CAROLINA, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) San Juan Area Port participated along with Aerostar Airport Holdings, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, the Puerto Rico Port Authority, Jet Blue Airways and the Municipal Government of the City of Carolina in the Monday inauguration of a new Federal Inspection Station (FIS) for the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU).
brief remarks.
The new FIS, located in the first level (baggage claim) of Terminal B, has advanced technology with a state-of-the-art facility that enhances security-screening operations to facilitate international general aviation aircraft and passenger arrivals. This facility that required a $6 million investment incorporates 14 Automatic Passport Control (APC) and 2 Global Entry kiosks, will service flights operated by JetBlue, Cape Air, Tradewind, Seaborne and Air Sunshine. This facility allow the processing of 400 passengers per hour.
The APC is a program that expedites the entry process for U.S. citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, Canadian citizens, Visa Waiver Program eligible international travelers, and travelers entering with a B1/B2 or D visa, by providing an automated process through CBP’s Primary Inspection area.
“These are the first APC kiosks that we are incorporating into this airport after having successfully implemented them with the San Juan-Santo Domingo ferry,” indicated Edwin Cruz, San Juan Area Port Director. “While we still invite travelers to take advantage of Global Entry, available here, to speed up the entry process and avoid the lines.
"With this new immigration and customs processing format, the low-risk international traveler goes through a single point of control, speeding up their entry to the island," explained Agustín Arellano President of Aerostar. "This new process together can be more efficient in the number of passengers processed per hour."
Global Entry kiosks
In his speech, Mike Stine, Director of Infrastructure for JetBlue, said that "as the largest airline in Puerto Rico, our goal has been to continuously improve the travel process for our customers, including the approximately 350,000 international clients who travel with JetBlue to through San Juan."
"The streamlining of immigration and customs processes, together with the diversification of infrastructure and services available upon arrival to the Island, contribute to Puerto Rico remaining at the forefront of tourism trends and making us a world-class destination in the Caribbean, "said Carla Campos, executive director of the Tourism Company of Puerto Rico. "A pleased guest is our best spokesperson to carry the message that Puerto Rico is an excellent choice for vacations or business trips."
During every travel season, CBP’s San Juan Field Office issues an advisory to improve travelers’ experience when entering the United States via Puerto Rico and the USVI. Visitors and returning residents can take steps to prevent unnecessary delays and to ensure a smooth CBP processing.
CBP’s mission is to facilitate travel while maintaining the highest standards of security for those who live here and for those who come to visit. On a typical day last year, CBP officers processed more than 1 million travelers arriving airports, seaports or border crossings.
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