Frequent travelers from Singapore to the United States may soon be able to get through immigration checks much quicker than was previously the case with the US-Singapore Trusted Traveller Program having launched on Monday. The initiative enables eligible citizens of the United States and Singapore to use automated clearance kiosks at major traveler entry points to both nations for the purpose of clearing immigration, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority in Singapore.
Singaporeans can now enroll in the Global Entry Program run by the United States, allowing them to make use of automated kiosks upon arriving in the country and thus allowing to bypass the normal queues for passport control at as many as 47 airports in the US as well as an additional 13 other locations. The Trusted Traveller Program is an aspect of the Global Entry Program.
Singapore is the first such country to be allowed to access the program and people who have citizenship and are enrolled will also be able to access the PreCheck scheme of the Transportation Security Administration, enabling them to also get expedited security clearance upon leaving US airports.
Eligible passport holders in Singapore can only online using the website of the Global Entry Program. Once the application has been sent and processed, those who are successful will have to attend an interview at Singapore’s US embassy. The interviews take place every Wednesday, according to R. Gil Kerlikowske, the US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, who says other days may be opened up if demand is excessive.