April 30, 2012 –
How to avoid airport immigration, TSA screening lines

Trusted Traveler Programs by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

International Business Travelers are frequently inconvenienced by long lines at U.S. Immigration when entering the U.S. By taking advantage of one of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) Trusted Travel Programs, much time can be saved at the time of entry. CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs (GLOBAL ENTRY, NEXUS, SENTRI, FLUX and FAST) have been created to expedite the entry process into the U.S. for low-risk travelers when arriving at U.S. Ports of Entry through the use of a machine-readable passport or U.S. Permanent Resident Card at Global Entry kiosks located at most major airports. Though intended for frequent international travelers, there is no minimum number of trips necessary to qualify for the programs. To qualify for one of the Trusted Traveler Programs all applicants must voluntarily undergo a thorough background check against criminal, law enforcement, customs, immigration, agriculture and terrorist indices to include biometric fingerprint checks and a personal interview with a CBP officer. Additionally, in October 2011, the Transportation Security Administration launched an expedited screening pilot program called TSA Pre✓™ for U.S. citizens who are members of CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs.

CBP provides information regarding the Trusted Traveler Programs on the below links that are all found on their website, www.cbp.gov. The following is a brief summary of each program.

GLOBAL ENTRY is a voluntary pilot program that streamlines the international arrival process for pre-approved travelers through use of self-service kiosks located at 20 major U.S. airports. The pilot program is an alternative to regular passport processing lines and currently reduces average wait times by 70 percent. Holders of most of the U.S. visa categories are eligible to participate.

NEXUS is a joint CBP-Canada Border Services Agency program that provides expedited processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers by U.S. and Canadian officials at dedicated processing lanes at designated northern ports of entry, at NEXUS kiosks at Canadian airports where preclearance is available, and at marine reporting locations. Individuals may qualify if they are a citizen of the U.S. or Canada, permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada, or if they are a citizen of a country other than the U.S. or Canada who plan to temporarily reside lawfully in the U.S. or Canada for the term of their NEXUS membership. NEXUS applicants must go through background checks in both Canada and the United States. A NEXUS radio frequency membership card also fulfills the travel document requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that has required a passport or other secure travel document by all U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry or re-entry.

SENTRI, Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection, provides expedited CBP processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers entering the U.S. at land ports of entry from Mexico. The SENTRI program was first implemented at Otay Mesa, Calif., in 1995, and has grown to include 16 lanes at the nine largest ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border including San Ysidro, Calif., Calexico, Calif., Nogales, Ariz., two crossings in El Paso, Texas, and the Texas ports of Laredo, Hidalgo and Brownsville.

FLUX, the Fast Low Risk Universal Crossing, is a pilot program only for U.S. citizens with a valid U.S. machine-readable passport for participation through the U.S. GLOBAL ENTRY and Dutch Privium programs.

FAST, Free and Secure Trade, offers dedicated lanes and expedited border clearance for importers, carriers and drivers who have passed rigorous risk assessments that include fingerprinting. The program is available on both the northern and southern borders. There are about 80,000 members enrolled. FAST members report saving an average 27 minutes when transporting goods into the U.S., and an average of 18 minutes when entering Canada.

CBP’s Global Online Enrollment System (“GOES”) allows registered users to enter their own applications for Trusted Traveler Programs and approved members to edit their information. For additional information regarding CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs see: Trusted Traveler Programs – U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The TSA Pre✓™ Pilot Program is currently limited to American and Delta Airlines in a limited number of airports. According to the website information, some passengers could qualify for expedited screening through U.S. airport security checkpoints via designated screening lanes. Additional potential benefits may include: Keeping shoes on; Keeping 3-1-1 compliant bag in carry-on; Leaving laptop in bag; Leaving on light outerwear/jacket; and leaving belt on. For additional information see: TSA PreCheck – Transportation Security Administration