[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 7 (Monday, January 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1509-1510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00258]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

 Customs and Border Protection

[CBP Dec. No. 15-01]


Expansion of Global Entry Eligibility to Citizens of the Republic 
of Panama

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has established the 
Global Entry international trusted traveler program at most major U.S. 
airports. Global Entry allows pre-approved, low-risk participants 
expedited entry into the United States using Global Entry kiosks 
located at designated airports. Currently, eligibility for 
participation in Global Entry is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. 
nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Mexican nationals, and 
certain eligible citizens of the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, 
the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Qatar, and the United 
Kingdom. Additionally, participants in the NEXUS trusted traveler 
program and certain participants in the Secure Electronic Network for 
Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) trusted traveler program are 
permitted to use the Global Entry kiosks as part of their membership in 
those programs.\1\ This document announces that CBP is expanding 
eligibility for Global Entry to include citizens of the Republic of 
Panama. All of these individuals must otherwise satisfy the 
requirements for participation in the Global Entry program. 
Additionally, this document announces that U.S. citizens who 
participate in Global Entry or U.S. citizens who can utilize Global 
Entry kiosks as NEXUS or SENTRI participants have the option to apply 
for membership in Panama Global Pass, the Republic of Panama's trusted 
traveler program.
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    \1\ See the Utilization of Global Entry Kiosks by NEXUS and 
SENTRI Participants Federal Register notice, December 29, 2010 (75 
FR 82202) for further information.

DATES: The expansion of eligibility to citizens of the Republic of 
Panama will occur on January 12, 2015. Applications will be accepted 
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from citizens of the Republic of Panama beginning January 12, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Panetta, Office of Field 
Operations, (202) 344-1253, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

Global Entry Program

    Global Entry is a voluntary program that allows for the expedited 
clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers arriving in the United 
States at Global Entry kiosks located at designated airports. CBP 
issued the final rule that promulgated the regulation to establish 
Global Entry as an ongoing voluntary regulatory program in the Federal 
Register (77 FR 5681) on February 6, 2012. The final rule contains a 
detailed description of the program, the eligibility criteria, the 
application and selection process, and the initial airport locations. 
See 8 CFR 235.12. Travelers who wish to participate in Global Entry 
must apply via the Global On-Line Enrollment System (GOES) Web site, 
https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov, and pay the applicable fee. Applications 
for Global Entry must be completed and submitted electronically.
    Eligibility for participation in Global Entry is limited to U.S. 
citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and certain 
nonimmigrant aliens from countries that have entered into arrangements 
with CBP regarding international trusted traveler programs. 
Specifically, the regulation provides that certain nonimmigrant aliens 
from countries that have entered into arrangements with CBP concerning 
international trusted traveler programs may be eligible to apply for 
participation in Global Entry after CBP announces the arrangement by 
publication of a notice in the Federal Register. The notice will 
include the country, the scope of eligibility of nonimmigrant aliens 
from that country (e.g., whether only citizens of the foreign country 
or citizens and non-citizens are eligible) and other conditions that 
may apply based on the terms of the arrangement. See 8 CFR 
235.12(b)(1)(ii). In the preamble of the Global Entry final rule, CBP 
recognized the existence of previous arrangements it had with Mexico 
and the Netherlands regarding the international trusted traveler 
programs and announced that Mexican nationals and certain citizens of 
the Netherlands were eligible to apply for the Global Entry program. It 
further specified that Mexican nationals and citizens of the 
Netherlands who were existing participants in the Global Entry pilot 
would be automatically enrolled in the ongoing Global Entry program. 
Additionally, in the preamble of the Global Entry final rule, CBP 
recognized that pursuant to a previous Federal Register notice,\2\ 
participants in NEXUS and certain participants in SENTRI would still be 
allowed to use the Global Entry kiosks.
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    \2\ See the Utilization of Global Entry Kiosks by NEXUS and 
SENTRI Participants Federal Register notice, December 29, 2010 (75 
FR 82202) for further information.
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    In a notice published in the Federal Register (78 FR 48706) on 
August 9, 2013, CBP expanded Global Entry eligibility to include 
citizens of the Republic of Korea who are participants in the Smart 
Entry System (SES), a trusted traveler program for pre-approved, low-
risk travelers at designated airports in the Republic of Korea via the 
use of e-gates; a limited number of citizens of the Federal Republic of 
Germany who are participants in the Automated and Biometrics-Supported 
Border Controls (ABG) Plus, a trusted traveler program in the Federal 
Republic of Germany; a limited number of citizens of the State of 
Qatar; and a limited number of citizens of the United Kingdom who 
frequently travel to the United States.
    This document announces the further expansion of the Global Entry 
trusted

[[Page 1510]]

traveler program to citizens of the Republic of Panama.

The Republic of Panama

    On February 29, 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP 
and the Ministry of Public Security of the Republic of Panama signed a 
Joint Statement regarding the development of an international trusted 
traveler initiative. As CBP and the Republic of Panama have negotiated 
the operational details and completed the necessary infrastructure 
updates, CBP is now ready to announce that, based on the Joint 
Statement, citizens of the Republic of Panama are eligible to apply for 
participation in Global Entry.
    In order to participate, citizens of the Republic of Panama who 
apply for Global Entry will be required to complete the on-line 
application located on the GOES Web site, pay the non-refundable Global 
Entry fee, and satisfy all the requirements of Global Entry. These 
applicants will be permitted to participate in Global Entry only upon 
successful completion of a thorough risk assessment by both CBP and the 
Republic of Panama's Ministry of Public Security and completion of an 
interview with CBP. The vetting criteria were mutually developed and 
are consistent with each agency's applicable domestic laws and 
policies. Once the risk assessment has been completed, CBP will notify 
the applicants regarding whether or not they have been accepted into 
Global Entry.
    Applicants may be denied enrollment in the Global Entry program for 
various reasons. An individual who is inadmissible to the United States 
under U.S. immigration law or has, at any time, been granted a waiver 
of inadmissibility or parole is ineligible to participate in Global 
Entry. Applications from such individuals will automatically be 
rejected. Applications for Global Entry may also be rejected if the 
applicant has ever been arrested for, or convicted of, a criminal 
offense, or if the individual has ever been found in violation of 
customs or immigration laws, or of any criminal law. Additionally, an 
applicant will not be accepted for participation in Global Entry if CBP 
determines that the applicant presents a potential risk of terrorism, 
or criminality (including smuggling), or if CBP cannot sufficiently 
determine that the applicant meets all the program eligibility 
criteria. The eligibility criteria are set forth in more detail in the 
Global Entry final rule and 8 CFR 235.12. See also http://www.globalentry.gov.

U.S. Citizens' Participation in Panama Global Pass

    Pursuant to the Joint Statement, U.S. citizens who are Global Entry 
participants or U.S. citizens who can utilize Global Entry kiosks as 
NEXUS or SENTRI participants have the option to apply for Panama Global 
Pass membership. Panama Global Pass is a trusted traveler program in 
the Republic of Panama that uses self-service kiosks to offer expedited 
processing for air travelers through clearance formalities when 
entering the Republic of Panama. All U.S. applicants must apply for 
Panama Global Pass directly with the Government of Panama, be 
thoroughly vetted by both CBP and the Republic of Panama and be 
interviewed by the National Immigration Service of Panama in the 
Republic of Panama to complete the enrollment process. U.S. applicants 
are required to pay the Panama Global Pass non-refundable $100 fee for 
a five-year membership. The Republic of Panama will notify the U.S. 
applicant directly about whether he or she was approved for Panama 
Global Pass. More information about how to apply for Panama Global Pass 
membership is available at http://www.globalentry.gov.

    Dated: January 7, 2015.
John P. Wagner,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2015-00258 Filed 1-9-15; 8:45 am]
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