There is no global entry, and there is no problem at the busiest airport in the United States.
Passengers returning to the U.S. from abroad can now accelerate faster through passport control (and without taking out their passports). And you don’t need membership, interviews or fees to qualify for access.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently expanded its new program, called Enhanced Passenger Processing, which uses high-tech software and biometric scans to quickly clear U.S. travelers and move them to international arrival areas.
The new process is almost a bit like the agency’s fast-tracking global entry program, but there is no $120 application fee – it can be an attractive alternative for travelers who only leave about once a year.
“This is really a game changer for how we welcome our citizens back to the United States back to the United States,” CBP Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner Diane Sabatino said in a press conference Friday at Dallas-Worth International Airport (DFW).
Enhance the way passengers handle
Enhanced passenger processing, or “EPP,” was part of a trial quietly held at Dallasworth International Airport (DFW) nine months ago.
Early results are promising, reducing U.S. citizens’ passport control waiting time by 25%, CBP reported. This means less time to queue after a long flight, which can easily be one of the most unpleasant parts of international travel.
Travelers using EPP walked to their tablet to take pictures. They don’t need to take out their passports or any other documents; the program compares the images taken at that time with Passport or Visa Photos CBP.
I watched travelers after traveler use the service on Friday at DFW and saw most people get cleared in seconds. In some cases, officials overseeing the lane asked travelers for their travel details, and then most were on the way.
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“The whole process is touchless, it is effective and safe,” Sabatino said Friday.
It is also growing in many of the busiest international portals in the United States and overseas CBP pre-ease facilities.
Where can I use enhanced passenger handling?
Last month, TPG reported the technology arrived at Orlando International Airport (MCO), one of the largest destinations for vacationers in the country.
In addition to DFW and Orlando, CBP now extends EPP to:
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- O’Hare International Airport in Chicago (ORD)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Ocean)
- Dublin Airport in Ireland (voice), passengers screened before flying to the United States
CBP notes that providing U.S. citizens with this faster processing option also reduces waiting time for non-citizens, by freeing up lane space and officials, which means more lanes are available for visitors.
The agency said that during the DFW trial phase of the new program, the maximum waiting time for non-U.S. citizens dropped from more than 50 minutes to less than 35 minutes.
A better option than a global entry?
To be clear, no other passport control program (even the new EPP) has surpassed the pace of global entry, especially as CBP is committed to speeding up paid plans with newer, high-tech tools.
For travelers who often fly overseas, global admission remains the highest “hacker”, both of which allow for ultra-fast travel through passport control – as well as access to TSA Precheck Lanes.
Read more: How to apply for a global entry: Tips for beginners
However, travelers flying internationally may not be as enthusiastic about $120 enrollment, which will benefit within five years (although some credit cards will reimburse the fee).
Mobile passport control third option
There is another time-saving option for travelers:
- No global entries
- Arrival at an airport that does not have a new EPP yet
- Or, who doesn’t want to use epp
The widely available mobile passport control program allows passengers to submit some personal information before arriving through the mobile app before entering a dedicated line for processing.
Bottom line
No matter which program you choose, there are now multiple ways to skip the longest lines after a long flight.
“We are not a solution,” Sabatino said. “We want to make sure we offer a range of options for all different types of travelers.”
Despite concerns about travel demand this summer, airlines say there is still a lot of demand for international travel among U.S. customers. The recent Memorial Day weekend brought two of the busiest days of all time at U.S. airports.
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