When you fly to the United States, at the end of a tiring journey you can be faced with standing in long inspection queues. Now, thanks to the work of the UK's Border Force, you can use a new service that helps you avoid this.
Border Force, part of the Home Office, has launched a registration service that means British citizens can apply for the US Global Entry programme and speed up their entry to the United States at all major airports.
Border Force achieved this alongside the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They applied technology developed for the UK’s similar ‘Registered Traveller’ scheme to give British citizens online access to the new service through GOV.UK.
Membership of the programme lasts for 5 years and more than 18,000 British citizens have already enrolled.
How it works
Global Entry members bypass the traditional US CBP inspection queues at US airports (so, no need to remove your shoes, laptop, liquids, belt and jacket) and use an automated kiosk to complete the admission procedure.
Like any other British citizens, civil servants can apply to become a member of the programme via GOV.UK (there is a non-refundable fee of £42). It may take up to 10 days to find out if you’ve passed the background checks.
If accepted, you will receive a UK Access Code to apply for Global Entry on CBP’s Global Online Enrolment System (GOES). There is then a $100 (non-refundable) application fee. CBP will tell you if you’ve been conditionally approved for Global Entry within 2 weeks.
Enrolment days
Final enrolment is determined by interview, which would normally be conducted on entry to the US. However, if you work in or are visiting London, US CBP officers are hosting two Global Entry enrolment interview days exclusively for UK civil servants on Thursday 6 October and Thursday 10 November 2016 at the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF. Places are limited, though, and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Civil servants coming from outside London will have preferential choice over interview slots.
To apply to join the Global Entry programme, you should:
- Go to the Global Entry page on GOV.UK, register and pay the £42 (non-refundable) fee.
- If accepted, register on CBP’s Global Online Enrolment System (GOES). There is then a $100 (non-refundable) application fee.
- Once you have your CBP confirmation, email us at geinbox@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk with your preferred interview date and time. Interviews typically take approximately 15 minutes.
To allow sufficient processing time between your initial US and UK applications and the enrolment days, we recommend that you complete these steps as soon as possible.
3 comments
Comment by Paul Harcombe posted on
I'm back! I used the ESTA visa waiver programme as per previous trips and as I was a returning visitor I was directed away from the huge queue and to a bank of machines that got me to an immigration official within a few minutes and to the baggage carousel within 15 minutes of getting off the plane. At JFK! Previously had a 4 hour wait there getting through immigration a few years ago.
So, while the global entry programme is great, if you're a returning ESTA visitor it's not necessary. The security check lines are not a big deal. Save yourself a few quid and get the ESTA.
Comment by Cheryl Teasdale posted on
I did look at this on the TSA website, but wondered how I was going to do the interview if not in the states, this is brilliant being able to do it here if one can get a space on the interview. Will be applying and hopefully will get an interview in Nov, as too late for my trip in a few weeks.
Comment by Paul Harcombe posted on
But I'm going to the US on Thursday! oh well, maybe next time