Global Entry programme

• The United States of America has started rolling out for Indian citizens its Global Entry programme which allows for expedited clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travellers.
• Navtej Sarna, Indian Ambassador to the US became the first Indian national to enroll in the programme.
• With this intiative, India has become the 11th country whose citizens are eligible to enroll in the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiative.

About Global Entry Programme:

• According to the Global Entry programme, travellers must be pre-approved for the CBP initiative. Under this all applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrolment.
• As per the initiative, once a traveller lands at one of the select airports, the programme members enter US through automatic kiosks, rather than queueing up to clear the immigration check by meeting an immigration officer.
• At these select airports, the specified members proceed to the Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport, place their fingerprints on the scanner for verification and complete a customs declaration. The Global Entry kiosk then issues the traveller a transaction receipt and directs him or her to the baggage claim and the exit.
• Presently, Global Entry programme is available at 53 US airports and 15 pre-clearance locations. It is now available to US citizens, Green Card holders and nationals from Argentina, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, besides India

About CBP:

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection coordinate and support foreign initiatives, programs and activities with our external partners around the world.
• CBP focuses on international cooperation and strengthening multi- and bi-lateral relationships to achieve international agreements and joint efforts that both facilitate and secure legitimate trade and travel.
• CBP strives to protect U.S. borders from beyond by implementing programs and initiatives that promote anti-terrorism, global border security, non-proliferation, export controls, immigration and capacity building.
• CBP promotes expansion of the World Customs Organization Framework of Standards for supply chain security and facilitation by providing targeted countries with training and advisory support through programs such as capacity building and Export Control and Border Security.
• CBP’s top priority is to keep terrorists and their weapons from entering the U.S. while welcoming all legitimate travelers and commerce.

By: Vishal