What's Happening

Expedited Clearance for Pre-Approved Travelers

On Tuesday, March 27, 2012, officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, held a ribbon cutting ceremony to launch the Global Entry Program at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The program’s launch is great news for those selected passengers who frequently travel abroad as their return home will get a little easier, and it is good news for the Phoenix area as a whole.

The Global Entry Program, which is run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), allows low-risk travelers who are pre-approved expedited entry into the U.S. by bypassing the passport control lines and using an automated kiosk. This program is now available in 24 airports across the country.

“At Sky Harbor, we are always looking for ways to improve customer service,” said Assistant Aviation Director Carl Newman. “Our goal is to make it easier for international travelers and streamline the process. We are very pleased to see this day has arrived and to be involved in this program.”

President of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Todd Sanders said that the Global Entry Program is an important benefit for the greater Phoenix area as it will continue to showcase Arizona as a place for both international travel and business. “We applaud the expansion into Phoenix of the Global Entry program,” he said.

At the event, CBP officials demonstrated how the kiosks work. “It is a very simple process,” said Jimmy Tong, Assistant Director, Tucson Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “It is as easy as using an automated bank teller.”

Pre-approved travelers simply insert their machine readable passports into the kiosk and follow the prompts to print out a receipt to give to CBP officers as they exit the inspections area.

The program is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and pre-approved Mexican nationals. In order to apply for the program, travelers must fill out an online application and submit an application fee. The CBP will then review the application, conduct a background check, and interview the applicant at the CBP enrollment center. For additional information or to enroll, please visit www.globalentry.gov.

Published: March 28, 2012