The various Trusted Traveler Programs offered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are a great time saver for those who are enrolled. Joe and I have sung the praises of Global Entry for years and I know that those who have membership in some of the other programs enjoy avoiding waits on long lines to get through customs.
Not surprisingly, to minimalize the public and CBP workers from the potential of catching COVID-19, CBP has announced they’ve extended the temporary closure of Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers until at least July 6, 2020. This includes Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST enrollment locations. Global Entry mobile enrollment events will also remain on hold.
If you’ve applied for a Trusted Traveler Program, are conditionally approved, and still need to schedule an interview you’ll need to reschedule online (perhaps again – you know who you are. Sorry.) after July 6th; also check your email and Trusted Traveler Program accounts for more info, as per CBP.
Despite these closures, CBP’s Enrollment on Arrival program continues to remain operational. “Conditionally-approved Global Entry applicants will be able to complete the enrollment process when arriving on an international flight at any of the airports that offer this program.” So I guess all you have to do is find a country with open borders that we’re currently allowed to fly to, fly there and fly back to the U.S. at the airports that offer the problem. But then again, if you’re from one of the non-U.S. countries that have access to Global Entry and can manage to fly here, I guess that door is open (and then quarantine when you get back home?).
There are only 2 pieces of “good news” in any of this:
- If you’re a new applicant, CBP is granting 485 days from the date that CBP conditionally approves your application to complete the enrollment process.
- For those of us who have to renew, CBP is still extending our benefits for up to 18 months if we apply for renewal before our current membership expires.
I think the amount of “good” in that “good news” is on the smaller end of the scale, but I guess when it comes to travel nowadays, we’ll take all the good news we can get.
Fingers crossed that this will be the last delay from the CBP’s Trusted Traveler Program.
Feature Photo: CBP.gov
#stayhealthy #staysafe #washyourhands
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
