Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will begin participating this month in a program that speeds up processing through customs checkpoints for preapproved fliers.
Customs and Border Protection announced this week that Sky Harbor will join the Global Entry program on March 26, becoming the 24th international airport in the country to offer the service.
Travelers have to apply for the program and undergo a rigorous background check to make sure they are a low security risk. Once approved, they can largely check themselves through customs by scanning their Global Entry cards or passports at a kiosk and making their customs declarations on the machine.
The program reduces the number of security checks for some fliers, but other travelers should rest assured that it "is for low-risk travelers who are screened, and they're rigorously screened," said Victor Brabble, a customs spokesman in Tucson.
People are also reading…
The background checks on people who apply for the program are a "multilayered security threat assessment" that includes fingerprinting the applicant and an interview with a customs agent, said Joanne Ferreira, a customs spokeswoman in Washington, D.C.
"That's why they're 'trusted,' because we get to know more about them than a regular traveler," Ferreira said, noting that it usually takes four to six weeks for applicants to be enrolled in the program.
The program aims to drastically cut waiting time for U.S. travelers on returning international flights. On average, the program has reduced waiting times for approved fliers by 70 percent at other airports, with most people getting through the whole process in less than five minutes, the agency says.
"We have a very sophisticated market of international travelers who will benefit from this expedited service," Sky Harbor spokeswoman Deborah Ostreicher said in an email.
She said international travelers' re-entry times at Sky Harbor are relatively short - 20 to 40 minutes on average - but those times can double due to delays or inclement weather, "in which case this service is extremely helpful."
how to become a 'trusted traveler'
U.S. citizens and permanent residents can apply for the program. Mexican, Canadian and Dutch citizens can also enroll under certain circumstances.
In order to qualify for Global Entry, travelers must:
• Possess a machine-readable passport or permanent resident card.
• Pay a $100 fee and undergo a background check.
• Not have a criminal conviction in any country.
• Not have violated U.S. custom or immigration laws.
• Not pose a risk for terrorism.