U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced the expansion of Global Entry to citizens of Colombia. Global Entry, a CBP Trusted Traveler Program, allows for expedited clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers.
CBP says that Colombian citizens can begin applying for Global Entry through the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) Web site. Colombia becomes the first country in South America and the eighth country overall whose citizens will be eligible to enroll in Global Entry.
“CBP is excited to expand our partnership with Colombia by offering our flagship Trusted Traveler Program to Colombian citizens,” said Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske. “We’re confident that together, CBP and Colombia can enhance security and facilitate travel between our two countries and together transform the international arrivals process to make it more secure, efficient, and welcoming.”
Currently available at forty-nine U.S. airports and thirteen pre-clearance locations, Global Entry streamlines the international arrivals process at airports for trusted travelers. Global Entry members bypass the traditionalCBP inspection lines and use an automated kiosk to complete their admission to the United States. The program has enrolled more than 3.1 million members, and CBP receives approximately 100,000 new applications for Global Entry each month. As an added benefit, Global Entry members are also eligible to participate in the TSA Pre✓expedited screening program.
U.S. citizens, U.S nationals, and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents may apply for Global Entry as well as citizens of certain countries with whichCBP has trusted traveler arrangements, including Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and now Colombia. Canadian citizens and residents enrolled in NEXUS may also use the Global Entry kiosks.
The non-refundable application fee for a five-year Global Entry membership is $100 and applications must be submitted online. Once the application is approved, a CBP officer will conduct a scheduled interview with the applicant and then make a final eligibility determination.
While the goal of Global Entry is to speed travelers through the process, members may be selected for further examination when entering the United States. Any violation of the program’s terms and conditions will result in appropriate enforcement action and revocation of the traveler’s membership privileges.
CBP says that it continues to maximize its resources to support a 16 percent growth in international air arrivals since 2009. Among other things, CBP is working to bring advances in technology and automation, such as Automated Passport Control kiosks, the Mobile Passport Control app, andI-94 form automation, to the passenger processing while exploring public-private partnerships to help support current and future missions.
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