Hello, everyone. This is Matsui from IMS Legal Professional Corporation. While hot days are still upon us, mornings and evenings are starting to cool down a bit. It's hard to believe, but there are only four months left in this year. With the summer heat, it's important to take care of your health so your body doesn't suffer too much.
Now, have you heard about the U.S. "Global Entry" program? This is a program operated by the U.S. government agency CBP (Customs and Border Protection), designed to simplify the entry process for travelers with low-risk profiles who have received prior approval when traveling to the United States by air. This program has been available for U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and nationals of certain other countries. Until recently, it was primarily a special program allowed only for U.S. permanent residents, but as of the end of July 2023, Japanese citizens who receive CBP pre-authorization can also use it. In the latter part of 2017, a pilot program was quietly conducted, and those who could obtain a promotion code (only 1,500 Japanese individuals) were apparently able to apply for this program, even if they were not U.S. permanent residents.
The Advantages of Global Entry
If you've ever traveled to the United States, you may already know that the immigration process for entry into the U.S. has separate lines: one for U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents and another for non-immigrant visa holders, including ESTA. In many cases, the line for non-immigrant visa holders can be extremely long, and the wait times for processing can be quite lengthy. This can be particularly stressful if you have a connecting flight with little time to spare. For families traveling to the U.S., if even one family member is a U.S. citizen (even a baby), they can use the U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents line, which often leads to envy among other family members (especially those who have experienced a mad dash to another terminal).
The primary benefit of the Global Entry program is that you won't need to wait in those long lines mentioned earlier. Program participants can use automated kiosks, scan their passports and visas, and undergo fingerprint verification to complete the entry process. They are then directed to baggage claim and priority exits outside the CBP immigration checkpoint. In other words, Global Entry participants receive tickets that don't require them to wait in the immigration line. For those who need to travel to the U.S. frequently, this is an incredibly attractive program.
Furthermore, if you are registered with the Global Entry program, you can use TSA PreCheck when boarding domestic flights within the United States. Travelers who have received approval from the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) can use dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes at U.S. airports when departing. During security checks, you can pass through without removing your shoes, belts, jackets, or taking out laptops and liquids stored in your carry-on baggage.
Eligibility for the Global Entry Program
To be eligible for the Global Entry program:
- You must have citizenship from a country approved for Global Entry (Japanese citizens are eligible).
- Applicants under 18 must have consent from a parent or legal guardian.
- You must possess a machine-readable passport.
How to Apply for the Global Entry Program
You can apply online through the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website and pay a $100 application fee (this fee is non-refundable and covers five years of program registration). Currently, Japanese applicants require a special code to apply. To obtain this code, you need to send an email to CBP. For Japanese nationals, you'll need to submit a copy of your family register (koseki tohon) to the Examination Management Division of the Tokyo Immigration Services Agency (note that this is a Japanese agency, not a U.S. agency). The U.S. government will verify your information and conduct a background check (the screening process takes about 4-5 months). Before final approval, applicants will need to undergo an interview with CBP officers (interview appointment required). You can also conduct the interview upon arrival at many major U.S. airports. In this case, no prior appointment is necessary, and during the interview, your photograph will be taken, and fingerprints will be collected.
Important Note
One important point to keep in mind is that even if you're approved for Global Entry, you'll still need ESTA or a visa separately. The names can be somewhat confusing, but Global Entry approval does not mean you don't need a visa. Please be aware of this distinction.
At IMS, we also provide support for applying to the U.S. Global Entry Program. If you're interested, please feel free to contact us.
