Get ready for a significantly smoother arrival into the United States. A major rollout of automated passport control eGates is now underway at key international airports across the country, set to dramatically cut queue times for eligible British travellers and citizens from other visa-waiver nations.
The new automated portals, operated by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), utilise advanced facial recognition technology to verify a traveller's identity. The process is designed to be swift and simple: travellers approach the kiosk, have their photo taken, and receive a receipt, all without needing to interact with a CBP officer for the primary inspection.
How The New US Entry eGates Work
The streamlined process is a welcome upgrade for weary international passengers. Here’s what to expect:
- Approach the Kiosk: Travellers from the Visa Waiver Program, including the UK, proceed to the designated eGates area in the federal inspection station.
- Photo Capture: The system scans the traveller's face and matches it against the passport photo stored in the government's database.
- Receive a Receipt: Upon successful verification, the kiosk prints a paper receipt.
- Final Check: The traveller then presents this receipt to a CBP officer for a final, quick review before being admitted into the US.
This biometric entry system is a cornerstone of CBP's effort to enhance security while simultaneously improving the passenger experience by reducing congestion and wait times at often crowded international terminals.
Not a Replacement for Global Entry
It is crucial for frequent flyers to understand that this new automated entry is distinct from the Global Entry programme. While both aim to speed up entry, Global Entry remains a pre-screened, trusted traveller programme that often includes even faster, dedicated kiosks and bypasses regular passport control lines entirely.
The new eGates are available to a broader audience—specifically, travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries who are not enrolled in Global Entry. This makes the benefits of automated processing accessible to a much wider group of visitors without the need for a lengthy application or fee.
The deployment of these gates signals a significant modernisation of US entry procedures, bringing them more in line with systems already familiar to UK travellers at airports like Heathrow and Gatwick. For Brits heading to iconic destinations like New York, Los Angeles, or Miami, the promise of a faster, more efficient welcome is very good news indeed.
