The suspension of Global Entry is coming to an end.
The fast-track service that helps paying members expedite passport control after an international flight back to the US will resume at 5 a.m. EST on Wednesday, the Trump administration confirmed.
The New York Times was the first to report the news, which TPG confirmed with a spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday night.
Global Entry had been closed since February 22 amid the partial government shutdown affecting DHS.
In a statement Tuesday night, DHS said the move came as it “continually evaluates” what steps it can take amid the shutdown, which has now lasted more than three weeks.
The unusual decision to suspend Global Entry had been Heavily criticized throughout the travel sector. and by some lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
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The program is largely funded by the $120 application fee that members pay every five years and generally continues to operate even during a federal shutdown.
In any case, this pivot by DHS will certainly be good news for travelers, who will no longer have to wait in the usual lines at passport control as the spring break travel rush begins. Sunday was the busiest day at U.S. airports since early January, the end of the holiday season.
However, resuming Global Entry services will not be of any help at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. who have seen assembly lines in the last few days.
TSA officers, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at airport customs facilities, are currently working without pay.
Global Entry allows members vetted and approved through an interview process to bypass normal passport control lanes and instead use express biometric kiosks after returning to the US from abroad. Global Entry members also have access to TSA PreCheck lanes at airport security.
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Editorial Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, not of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
