Global Entry now available in more airports

United States Customs and Border Protection has announced that Global Entry kiosks are now available at CBP preclearance at Vancouver International Airport and Ottawa's MacDonaldCartier Airport, and will be available at Montreal's Trudeau International Airport and Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport by September.

Global Entry is a voluntary pilot program that streamlines the international arrivals process for preapproved travelers through use of self-service kiosks located at 20 major US airports. The pilot program is an alternative to regular passport processing procedures, allowing members to bypass the regular line, and currently reduces average wait times by 70 percent. To date, Global Entry members have used the kiosks more than one million times.

The placement of Global Entry kiosks at Canadian preclearance locations is part of the integration of the Global Entry and NEXUS Trusted Traveler programs.

The integration of the Global Entry and NEXUS programs began in December 2010, when CBP published a Federal Register Notice announcing that NEXUS members could participate in Global Entry.

With die deployment of Global Entry kiosks to Canadian preclearance, Global Entry members will be able to take advantage of the program when returning home from Canada. NEXUS members, who have Global Entry benefits, have the option of using either the Global Entry or NEXUS kiosks in preclearance.

'Having Global Entry kiosks at CBP preclearance sites in Canada is another step we are taking to facilitate Global Entry and NEXUS members traveling into the US,' said the Office of Field Operations assistant commissioner, Thomas S Winkowski. 'Trusted traveler members will now be able to enjoy this benefit as CBP officers concentrate on those travelers who we know less about and who may pose a risk to our homeland.'

Global Entry is available to US citizens and US lawful permanent residents, as well as Mexican nationals. Citizens of the Netherlands may also apply under a special reciprocal arrangement that links Global Entry with the Dutch Privium program in Amsterdam. Canadian citizens and residents may participate in Global Entry through membership in the NEXUS program.

Applications to Global Entry must first be submitted online. (Global Entry) A nonrefundable fee of $100 is also collected via the web site for a five-year membership. Applicants must then complete an in-person interview, at any of the Global Entry enrollment centers, where fingerprints are collected.

Once enrolled in the pilot program, Global Entry members may proceed directly to the kiosks in the inspection services area. At the kiosk, members insert their passport or lawful permanent resident card into a document reader, provide digital fingerprints for comparison wi?i fingerprints on file, answer customs declaration questions on the kiosk's touch-screen, and then present a transaction receipt to CBP officers before leaving the inspection area.

Preclearance offers a convenience to travelers arriving in the US by completing all customs, immigration and agriculture inspections prior to arriving at a US port of entry. When precleared passengers arrive in the US they can use domestic terminals and/or connect to their domestic flights without further processing.

Visa initiatives to promote start-up enterprises for job creation

The secretary of homeland security, Janet Napolitano, and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services director, Alejandro Mayorkas, outlined a series of policy, operational, and outreach efforts to fuel the nation's economy and stimulate investment by attracting foreign entrepreneurial talent of exceptional ability or who otherwise can create jobs, form startup companies, and invest capital in areas of high unemployment.

'The United States must continue to attract the best and brightest from around the world to invest their talents, skills, and ideas to grow our economy and create American jobs,' said Secretary Napolitano.

'Current immigration laws support foreign talent who will invest their capital, create new jobs for American workers, and dedicate their exceptional talent to the growth of our nation's economy,' said Director Mayorkas.

These actions mark the six-month anniversary of Startup America, a White House-led initiative to reduce barriers and accelerate growth for America's job-creating entrepreneurs. They have also been one key focus of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, which has recommended taking action to help ensure that America can out-innovate and outcompete the world in a global economy.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services noted that entrepreneurs may obtain an employment-based second preference (EB-2) immigrant visa if they satisfy the existing requirements, and also may qualify for a National Interest Waiver under the EB-2 immigrant visa category if they can demonstrate that their business endeavors will be in the interest of the United States.

The EB-2 visa classification includes foreign workers with advanced degrees and individuals of exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business. Generally, an EB-2 visa petition requires a job offer and a Department of Labor certification. These requirements can be waived under existing law if the petitioner demonstrates ?iat approval of the EB-2 visa petition would be in the national interest of the United States.

USCIS has also updated existing frequently asked questions to clarify that an H-lB beneficiary who is the sole owner of the petitioning company may establish a valid employer-employee relationship for the purposes of qualifying for an H-lB nonimmigrant visa - which is used by US businesses to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields, such as science, engineering, and computer programming.

The EB-5 immigrant investor program is also being further enhanced by transforming the intake and review process. In May, USCIS proposed fundamental enhancements to streamline the EB-5 process which include: extending die availability of premium processing for certain EB-5 applications and petitions, implementing direct lines of communication between the applicants and USCIS, and providing applicants with the opportunity for an interview before a USCIS panel of experts to resolve outstanding issues in an application. After reviewing stakeholder feedback on the proposal, USCIS is developing a phased plan to roll out these enhancements and is poised to begin implementing the first of these enhancements within 30 days.

Created by Congress in 1990, the program stimulates the US economy through capital investment and resulting job creation by immigrant investors. As of June 30, 2011, it is estimated that the program has resulted in more than $1.5 billion in capital investments and created at least 34,000 jobs.

USCIS has also announced die expansion of its Premium Processing Service to immigrant petitions for multinational executives and managers (often referred to as 'E13'). The Premium Processing Service allows employers to expedite processing of their petitions, absent evidentiary deficiencies, fraud or national security concerns.