Launch of US Global Entry Service to British citizens
Global Entry, a scheme which provides quicker and easier clearance for members at the US border, is available to British citizens from today
The service enables passengers who successfully undergo thorough security checks, to gain quicker entry at many US airports without the need to see a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer or complete a paper Customs Declaration form.
Sir Charles Montgomery, Director General of Border Force, who joined the US Ambassador Matthew Barzun in London last month launch the new service said:
We know that almost four million British citizens travel to the US every year and the expansion of the Global Entry service to British citizens will not only make their travel easier, but it will foster even greater trade and ties between our two nations.
Both countries have a mutual interest in operating safe and secure border controls, where legitimate, low-risk travellers are offered excellent levels of customer service and a faster route through border control.
Global Entry is a fantastic service and I am very pleased that Border Force has played such an important role in enabling the service to be opened up to British citizens.
To apply for Global Entry membership, passengers pay a fee of £42 to the Home Office and then $100 to CBP. This covers membership for five years. On successful completion of security checks, members can then gain access at US airports via Global Entry automated kiosks and dedicated lanes.
The Global Entry service mirrors Border Force’s existing Registered Traveller service, which has transformed the experience of thousands of passengers from the US and other countries at the UK Border. Registered Traveller members are able to gain expedited clearance to the UK, including through the use of e-Passport gates at a number of airports across the country.
How to apply
To join the Global Entry Service, applicants must submit a registration request through the Register to Apply service and pay a £42 processing fee to undergo background checks by Border Force staff. If successful, the applicant will receive a unique UK access code to complete their application through the US CBP’s Global Online Enrolment System. They will pay a non-refundable $100 application fee, and then undergo further checks by CBP. If approved, the applicant will then arrange an interview with a CBP officer at one of the Global Entry Enrollment Centers in the US.