Washington, DC – The United States signed another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India on June 3, 2016, ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fourth visit (in two years), for the Development of an International Expedited Traveler Initiative, also known as the Global Entry Program.
“Signing of this MoU is of special significance as it lends direct impetus to the people-to-people exchange between our two countries,” said Arun K. Singh, Indian Ambassador to the US at the signing ceremony.
Kevin K. McAleenan, Deputy Commissioner, US Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security signed on behalf of the US while Ambassador Singh initialed from the Indian side.
The Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection program, which allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. At the US airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or US permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.
Travelers must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment.
Once the program gives India entry, Indian citizens would get an opportunity to apply for membership in this program. After joint scrutiny and clearance by both countries, the approved Indian travelers would be extended the facility of expedited entry into the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports.
“This initiative not only signifies outstanding cooperation between our two countries in immigration-related matters but also underlines continuing efforts on both sides to facilitate and make travel easier between our two countries,” added Ambassador Singh.
With this MoU, the procedures for India’s entry into the Global Entry Program got kicked off and are expected to be completed in the coming months.