DHS holds enrollment session for Global Entry in New Jersey

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The Department of Homeland Security held a meet at the Royal Albert’s Palace in Fords, New Jersey, last week, to educate and help the Indian and Indian American community enroll in the Global Entry facility.

The Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports.

At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. 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.

While Global Entry’s goal is to speed travelers through the process, members may still be selected for further examination when entering the United States. Any violation of the program’s terms and conditions will result in the appropriate enforcement action and termination of the traveler’s membership privileges, according to the DHS.

At the meet in New Jersey, hosted by Albert Jasani, the owner of Royal Albert’s Palace, Deputy Chief Officer from the CBP, LoBello, along with some other officers, explained the merits of the program, and how it would help applicants to be sped through lines at airports.

“The Global Entry helps to expedite the arrival process of passengers at points of entry into the United States,” he explained in an interview to ITV Gold.

Dr. Sudhir Parikh, the Founder and Chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media, speaking to the audience, explained it would be very beneficial for the Indian community to take to the facility.

“Our community is very affluent. They travel extensively, within and outside the US. Global Entry makes life very easy, so I urge everyone to apply for Global Entry. It is convenient when traveling around the world,” he said, adding that the community is “very appreciative of this initiative.”

Dr. Parikh was also felicitated and honored at the meet for his contribution to the community.

Jasani and another guest, Dr. Dinesh Patel, also lauded the program, and the initiative of the DHS personnel to involve the Indian community in the program.

“The immigration people came here to do the good job here,” said Jasani.

Alok Kumar, President, FIA, also praised the DHS personnel who came to the venue.

“Nothing better than they coming here to our doorstep. And that too, coming here after hours. We salute you for that,” he said.

Some of the guests commented that the meet was helpful, as they had got stuck on the online form while trying to enroll into Global Entry, but were now confident that they might be able to get into the program after 4-5 weeks.