There's a new app from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, designed to make its Global Entry system even easier to use—and maybe save its budget a few bucks as well.
Global Entry is the system that allows its 12 million members to skip the sometimes endless lines to enter the U.S. by simply identifying themselves and being waved through by an officer. Up to now, that's involved stopping at a kiosk, in line with other Global Entry members, to be verified, using passport and a quick photo and then proceeding to the officer.
The new app, modeled on the successful Mobile Passport App, skips the kiosk step by allowing members to enter the information required into the smartphone app, including a quick selfie, upload on arrival and then proceed to the officer, who has a display of uploaded incoming passengers on a monitor to check.
It's already been rolled out at airports in Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Seattle and Washington/Dulles, and will be extended in stages to other U.S. international arrival airports. At some airports, including at least Terminal 8 at JFK, the kiosks are still in use but no longer issue a paper verification slip; the kiosk snaps a picture and it goes to the officer's monitor.
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