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Imagine a membership club designed specifically for select Australian travelers, offering them the privilege of breezing through U.S. customs with ease. This program, which operates through special kiosks, is reserved for those deemed low-risk and pre-approved, significantly cutting down the time spent at customs.
However, gaining access to this expedited service comes at a cost. The application fee is set at $100 USD, and it’s non-refundable. Despite this fee, many find the convenience worth the price.
It’s important to note that Australians planning to visit the United States must still meet all visa entry requirements, which includes applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This remains a separate process from the membership program.
For those who become part of the Global Entry program, the benefits are clear. Members can bypass lengthy processing lines and avoid extensive paperwork. What could once take up to 90 minutes could now be reduced to a mere 10 minutes at customs, offering a substantial time-saving advantage.
Unfortunately, just as this program became accessible to Australians, it has been closed. The reasons for this closure haven’t been detailed, but it marks a temporary halt to what could have been a valuable travel perk for many.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on Sunday (local time) that the Global Entry had been shutdown due to ongoing government chaos.
The US has been in the grips of a partial government shutdown since February 14.
The TSA, which is part of the DHS, said it would have to take “emergency measures to preserve limited funds”.
Now it has announced the Global Entry program will remain offline until the government shutdown ends.
Airlines for America, a trade group which represents major US carriers, criticised the move which it said was “issued with extremely short notice to travellers, giving them little time to plan accordingly”.
The organisation said it is deeply concerned suspending the Global Entry program is a ploy to use the travelling public “as a political football” amid the government shutdown.
Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security also criticised the shutdown, accusing the Trump administration of “kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure”.
It’s unclear how the Global Entry suspension will affect Australian travellers who have already paid for applications.
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