[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 7 (Monday, January 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1509-1510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00258]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Customs and Border Protection
[CBP Dec. No. 15-01]
Expansion of Global Entry Eligibility to Citizens of the Republic
of Panama
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, the Republic of Korea,
the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Qatar, and the United
Kingdom. Additionally, participants in the NEXUS trusted traveler
program and certain participants in the Secure Electronic Network for
Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) trusted traveler program are
permitted to use the Global Entry kiosks as part of their membership in
those programs.\1\ This document announces that CBP is expanding
eligibility for Global Entry to include citizens of the Republic of
Panama. All of these individuals must otherwise satisfy the
requirements for participation in the Global Entry program.
Additionally, this document announces that U.S. citizens who
participate in Global Entry or U.S. citizens who can utilize Global
Entry kiosks as NEXUS or SENTRI participants have the option to apply
for membership in Panama Global Pass, the Republic of Panama's trusted
traveler program.
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\1\ See the Utilization of Global Entry Kiosks by NEXUS and
SENTRI Participants Federal Register notice, December 29, 2010 (75
FR 82202) for further information.
DATES: The expansion of eligibility to citizens of the Republic of
Panama will occur on January 12, 2015. Applications will be accepted
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from citizens of the Republic of Panama beginning January 12, 2015.
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, and pay the applicable fee. 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.
Additionally, in the preamble of the Global Entry final rule, CBP
recognized that pursuant to a previous Federal Register notice,\2\
participants in NEXUS and certain participants in SENTRI would still be
allowed to use the Global Entry kiosks.
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\2\ See the Utilization of Global Entry Kiosks by NEXUS and
SENTRI Participants Federal Register notice, December 29, 2010 (75
FR 82202) for further information.
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In a notice published in the Federal Register (78 FR 48706) on
August 9, 2013, CBP expanded Global Entry eligibility to include
citizens of the Republic of Korea who are participants in the Smart
Entry System (SES), a trusted traveler program for pre-approved, low-
risk travelers at designated airports in the Republic of Korea via the
use of e-gates; 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.
This document announces the further expansion of the Global Entry
trusted
[[Page 1510]]
traveler program to citizens of the Republic of Panama.
The Republic of Panama
On February 29, 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP
and the Ministry of Public Security of the Republic of Panama signed a
Joint Statement regarding the development of an international trusted
traveler initiative. As CBP and the Republic of Panama have negotiated
the operational details and completed the necessary infrastructure
updates, CBP is now ready to announce that, based on the Joint
Statement, citizens of the Republic of Panama are eligible to apply for
participation in Global Entry.
In order to participate, citizens of the Republic of Panama who
apply for Global Entry will be required to complete the on-line
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
Republic of Panama's Ministry of Public Security and completion of an
interview with CBP. The vetting criteria were mutually developed and
are consistent with each agency's applicable domestic laws and
policies. Once the risk assessment has been completed, CBP will notify
the applicants regarding whether or not they have been accepted into
Global Entry.
Applicants may be denied enrollment in the Global Entry program for
various reasons. An individual who is inadmissible to the United States
under U.S. immigration law or has, at any time, been granted a waiver
of inadmissibility or parole 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 arrested for, or 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.
U.S. Citizens' Participation in Panama Global Pass
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 Panama Global
Pass membership. Panama Global Pass is a trusted traveler program in
the Republic of Panama that uses self-service kiosks to offer expedited
processing for air travelers through clearance formalities when
entering the Republic of Panama. All U.S. applicants must apply for
Panama Global Pass directly with the Government of Panama, be
thoroughly vetted by both CBP and the Republic of Panama and be
interviewed by the National Immigration Service of Panama in the
Republic of Panama to complete the enrollment process. U.S. applicants
are required to pay the Panama Global Pass non-refundable $100 fee for
a five-year membership. The Republic of Panama will notify the U.S.
applicant directly about whether he or she was approved for Panama
Global Pass. More information about how to apply for Panama Global Pass
membership is available at http://www.globalentry.gov.
Dated: January 7, 2015.
John P. Wagner,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2015-00258 Filed 1-9-15; 8:45 am]
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