International Trusted Traveler Programs Gaining Momentum

excerpt from USA Today.
I use this program for a few years no and love it as well as some of my well traveled colleagues like Charles Massey, CMP


•Global Entry. Its membership totals 36,000. Its kiosks are used about 600 times a day at the 20 airports where they're active.

U.S. Customs receives "a pretty steady stream" of 3,000 to 4,000 applications a month, up from 1,500 when it operated at seven airports two years ago, says John Wagner, the agency's director of Trusted Traveler Programs.

"We'll see a steady increase in number of applications as the year progresses," Wagner says.

Global Entry members scan their machine-readable passport or permanent resident card at the kiosks in customs, and authenticate identification via fingerprints. Users then answer several questions. A receipt is printed, and members can proceed to baggage claim or a luggage-inspection booth.

Kiosk clearance takes about 40 seconds, Wagner says. Dealing with an immigration officer averages about a minute for U.S. citizens and three minutes for non-citizens.

The anticipated increase in membership will partially come from foreigners. Last year, Global Entry was expanded to include Dutch citizens who are also members of the Netherlands' trusted traveler program. Global Entry members can also apply to join the Dutch program. U.S. Customs is in talks to include the United Kingdom and Germany, Wagner says.

To gain more domestic customers, the agency will partner with airlines and market it to frequent fliers.