Colombia and Argentina are the latest additions to the trusted traveler program, which will soon expand into nine more U.S. airports.
Colombia and Argentina are the latest additions to Global Entry, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) trusted traveler program that gives pre-screened travelers a speedy entry process into the U.S.
Global Entry is also set to expand to nine new U.S. airports, allowing arriving members to bypass long customs lines and proceed directly to an automated kiosk that checks their travel documents and fingerprints automatically.
Colombia was the first South American country to attain eligibility for Global Entry in July. In August, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that citizens of Argentina will soon be able enroll in the program.
Additionally, CBP announced Tuesday that Global Entry will expand into nine new U.S. airports by April 3, 2017: Fairbanks, Alaska; Oakland, Calif.; Sacramento, Calif.; San Jose, Calif.; New Orleans, La.; Kansas City, Mo.; St. Louis, Mo.; Houston Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas; and Burlington, Vt. Global Entry kiosks are already installed in 39 U.S. airports.
Global Entry not only offers faster entry to the U.S. for qualified travelers, but also signals a strong partnership between the U.S. and the countries enrolled. Travelers enjoy an efficient, secure entry process, and the information sharing and cooperation the program entails are good for diplomatic relations and security.
The U.S. Travel Association welcomes Colombia and Argentina to the program, which is a win-win for all countries involved, and hopes Global Entry continues its pattern of expansion for years to come.