U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) opened a new Global Entry Enrollment Center Dec. 7, at Fairbanks International Airport. Global Entry, a CBP trusted traveler program, allows for expedited clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Due to the increased interest in the popular CBP Trusted Traveler program, CBP worked with the Fairbanks Airport Authority to open an enrollment center for conditionally-approved Global Entry applicants in Fairbanks.
“Global Entry is CBP’s most popular Trusted Traveler Program and we are pleased to open an Enrollment Center in Fairbanks for those hoping to join the Trusted Traveler ranks,” said Area Port Director Lance Robinson. “The new enrollment center provides a convenient location for people in the area to complete their application process and provides more opportunities to schedule interviews, enabling applicants to take quick advantage of this highly successful program.”
Prior to the Fairbanks Global Entry Enrollment Center, conditionally-approved applicants in the Fairbanks area had to travel to Anchorage to complete their enrollment.
The enrollment center is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CBP officers will only interview Global Entry applicants with appointments.
With the new enrollment center, the total number of available appointments will be 168 per week. Appointments are available through the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES).
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.
Currently available at 52 U.S. airports and 15 preclearance locations, Global Entry streamlines the arrival process at airports for trusted travelers. The program has more than 3.6 million members enrolled, and CBP receives approximately 100,000 new applications for Global Entry each month. As an added benefit, Global Entry members are also eligible to participate in the TSA Pre✓™, the Transportation Security Administration’s expedited security program.
U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents may apply for Global Entry as well as citizens of certain countries with which CBP has reciprocal agreements, including Colombia, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Canadian citizens and residents enrolled in NEXUS may also use Global Entry. Persons under the age of 18 who meet the general eligibility criteria must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian in order to apply.
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. Global Entry membership is good for five years.
While the goal of Global Entry is to speed trusted travelers through the process, members may be selected for further examination when entering the United States. Any violation of the program’s terms and conditions will result in appropriate enforcement action and revocation of the traveler’s membership privileges.
