No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveToo much time in U.S. customs? Border protection has solution

Too much time in U.S. customs? Border protection has solution

Those wading through United States customs this holiday season may have noticed fellow travelers bypassing the line by swiping their passport at a Global Entry kiosk.

The Global Entry program, which has been expanded to 20 United States airports, is quickly becoming ‘the fast pass’ for frequent international travelers. The purpose of the program is to help frequent fliers pass through customs quickly.

In order to qualify, travelers must submit an application online, be present for an interview and pay a $100 fee. Once approved, the traveler may use Global Entry for a period of five years.

The application process itself is a tedious, multi-step process that asks applicants to record five-year employment history, a five-year history on places lived and a list of countries visited in the past five years, among other information. During the interview, applicants will have a digital photo and fingerprints taken.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website, Global Entry is intended to expedite “clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.” The program is open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and citizens of other countries.  

Similar programs have long-existed for border crossings from Mexico and Canada. The more global ‘fast pass’ was preceded by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service-operated INSPASS during the 1990s and early 2000s.  

Look for Global Entry at 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), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas (LAS), Miami International Airport (MIA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport-SeaTac (SEA) and the Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Trending Now

Costa Rica Shines Once Again in This High-Quality Travel Video

A new 4K video now circulating online offers a fresh view of Costa Rica’s natural settings—one that captures our country's popular as well as...

U.S. Foreign Investment Fuels Costa Rica’s Growth—But at What Cost?

Costa Rica has reached a new milestone in foreign direct investment (FDI), recording more than $4.3 billion in inflows in 2024—a 14% increase from...

Canadian Tourist Killed in Costa Rica During A Robbery Attempt

A 40-year-old Canadian man lost his life in a violent robbery at a rental home in the Los Jobos area of Tamarindo, Guanacaste, on...

Costa Rica’s Religious Culture Through the Eyes of a Non-Religious Expat

Costa Rica is the only country in the Americas that has an official religion—Catholicism—enshrined in its constitution. While the Constitution recognizes freedom of worship,...

Costa Rica Airport Pioneers Central America’s First Child Exploitation Prevention Protocol

Juan Santamaría International Airport will become the first in Central America to implement a specialized protocol to prevent, detect, and respond to cases of...

Salvadoran Lawyers Fight for Rights of Trump-Deported Migrants in Secretive Prison

A small group of overstretched and outmatched lawyers is fighting for the rights of men deported by the Trump administration and held in a...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica