SAN ANTONIO—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), today, designated San Antonio International Airport (SAT) as an official Global Entry Enrollment Center.
"Global Entry Enrollment Centers are a critical component of the Global Entry program and the decision to staff a center in San Antonio is indicative of the partnerships CBP enjoys with the city and particularly the Airport Authority," said Houston CBP Acting Director of Field Operations Lynn Fallik.
Travelers interested in becoming Global Entry members must apply online at GlobalEntry.gov, where they can now select SAT Global Entry Enrollment Center for their interview.
Global Entry kiosks have been in operation at the international arrivals area of SAT since August. However, San Antonio area applicants had to schedule the required in-person interview in a city with an enrollment center.
San Antonio International Airport is one of 31 airports in the U.S., and 10 preclearance locations in Canada and Ireland to participate in Global Entry. Most members using Global Entry kiosks are processed for arrival into the U.S. in about a minute.
International travelers enrolled in Global Entry who are returning to the U.S. can bypass passport control lines to use CBP's automated self-service kiosk. The kiosk features include a camera, touch-screen monitor, fingerprint scanner, document reader, and receipt printer.
Applications for enrollment in the program are available through the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) at globalentry.gov. The Global Entry application process consists of the following three steps for all applicants:
- Completion and submittal of an online application through GOES, along with payment of a non-refundable application $100 fee (valid for five years)
- Schedule appointment within 30 days from the date of the online approval notice. (The actual appointment must be within 90 days of the date of the online approval notice.)
- Undergo a background check, interview with a CBP officer at a Global Entry Enrollment Center and provide biometric information, e.g., fingerprint scan.
- There are many benefits to becoming a Global Entry member some include:
- No queuing for passport control checks;
- No paper customs declaration form;
- Global Entry membership can be accessed at many of the leading U.S. airports;
- Expedited travel from the gate to the terminal exit (the process can take less than one minute);
- No minimum number of international trips required to qualify for the Global Entry program.
Global Entry is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, and Mexican nationals. The program is also available to citizens of the Netherlands, who are enrolled in the Dutch Privium program, and citizens of the Republic of Korea enrolled in the Korean SES program, Canadian citizens and residents enrolled in the NEXUS program may use the Global Entry kiosks. Members of the CBP Trusted Traveler program, SENTRI, who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, can also use the Global Entry kiosks.
The Global Entry program began as a pilot program at George Bush Intercontinental, John F. Kennedy International, and Washington Dulles International airports on June 6, 2008. It became a permanent voluntary program on February 6, 2012.
For additional information about the Global Entry program, visit globalentry.gov.