Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport has applied to join the US pre-clearance program. The Trusted Traveler Program provides pre-approved US-bound passengers with a smoother clearance process at US entry airports. If accepted, Taiwan would become the first Asia-Pacific country to join the program.
Taiwan’s application for US pre-clearance is under review
As reported by Focus Taiwan, the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) confirmed on Wednesday that Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) has applied to join the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry pre-clearance program. The application was submitted in September after the CBP revealed that it was inviting new airports to join the scheme for the first time in four years.
MOFA spokesperson, Joanne Ou, said that the application for the Global Entry program was currently under review by the CBP. She added that,
“MOFA is working closely with related Taiwanese authorities to push for Taoyuan’s inclusion in the program that will expedite the entry of its citizens into the U.S.”
Speaking at the Heritage Foundation on December 21, acting Secretary of US Homeland Security, Chad F. Wolf, said that the two sides are in talks over the matter. During his speech, Wolf said,
“In the travel domain, we are engaging with Taiwan regarding Taipei’s pending application for preclearance for U.S.-bound travelers.”
If Taiwan is given the green light, it would be the first country in the Asia-Pacific to provide a smoother travel experience for passengers to the US.
The Global Entry Program
CBP Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program that streamlines the international arrivals procedure and reduces congestion at US airports. Members of the program are pre-approved, low-risk travelers who are processed by CBP personnel at approved airports before boarding their flight to the US. On arrival in the US, the passenger is treated as a domestic arrival.
At the airport, approved travelers can bypass CBP security inspection lines and head straight for Global Entry kiosks. They run their smart chipped passport through the scanner, complete a swift fingerprint verification, and use the screen to complete their customs declaration.
According to the CBP website, Global entry is currently available at 15 preclearance locations, including Argentina, Colombia, Germany, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The benefits of joining the Global Entry program
Travelers who are members of the US Global Entry program get to avoid the security processing lines and don’t have to fill out tedious paperwork on arrival in the US. That means much shorter wait times. You can also get access to streamlined entry benefits in other countries.
Joining the scheme costs $100, and the clearance is valid for five years. Eligible travelers will be subject to a rigorous background check and must attend an in-person interview with a CPB officer before being approved.
The CBP currently has more than 600 officers and agricultural specialists stationed at pre-clearance locations around the world. In 2019, CBP personnel stationed abroad precleared 22 million travelers, representing over 16% of all commercial air travelers to the US.
What do you think of Taiwan joining the US Global Entry program? Are you a member of the scheme? Tell us your experiences in the comments.
