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You might be able to get through customs quicker at these airports
You might be able to get through customs quicker at these airports
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is implementing new technologies to expedite the customs process for international travelers.
Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) uses automated photo capture to pre-screen U.S. citizens at various airports and border crossings.
Seamless Border Entry further expedites screening for Global Entry members at select airports using "On The Move" technology to speed up screening.
Travelers returning to the U.S. will have new ways to navigate customs this summer at many major airports and border crossing points, and they may be able to avoid waiting in long lines after getting off a long flight.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) highlighted two technologically enhanced screening options that make passport processing faster for arriving passengers using upgraded biometric screening technologies at various checkpoints.
"CBP is committed to enhancing national security while streamlining lawful travel," CBP's Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner Diane J. Sabatino said in a statement. "By leveraging advanced technologies and mobile applications, we are transforming inspections at airports into a seamless, touchless process, enabling faster risk identification and efficient processing of legitimate visitors."
Enhanced Passenger Processing is available to all U.S. citizens, but Seamless Border Entry requires Global Entry enrollment.
Here's what travelers need to know about these CBP upgrades and where they can take advantage of them on their next trip.
Enhanced Passenger Processing
Enhanced Passenger Processing uses automatic photo capturing at checkpoints to notify CBP officers about travelers' details before they reach the passport check.
According to the CBP, the assessment provided by the EPP array includes biometric confirmation, entry eligibility and the need for enforcement before the passenger reaches the agent. That profile allows the screening to happen faster.
EPP is available for the U.S. at these CBP locations, according to the agency:
Orlando International Airport
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Denver International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Cross Border Xpress (San Diego/Tijuana)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Dublin Airport (Ireland)
Seamless Border Entry
Global Entry members can benefit from even faster screening at some airports. CBP is using "On The Move" technology, which screens passengers as they move through the terminal rather than requiring them to process them at a kiosk.
According to CBP, Seamless Border Entry allows Global Entry enrollees "to move through the inspection process seamlessly with minimal interaction with a CBP officer, depending on officer discretion."
Seamless Border Entry is available at these CBP locations, according to the agency:
Los Angeles International Airport
Miami International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
George Bush Continental Airport
Toronto Pierson International Airport (Canada)
Travelers who do not have Global Entry and do not wish to participate in EPP can also take advantage of CBP's Mobile Passport Control app to streamline their experience at the border.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@
