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US GLOBAL ENTRY: Trial for Australians this month, January 2025

US GLOBAL ENTRY: Trial for Australians this month, January 2025

In August 2024, USA and Australian immigration bodies announced that Australia would soon be able to participate in the United States Global Entry program in 2025. This program streamlines entry into the USA through pre-approval.

It has now been confirmed according to ET, that a trial of the program will start later in January 2025, prior to full access to the program later in the year.

This means that eligible Australian travellers can apply for US Global Entry and TSA PreCheck this January, which will give access to fast-track lanes for customs and security at international and domestic airports in America.

Eligible Australians who sign up to the Global Entry program will benefit from streamlined and expediated immigration and customs clearance channels on arrival into the United States.

The program will initially be available from January 2025 to a limited number of Australians that travel most frequently to the US, with work underway to open up the program to all eligible Australians who wish to apply later in 2025.

They will automatically be eligible to participate in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre-Check program, allowing for expedited screening processes for US domestic flights.’

DFAT press release 6 August 2024
a passport with a logo on it
My old passport [Schuetz/2PAXfly]

Apply for the US Global Entry trial

Keep your eyes peeled for when this opens, as only 1,000 Australians will be admitted to the trial. But, also make sure that you fit the criteria. The trial criteria are more restrictive than for the program itself. Eligibility criteria:

  • Must be an Australian Citizen
  • Must have travelled to the USA at least five times in the last 12 months
  • Must meet Global Entry program eligibility requirements – which are quite strict
  • Must have NO criminal convictions or any pending criminal charges or warrants, including driving offences
  • Must NOT have broken any customs, agriculture regulations, or immigration regulations
  • Must NOT be under investigation by any law enforcement agency
  • Must satisfy ‘low-risk traveller’ criteria defined by US Customs & Border Protection (USCBP)

If you apply, you will also be asked (‘invited’) to complete an Australian background check. This will be conducted by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. The results will be passed on to the USCBP. There will be additional security checks at the USA end of the process.

Approval will give you US Global Entry for 5 years.

I will update when the trial is open. Meanwhile here is the current link for applications at USCBP, and the link to Homeland Security.

a group of people posing for a photo
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong signs the Global Entry Agreement at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C., USA on 5 August, 2024. [Australian Government]

Terminology

Global Entry, currently costs US$120 (~AU$193). This is the USA’s trusted traveller program, which pre-approves flyers entering the USA from overseas.

TSA PreCheck, currently costs US$77.95 (~AU$126). This is the domestic equivalent. If granted, it will allow you to join a separate security queue at domestic airports in the USA.

Australian background check (charges currently unknown) conducted by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and forwarded to the USCBP

Once approved

Your ticket to the elite! You can head for the fast lane process, skipping queues and heading straight for the passport scanning kiosk. Iif you have TSA PreCheck, then you will be able to head for the specially marked queue, and in most cases won’t need to remove your shoes, or separate your laptop from your luggage. You will have similar access at USA domestic airports.

a blue and yellow sign with white text
TSA PreCheck logo – head for that queue if you qualify. [Adobe Stock]

2PAXfly Takeout

Can’t wait. Entering the USA is often one of the worst immigration and customs experiences in the world. Getting these ‘fast-track’ privileges will be welcome, even if you are an infrequent visitor to the USA.

I have woeful memories of entering the USA at LAX at god-knows-what time of the morning and being met with officious and reluctant immigration officers.

In contrast, when entering the USA in New York, I encountered a lovely Homeland Security officer who asked me if I was enjoying my book. He had spied my copy of Counting my Chickens by Deborah Devonshire (Dutchess of Devonshire and the youngest of the Mitford girls). He was apparently into all that ‘royal stuff’.

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