San AntonioInternationalAirport (SAT) has been designated an official GlobalEntryEnrollmentCenter by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP).  Global Entry kiosks have been in operation at the international arrivals area of SAT since August.  However, San Antonio area applicants had to schedule the required in-person interview in a city with an enrollment center.  With the opening of an enrollment center at the SAT Customs Area, applicants no longer must travel to Dallas, Houston or another state to conduct the short enrollment interview that after a comprehensive  background check conducted by the Department of Homeland Security. Interested travelers must apply online at www.GlobalEntry.gov, where SAT is now listed as an EnrollmentCenter.

San AntonioInternationalAirport is the latest of 31 airports nationwide, and a total of 40 airports throughout the US, Canada, Ireland and South Korea. Most members using the Global Entry kiosks are processed for arrival into the U.S. in about a minute.

International travelers enrolled in Global Entry who are returning to the U.S. through the San Antonio airport can bypass passport control lines to use CBP’s automated self-service kiosk.  The kiosk features include a camera, touch-screen monitor, fingerprint scanner, document reader, and receipt printer.

Applications for enrollment in the program are available through the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) at www.globalentry.gov. The Global Entry application process consists of the following three steps for all applicants:

• Completion and submittal of an on-line application through GOES, along with payment of a non-refundable application $100 fee (good for five years)
• Scheduled appointment within 30 days from the date of the online approval notice to schedule an appointment.  (The actual appointment must be within 90 days of the date of the online approval notice.) Applicants may now choose SAT as the location for their interview appointment.
• Undergo a background check, interview with a CBP Officer at an EnrollmentCenter and provide biometric information, e.g., fingerprint scan.

The benefits of becoming a Global Entry card holder are:

• No queuing for passport control checks;
• No time consuming paper customs declaration form;
• The Global Entry pass can be used at many of the leading U.S. airports;
• No lengthy customs and immigration questions;
• Expedited travel from the gate to the terminal exit (can take as little as 30 seconds);
• No Minimum number of international “trips to qualify for the Global Entry program.

Global Entry is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, and Mexican nationals.  The program is also available to citizens of the Netherlands, who are enrolled in the Dutch Privium program, and citizens of the Republic of Korea enrolled in the Korean SES program, Canadian citizens and residents enrolled in the NEXUS program may also use the Global Entry kiosks.  Members of the CBP Trusted Traveler program, SENTRI, who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, can also use the Global Entry kiosks.

The Global Entry program began as a pilot program at George Bush Intercontinental, John F. Kennedy International, and Washington Dulles International airports on June 06, 2008.  It became a permanent voluntary program on February 6, 2012.  As of August 24, 2012, there are more than 400,000 Global Entry members who average about 5,000 kiosk uses per day.

For additional information about the Global Entry program, visit www.globalentry.gov.