qualify. To apply, travelers must be 14 years of age and older, U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents or citizens of certain other countries. To enroll or learn more, visit the Global Entry Program page on the Customs Service's website.
Global Entry kiosks are available at the following airports:
Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW) Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL) George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston (IAH) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Honolulu International Airport (HNL) John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK) McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas (LAS) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Miami International Airport (MIA) Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Orlando International Airport (MCO) Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) San Francisco International Airport (SFO) San Juan-Luis Múñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB) Seattle-Tacoma International Airport-SeaTac (SEA) Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)
