Indian frequent flyers can soon avail speedy checkouts at US airports

NEW DELHI: The US is likely to open its Global Entry programme for Indians by August that allows speedy airport checkout for pre-approved, norisk, frequent travellers upon their arrival in the country.

The facility is being provided to Indians following an agreement signed by India and the US when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US recently.

“By the end of July or first week of August, Indian citizens can apply before an US consulate for entry under the Global Entry,” a senior home ministry official said.

The official added that India, in the next couple of months, may provide a similar facility to the travelers from the US.

The final decision on taking an Indian into Global Entry rests with the US authorities, which screen the background of each applicant before allowing the entry. Also, if required, the US authorities may take help of Indian security agencies for additional information on a particular applicant.

Individuals included in the list can enter the US through automatic kiosks at select airports.

At airports, programme members will proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration.

The kiosk issues the traveller a transaction receipt and directs the traveller to baggage claim and the exit.

India is only the ninth country with which the US has entered into an agreement in this regard.

The other countries in the agreement with the US for the same include Mexico, Panama, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Germany.