On July 26, 2011, United States Customs & Border Protection (“USCBP”) announced that Global Entry kiosks are now available at USCBP preclearance at Vancouver International Airport and Ottawa’s MacDonald-Cartier Airport, and will be available at Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport and Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport by September. 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 USCBP published a Federal Register Notice announcing that NEXUS members could participate in Global Entry. With the 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 USCBP preclearance sites in Canada is another step we are taking to facilitate Global Entry and NEXUS members traveling into the U.S.,” said Office of Field Operations Assistant Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski. “Trusted traveler members will now be able to enjoy this benefit as USCBP officers concentrate on those travelers who we know less about and who may pose a risk to our homeland.”

As I previously mentioned, Global Entry is a voluntary pilot program that streamlines the international arrivals process for pre-approved travelers through use of self service kiosks located at 20 major U.S. 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.

Global Entry is available to U.S. citizens and U.S 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.