SAN FRANCISCO — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) today announced the expansion of its Global Entry Enrollment Center hours, and the beginning of a 60-day pilot program extending open hours 24/7. Beginning June 12, additional appointment slots will be available at SFO via the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES).
“Due to the overwhelming success of the Global Entry program and the subsequent increase in applications, CBP clearly recognizes the need for additional interview opportunities,” said
Brian J. Humphrey, CBP Director of Field Operations in San Francisco. “These steps will allow us to better serve the traveling public as we continue our important mission of protecting our nation’s borders.”
“As one of the fastest-growing U.S. airports for international traffic, we are committed to providing our guests with a host of time-saving options when they arrive at SFO,” said Airport Director John L. Martin. “These include the deployment of Automated Passport Control kiosks, the Mobile Passport Control mobile app, and improved signage and queuing in the Customs facility. The Global Entry program lets travelers speed through the customs process, and we are proud to be the first airport in the nation to offer 24/7 access to enroll in this program.”
With the expansion of the 24/7 60-day pilot program, a total of 826 additional appointments will be available during the timeframe. Following the pilot, the new permanent hours of the Global Entry Enrollment Center at SFO will be 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Global Entry is a voluntary program for pre-approved low-risk international travelers coming into the U.S. allowing members to bypass the traditional CBP inspection process to expedite their processing. U.S. citizens, nationals and lawful permanent residents may apply for Global Entry as well as citizens of certain countries with which CBP has trusted traveler arrangements, including Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.
Upon arrival in the United States from abroad, Global Entry members bypass the traditional CBP inspection lines and use an automated kiosk to complete their admission to the United States. Travelers scan their passport and fingerprints, answer customs declaration questions using the kiosk’s touch screen and proceed with a receipt to the exit— the whole process takes only about one minute.
Interested individuals may apply online at CBP’s Global Online Enrollment System. Applicants must possess a machine-readable U.S. passport or permanent resident card, pay a non-refundable $100 application fee, undergo a background investigation with fingerprint check, and complete an in-person interview with a CBP officer at one of the 90 enrollment centers. Global Entry membership is good for five years. As an added benefit, Global Entry members are also eligible to participate in the TSA Pre✓™, the Transportation Security Administration’s expedited security program.
Currently available at 47 U.S. airports and 13 Preclearance locations, Global Entry streamlines the arrival process at airports for pre-approved trusted travelers. CBP has enrolled more than 3.5 million travelers in trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI. These programs allow CBP officers to process travelers safely and efficiently while enhancing security and reducing operational costs.