US rolls out expedited entry for low-risk Indian travellers

The United States of America (USA) has rolled out pre-approved expedited entry clearance for low-risk Indian travellers under its Global Entry programme (GEP).
With this initiative, India became 11th country whose citizens are now eligible to enroll in the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiative. Indian Ambassador to US Navtej Sarna was the first Indian national to enroll in the programme. 

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiative

Under this initiative, international GEP member traveller can enter in US through automatic kiosks, rather than queueing up to clear immigration check by meeting an immigration officer at selected airports. At these selective airports, the specified members need 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 will issue the traveller a transaction receipt and directs him or her to the baggage claim and the exit. It should be noted that under the GEP, travellers must be pre-approved for the initiative. All applicants for GEP undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrolment.
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 Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, South Korea, Argentina, Colombia, Singapore, Switzerland and UK besides India.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2017