British travellers will soon be able to skip long immigration queues at American airports and enter the country in just one minute, thanks to a new hi-tech scheme. From December 3, UK citizens with machine-readable passports can enrol in the Global Entry programme, which uses automated kiosks to process passengers quickly.
The announcement was made at the World Travel Market in London by US Ambassador Matthew Barzun, UK Border Force chief Sir Charles Montgomery, and US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske. The kiosks read passports, scan fingerprints, take digital photos, and ask a few questions before issuing an entry receipt, completing the process in moments.
Commissioner Kerlikowske said: “Global Entry is a fantastic service that allows pre-checked British passengers quickly and securely to pass through US border controls. The average processing time for Global Entry members at the kiosk is one minute.” Sir Charles added: “This expansion is testament to the extraordinary close collaboration between our two countries.”
However, the service comes at a cost: an initial £42 fee for vetting via the UK Home Office, plus a $100 application fee to the US Department of Homeland Security. Approved applicants must also attend an interview with Customs and Border Protection officials, either at mobile enrolment centres in the UK or at selected US airports.
UK visitors to the US will still need a valid visa or an Esta under the visa waiver programme. Around 3.8 million Brits visit the US annually, with 125,000 making four or more trips per year. The US Embassy expects initial UK uptake to be in the “tens of thousands”.
