Global Entry Program

In Context  

• Indian security agencies in the past two years checked the antecedents of more than 9,000 Indians who wanted to enrol for the paid Global Entry Program.
  • The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is being used for antecedent verification.

About Global Entry Programme 

•  It is a facility run by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency that works under the Department of Homeland Security(United States of America ) that fast tracks the movement of pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival after a rigorous background check through designated kiosks. 
• The pilot project started in 2008 and  India became a member of Global Entry in 2017.
• The other countries that are part of this programme are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
• Process: 
  • Applicants are charged $100 and a personal interview is conducted before they are enrolled.
    • Their biometrics are also collected.
  • After receiving a request, the U.S. authorities send them to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). 
    • The MEA forwards it to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which taps other ministries, State police and other databases to run a background check.
  • The CBP does not process the application if a person has been “convicted of any criminal offence or have pending criminal charges, including outstanding warrants; have been found in violation of any customs, immigration or agriculture regulations or laws in any country.”

Source: TH