Albuquerque, New Mexico — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Albuquerque port of entry is making it easier for travelers to enroll in CBP’s Global Entry program. The port is temporarily adding late afternoon and evening hours to the existing schedule. Travelers enrolled in Global Entry enjoy faster CBP processing at airports nationwide.
“Opening a Global Entry enrollment office has been a benefit to the residents of Albuquerque and northern New Mexico,” said CBP Albuquerque Port Director Tracy Thorpe. “By staying open late two days a week, we hope to make it even more convenient for those who could not schedule an appointment during the existing hours of operation.”
The Albuquerque Global Entry enrollment center is currently open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Beginning January 14 and running for 12 weeks, the center will be open four additional hours Tuesdays and Thursdays – until 8 p.m. each of those days. Interested travelers can learn more about Global Entry including how to apply by visiting GlobalEntry.gov.
Global Entry allows for pre-approved, low-risk travelers to bypass the traditional CBP inspection process when arriving into the U.S. from abroad. Interested individuals must apply online, undergo a background investigation and complete an in-person interview with a CBP officer. If no disqualifying information is found, travelers receive the benefit of expedited processing. The $100 application fee allows for five years of membership and travelers can use more than 300 total kiosks located at 34 U.S. airports and 10 preclearance locations in Canada and Ireland. More than one million travelers are currently enrolled in the program.
Global Entry members afford CBP the ability to better allocate its resources because their trusted traveler status allows members to use a self-service kiosk for processing. This self-service feature, frees up CBP officers to focus on those individuals the agency knows less about.
Global Entry also provides access to the TSA Pre✓™ initiative which offers expedited screening through domestic security checkpoints. Benefits of TSA Pre✓™ include being able to leave shoes, light outerwear and belts on, keeping laptops in its cases and keeping 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in carry-ons.
Utilizing technology and automation, Global Entry is an important element to CBP’s Resource Optimization Strategy which intends to maximize existing resources, identify staffing needs, and explore funding sources to support identified staffing needs.
For more information on CBP’s Global Entry Program, or to enroll please visit GlobalEntry.gov.