Take a Pass on Airport Immigration

Give'em the thumb!

Been through immigration lately? Even U.S. citizens get the eyeball, the fishing questions and the lengthy line treatment when coming into the country from abroad. It's not supposed to be fun, but depending on the confluence of random factors, such as where you've been, what you look like and whether a foreign family of 14 is standing in front of you with documents asunder, the processing line can make the difference between catching a connecting flight or hanging in the airport all night.

But Homeland Security has a kinder-gentler side. It's not out to get your missing tax receipts. But it is out to get $100 from you. The C-note well spent whisk you through airports via electronic kiosks and nice men in blue willing to lend a hand at the first hint of need.

The program is called Global Entry and it allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to gain expedited processing upon arrival in the U.S. Applicants have to be at least 14 years old, and US citizens or permanent residents. Being a frequent traveler helps as well.

To apply, travelers head to https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/ and fill out a rather lengthy (hey, it's the U.S. government!) online document that wants to know where you have traveled in the past year, where you have lived in the past ten years, your employment, your arrest record ... well, you've got the picture.

The application takes some time and it cannot be corrected once it is submitted. And you will also have to fork over the non-refundable fee - and that is BEFORE you are accepted. (Hey, it's the U.S. Government!).

But chances are, barring any convictions for act of terrorism or armed robbery in the past five years, you will be accepted and able to schedule an appointment with your local handy dandy homeland security officer. These guys can usually be found inhabiting an office in the international terminal of an airport near you.

The appointment gives the government officers a chance to look you over, chat about the weather in Denver and take fingerprints - all of them.

By the end of the appointment, following a lesson in fast kiosk transactions, you are good to go - for the next five years. On arrival in the U.S. simply look for the Global Entry kiosks somewhere on the perimeter of the immigration booths. Produce your U.S. passport and insert in the machine, punch a few buttons, proffer a thumbprint and grab the receipt.

Naturally you will be one of the first out for luggage collection so, unless you fly with carry-on only, you still have to wait, and wait. But at least you won't be doing your waiting on the other side of immigration.

The government provides a few other options for fast border passage:

Free and Secure Trade, or FAST, speeds up immigration and inspection between Canada and Mexico for those who do some heavy trading with those countries. NEXUS runs clears the way for U.S. citizens who frequently travel to Canada. And the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection, or SENTRI, works magic for low-risk travelers driving between the U.S. and Mexico.

For frequent travelers, the service is like flying business class. If you don't have it you feel bumped back to the rear bathroom rows in economy.

Participating Airports:

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