[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48706-48709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18775]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
[CBP Dec. No. 13-14]
Expansion of Global Entry Eligibility to Certain Citizens of the
Republic Of Korea, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Qatar,
and the United Kingdom
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: General notice.
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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has established the
Global Entry international trusted traveler program at most major U.S.
airports. Global Entry allows pre-approved, low-risk participants
expedited entry into the United States using Global Entry kiosks
located at designated airports. Currently, eligibility for
participation in Global Entry is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S.
nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Mexican nationals, and
certain eligible citizens of the Netherlands. This document announces
that CBP is expanding eligibility for Global Entry to include citizens
of the Republic of Korea who are participants
[[Page 48707]]
in the Smart Entry System (SES), a trusted traveler program in the
Republic of Korea; a limited number of citizens of the Federal Republic
of Germany who are participants in the Automated and Biometrics-
Supported Border Controls (ABG) Plus, a trusted traveler program in the
Federal Republic of Germany; a limited number of citizens of the State
of Qatar; and a limited number of citizens of the United Kingdom who
frequently travel to the United States. All of these individuals must
otherwise satisfy the requirements for participation in the Global
Entry program. CBP expects at some later point to expand eligibility to
include all citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany, all citizens
of the State of Qatar and all citizens of the United Kingdom who
otherwise satisfy the requirements for participation in the Global
Entry program. Additionally, this document announces that U.S. citizens
who participate in Global Entry will have the option to apply for
membership in the Republic of Korea's SES program and that a limited
number of U.S. citizens who participate in Global Entry will have the
option to apply for membership in Germany's ABG Plus.
DATES: The expansion of eligibility to qualified citizens of the
Republic of Korea, a limited number of citizens of the Federal Republic
of Germany, a limited number of citizens of the State of Qatar, and a
limited number of citizens of the United Kingdom will occur on August
9, 2013. Applications will be accepted from qualified citizens of the
Republic of Korea, a limited number of citizens of the Federal Republic
of Germany, a limited number of citizens of the State of Qatar, and a
limited number of citizens of the United Kingdom beginning August 9,
2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Panetta, Office of Field
Operations, (202) 344-1253, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Global Entry Program
Global Entry is a voluntary program that allows for the expedited
clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers arriving in the United
States at Global Entry kiosks located at designated airports. CBP
issued the final rule that promulgated the regulation to establish
Global Entry as an ongoing voluntary regulatory program in the Federal
Register (77 FR 5681) on February 6, 2012. The final rule contains a
detailed description of the program, the eligibility criteria, the
application and selection process, and the initial airport locations.
See 8 CFR 235.12. Travelers who wish to participate in Global Entry
must apply via the Global On-Line Enrollment System (GOES) Web site,
https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov, with the exception of the citizens of the
Republic of Korea. The Global Entry application process for citizens of
the Republic of Korea is described in the section entitled ``The
Republic of Korea.'' Applications for Global Entry must be completed
and submitted electronically.
Eligibility for participation in Global Entry is limited to U.S.
citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and certain
nonimmigrant aliens from countries that have entered into arrangements
with CBP regarding international trusted traveler programs.
Specifically, the regulation provides that certain nonimmigrant aliens
from countries that have entered into arrangements with CBP concerning
international trusted traveler programs may be eligible to apply for
participation in Global Entry after CBP announces the arrangement by
publication of a notice in the Federal Register. The notice will
include the country, the scope of eligibility of nonimmigrant aliens
from that country (e.g., whether only citizens of the foreign country
or citizens and non-citizens are eligible) and other conditions that
may apply based on the terms of the arrangement. See 8 CFR
235.12(b)(1)(ii). In the preamble of the Global Entry final rule, CBP
recognized the existence of previous arrangements it had with Mexico
and the Netherlands regarding the international trusted traveler
programs and announced that Mexican nationals and certain citizens of
the Netherlands were eligible to apply for the Global Entry program. It
further specified that Mexican nationals and citizens of the
Netherlands who were existing participants in the Global Entry pilot
would be automatically enrolled in the ongoing Global Entry program.
This document announces further expansion of the Global Entry
trusted traveler program.
The Republic Of Korea
On April 21, 2011, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP
and the Republic of Korea-Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration
Service (KIS) signed a Joint Statement regarding the development of an
initiative involving their respective international trusted traveler
programs. Based on this Joint Statement, CBP is announcing that
citizens of the Republic of Korea with Korean passports who participate
in the Smart Entry System (SES), a trusted traveler program in the
Republic of Korea maintained by KIS, are eligible to apply for
participation in Global Entry. The application procedure for eligible
Korean citizens is different from the usual Global Entry application
procedure. These applicants will apply through an online application
maintained by KIS and then set up a GOES account to pay the requisite,
non-refundable Global Entry fee, and to schedule an interview with CBP.
Eligible Korean citizens will be permitted to participate in Global
Entry only upon successful completion of a thorough risk assessment by
both CBP and KIS and completion of an interview with CBP. The vetting
criteria were mutually agreed upon and are consistent with each
agency's applicable domestic laws and policies.
CBP will notify the applicants regarding whether or not they have
been accepted into Global Entry. More information about how to apply is
available at www.globalentry.gov.
U.S. Citizens' Participation in the Smart Entry System (SES)
Pursuant to the Joint Statement, U.S. citizens who are Global Entry
participants or U.S. citizens who can utilize Global Entry kiosks as
NEXUS or SENTRI participants have the option to apply for SES
membership. SES is a trusted traveler program in the Republic of Korea
that provides expedited entry into the country via the use of eGates, a
system that uses fingerprints and facial recognition for biometric
verification of the individual's identity. All U.S. citizen applicants
must apply for SES through the GOES Web site, be thoroughly vetted by
both CBP and KIS, and be interviewed by KIS to complete the enrollment
process. U.S. citizen applicants are required to pay the SES fee at the
time of the interview with KIS and may need to provide KIS with
additional information and biometrics (in addition to the information
already required by Global Entry) at the time of the interview. KIS
will notify CBP whether the U.S. citizen applicant is approved, and CBP
will notify the applicant. U.S. citizens may enter the Republic of
Korea using SES at the Incheon International Airport or the Kimpo
International Airport. More information about how to apply for SES
membership is available at http://www.globalentry.gov.
The Federal Republic of Germany
On April 14, 2010, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP
and the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of
Germany
[[Page 48708]]
signed a Joint Declaration regarding the development of an initiative
involving their respective international trusted traveler programs, the
Global Entry/Automated and Biometrics-Supported Border Controls (ABG)
Plus program. Based on this Joint Declaration, CBP is announcing that
certain citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany who participate in
ABG Plus, a trusted traveler program in the Federal Republic of
Germany, are eligible to apply for participation in this Global Entry
limited pilot program. Citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany who
have been identified as potentially eligible for initial participation
will receive a promotional code and information about the program from
the German government. These individuals will be required to complete
the online application located on the GOES Web site, enter the code
during the application process, pay the non-refundable Global Entry
fee, and satisfy all the requirements of Global Entry.
These applicants will be permitted to participate in Global Entry
only upon successful completion of a thorough risk assessment by both
CBP and the German Federal Police and completion of an interview with
CBP. The vetting criteria were mutually agreed upon and are consistent
with each agency's applicable domestic laws and policies. CBP will
notify the applicants regarding whether or not they have been accepted
into Global Entry.
Limiting the number of citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany
who can apply for Global Entry at this time allows for the development
of the program's infrastructure. CBP expects to be able to expand
eligibility to apply for Global Entry to include all citizens of the
Federal Republic of Germany in the near future. CBP will announce such
expansion by notice in the Federal Register and on http://www.globalentry.gov.
U.S. Citizens' Participation in ABG Plus
Consistent with the Joint Declaration, a limited number of U.S.
citizens who are Global Entry participants or U.S. citizens who can
utilize Global Entry kiosks as NEXUS or SENTRI participants have the
option to apply for participation in ABG Plus. Potentially eligible
persons will receive a notice from CBP indicating that they are
eligible to apply for participation in ABG Plus and describing the
means by which they should apply. Although ABG Plus is only open to a
limited number of U.S. citizens at this time to allow for the
development of the program's infrastructure, the Federal Republic of
Germany expects to be able to expand eligibility to include all U.S.
citizens who are Global Entry participants in the near future. More
information about such an expansion will be posted at http://www.globalentry.gov once ABG Plus is more broadly available.
The State of Qatar
On December 4, 2011, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP
and the Ministry of Interior of the State of Qatar signed the Plan for
the Application of the Immigration Advisory Program and the Global
Entry Program (``Plan'') regarding the development of an initiative
involving their respective international trusted traveler programs and
the development of a Qatari trusted traveler program. Based on this
Plan, CBP is announcing that certain citizens of the State of Qatar are
eligible to apply for participation in Global Entry. Persons who have
been identified as potentially eligible for initial participation in
this limited pilot program will receive information about the program
from the Qatari government. In order to participate, citizens of the
State of Qatar who are invited to apply for Global Entry will be
required to complete the online application located on the GOES Web
site, pay the non-refundable Global Entry fee, and satisfy all the
requirements of Global Entry.
These applicants will be permitted to participate in Global Entry
only upon successful completion of a thorough risk assessment by both
CBP and the Qatari Ministry of Interior and completion of an interview
with CBP. The vetting criteria have been mutually agreed upon by both
agencies and are consistent with each agency's applicable domestic laws
and policies. CBP will notify the applicants regarding whether or not
they have been accepted into Global Entry.
Although CBP is expanding Global Entry to permit a limited number
of citizens of the State of Qatar to apply for Global Entry at this
time to allow for the development of the program's infrastructure, CBP
expects to be able to expand eligibility to apply for Global Entry to
include all citizens of the State of Qatar in the near future. CBP will
announce such expansion by notice in the Federal Register and on http://www.globalentry.gov.
U.S. Citizens' Participation in the State of Qatar's Trusted Traveler
Program
Consistent with the Plan, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent
residents who participate in Global Entry or can utilize Global Entry
kiosks as NEXUS or SENTRI participants will have the option to apply
for participation in Qatar's trusted traveler program, once such a
program is established. Once the program is established, CBP plans to
announce it on CBP's Web site at http://www.globalentry.gov.
The United Kingdom
On June 24, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP and
the United Kingdom Home Office, United Kingdom Border Agency of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom Border Agency) signed a
Joint Statement regarding the development of an international trusted
traveler program, referred to as the International Expedited Travellers
(IET) Initiative. The IET Initiative is intended to offer expedited
travel for low-risk citizens of the United Kingdom into the United
States and low-risk U.S. citizens into the United Kingdom, who meet the
program requirements, including the successful completion of a thorough
risk assessment by both CBP and the United Kingdom Border Agency.
In furtherance of the IET Initiative, CBP is expanding eligibility
to apply for participation in Global Entry to include certain citizens
of the United Kingdom. The term ``citizens of the United Kingdom'' as
used in the Joint Statement and this notice refers to citizens of
England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In order to allow for
the development of the program's infrastructure, the application
process will initially be open to only a limited number of citizens of
the United Kingdom who frequently travel to the United States. Persons
who have been identified as potentially eligible for initial
participation receive a CBP promotional code and information about the
program from a British airline carrier, the U.S. Embassy, or CBP. In
order to participate, those individuals will be required to complete
the online application located on the GOES Web site, pay the non-
refundable Global Entry fee, and satisfy all the requirements of Global
Entry, including an in-person interview with CBP. These applicants will
be required to enter the code during the application process. The code
must be used within the specified time period and can only be used
once. Citizens of the United Kingdom also must obtain a police
certificate to be presented to a CBP officer at the time of the
interview to demonstrate that they have no criminal history.
Applicants will be permitted to participate in Global Entry only
upon successful completion of a thorough risk assessment by both CBP
and the United Kingdom Border Agency and
[[Page 48709]]
completion of an interview with CBP. The vetting criteria have been
mutually agreed upon by both agencies and are consistent with
applicable domestic laws and policies. CBP will notify the applicants
regarding whether or not they have been accepted into Global Entry.
Although CBP is expanding Global Entry to permit a limited number
of citizens of the United Kingdom to apply for Global Entry at this
time to allow for the development of the program's infrastructure, CBP
expects to be able to expand eligibility to apply for Global Entry to
include all British citizens in the near future. CBP will announce such
expansion by notice in the Federal Register and on http://www.globalentry.gov.
U.S. Citizens' Participation in the United Kingdom's Trusted Traveler
Program
Consistent with the Joint Statement, U.S. citizens who participate
in Global Entry or U.S. citizens who can utilize Global Entry kiosks as
NEXUS or SENTRI participants will have the option to apply for
participation in the United Kingdom's trusted traveler program, once
such a program is established. Once the program is established, CBP
plans to announce it on CBP's Web site at http://www.globalentry.gov.
General Eligibility To Participate In Global Entry
For all Global Entry applicants, including applicants from the
Republic of Korea, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Qatar,
and the United Kingdom, the following general eligibility standards
apply. An individual who is inadmissible to the United States under
U.S. immigration law is ineligible to participate in Global Entry.
Applications from such individuals will automatically be rejected.
Applications for Global Entry may also be rejected if the applicant has
ever been convicted of a criminal offense, or if the individual has
ever been found in violation of customs or immigration laws, or of any
criminal law. Additionally, an applicant will not be accepted for
participation in Global Entry if CBP determines that the applicant
presents a potential risk of terrorism, or criminality (including
smuggling), or if CBP cannot sufficiently determine that the applicant
meets all the program eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria
are set forth in more detail in the Global Entry final rule and 8 CFR
235.12. See also http://www.globalentry.gov.
Dated: July 31, 2013.
David J. Murphy,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-18775 Filed 8-8-13; 8:45 am]
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