Speedy entry into US, as India signs global entry programme

Washington: With an American initiative, low-risk Indians, travelling to the US from now on will experience speedy entry into the country after landing.

President Trump in the International Expedited Traveler Initiative (Global Entry Programme), facilitated the programme for closer business and educational ties between India and the US. A joint statement, issued after talks between Trump and Modi, said the US president appreciated the innovations and entrepreneurship of Indians which have benefitted both the nations.

Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) programme which allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the US. The citizens of Switzerland and the United Kingdom are also part of the programme, which India has now joined, reported DC.

On landing at select airports, the programme members enter the US through automatic kiosks, instead of queueing up to clear the immigration by meeting an immigration officer.

At these airports, the members proceed to the Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or US permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration. The kiosk then issues the traveller a transaction receipt and directs him or her to the baggage claim and the exit.

The select US airports that offer the facility include all major ones, including New York, Newark, Washington, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Las Vegas, Miami and Seattle.