If you are someone who constantly travels in and outside of the United States, one of the most effective and best things that you could do is to become a part of the Global Entry registry. Simply put, this is a scheme which is run and managed by the US Customs and Border Protection and allows those who are a part of the registry to return expeditiously. This includes perks such as avoiding standing in long queues for immigration, less checking and limited paperwork. However, a lot of people feel nervous applying for the Global Entry process due to a variety of reasons.
People find the process daunting: The application process seems daunting, which prevents a lot of people from applying to be a part of the registry.
The application is time-consuming: Not only is the process daunting, but a lot of people find the process tremendously time-consuming as well, limiting the number of applicants.
Poor approval rates: Some people are also under the misconception that it is extremely hard to be approved for Global Entry. While this might be true in certain cases, overall, it is not that difficult to secure.
What is Global Entry?
Global Entry, simply put, is a scheme to allow expeditious return to the US without having to combat aggressive queues and paperwork, or immigration, upon return from another country. It is one of the five programs run by the US Customs and Border Protection, the other five are provided below:
TSA Pre, which deals with departures from US Airports.
Nexus, which deals with entry into the US from Canada.
Sentri, which deals with entry into the US from Canada and Mexico.
FAST (Free and Secure Trade): Which is exclusively for truck drivers’entering and exiting the US from states such as Canada and Mexico.
These are Trusted Traveller Programs, and the incredible aspect about Global Entry is that it includes TSA Pre benefits if you enrol. Currently, about 10 million people are members of the Global Entry Scheme, and more applications are expected each year. Almost every major airport in the US is also a part of the program, and certain international airports have also been roped in.
While earlier, you had to be a citizen of the United States to become a part of the Global Entry program, now, the scheme has been extended to members of certain select countries as well. This includes countries such as India, the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Colombia, and Bahrain. In the event that the applicant is a minor (i.e., below the age of 18), the applicant will require consent from a guardian.