Recent discussions took place between India and the United States regarding the inclusion of certain Indian citizens in the United States’ Global Entry System, a program that allows for faster clearance upon arriving in the United States.

The two countries discussed which types of Indians would be eligible for the program, which would possibly include high dignitaries, top industrialists, and frequent travelers to the United States.

What is the Global Entry System?

The Global Entry System is a program administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that permits expedited clearance for pre-approved and low-risk travelers entering the United States. The Global Entry System has entry kiosks available at 58 airports and is currently available to citizens from six countries, not including India.

Travelers who are pre-approved for the Global Entry System simply present their passport, have their fingerprints scanned, and complete a customs declaration, avoiding processing lines, paperwork, and wait times.

Plans to Start Next Year

Sources explained that the plan is to start the inclusion of India into the Global Entry System by next year. The new addition will begin with limited entry of persons with no criminal record, and each applicant will be required to undergo a background check, as required for anyone applying for the program.

The objective of the Global Entry System is to reduce the pressure on United States Immigration officials by removing the requirement to have low-risk individuals undergo standard immigration check processing procedures.

In the near future, the United States government will be launching a website specifically for citizens of India to apply for the Global Entry System.

See the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for more details about the Global Entry System.