Baltimore – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched the Global Entry program at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) Wednesday allowing trusted travelers to speed their processing upon international arrival.
Global Entry is a voluntary expedited clearance program that allows pre-approved, low-risk international travelers the ability to bypass the traditional CBP inspection process and use automated kiosks upon arrival into the U.S.
CBP opened two such automated Global Entry kiosks at BWI.
“Global Entry has proven to be an extraordinarily successful program that has been welcomed by international travelers and applauded by the travel industry. We’re very excited to offer Global Entry at BWI,” said Ricardo Scheller, CBP Port Director for the Port of Baltimore.
International passenger traffic has been increasing the past several years at BWI. During fiscal year 2011, CBP at BWI processed the arrivals of more than 260,000 international passengers aboard commercial and private airplanes. That was a 7 percent increase over fiscal year 2010. Arrivals during the first half of this year are 10.59 percent ahead of same period from last year.
Global Entry, popular with the international travel community, continues to grow in membership. More than 467,000 members have enrolled directly into Global Entry. Another 788,000 travelers enjoy the expedited processing benefits of Global Entry through other CBP trusted traveler programs, such as NEXUS and SENTRI.
These travelers have processed their international arrivals on Global Entry kiosks more than 3,355,000 times.
Announced as a pilot program in 2008, Global Entry is now a permanent program. It operates at 31 U.S. airports and 10 preclearance locations that serve 97 percent of international travelers arriving in the United States.
“Global Entry benefits both Customs and Border Protection and the trusted traveler community in that it allows us to better focus our resources and efforts on travelers and goods that we know less about, while expediting trusted travelers through the arrivals experience,” said Scheller.
There are additional advantages and incentives for membership in Global Entry. Members are eligible to participate in other CBP trusted traveler programs, as well as the Transportation Security Administration’s Pre-Check passenger expedited screening program.
Interested travelers can learn more about Global Entry membership at globalentry.gov and apply online using the CBP Global Online Enrollment System. ( Global Entry ) ( GOES )
Applicants must possess a machine-readable U.S. passport or permanent resident card, pay a non-refundable $100 application fee which is good for a five year period, pass a law enforcement check, and complete an interview at a CBP enrollment center.
For more information on CBP’s trusted traveler programs, visit the Trusted Traveler website. ( Trusted Traveler )
Source of Information “CBP.gov Local News Release (11/20/12)”