[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7822-7823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03030]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[CBP Dec. No. 16-04]


Expansion of Global Entry Eligibility to All Citizens of the 
Federal Republic of Germany

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 participants dedicated CBP 
processing into the United States using Global Entry kiosks located at 
designated airports. In 2013, CBP announced a limited pilot program 
through which certain citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany 
(Germany) were eligible to apply for participation in the Global Entry 
program. This document announces that CBP is concluding the pilot and 
expanding eligibility in the Global Entry program to include all German 
citizens. Additionally, this document announces that certain U.S. 
citizens may apply for membership in EasyPASS, Germany's registered 
traveler program.

DATES: Global Entry eligibility will be expanded to German citizens on 
February 16, 2016. Applications will be accepted beginning February 16, 
2016.

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 dedicated CBP 
processing of pre-approved travelers arriving in the United States at 
Global Entry kiosks located at designated airports. On February 6, 
2012, CBP issued the final rule that promulgated the regulation (8 CFR 
235.12) to establish Global Entry as an ongoing voluntary regulatory 
program in the Federal Register (77 FR 5681). The final rule contains a 
detailed description of the program, the eligibility criteria, the 
application and selection process, and the initial airport locations. 
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. 
CBP 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. 
CBP also stated that pursuant to a previous Federal Register notice,\1\ 
participants in NEXUS and certain participants in SENTRI would still be 
allowed to use the Global Entry kiosks.
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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.
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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 State of Qatar; and 
a limited number of citizens of the United Kingdom who frequently 
travel to the United States.
    In a notice published in the Federal Register (80 FR 1509) on 
January 12, 2015, CBP expanded Global Entry eligibility to include 
citizens of the Republic of Panama. Additionally, this document 
announced 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.

Limited Global Entry Pilot for Certain German Citizens

    In the August 9, 2013 notice referenced in the previous section, 
CBP also announced a limited Global Entry pilot program allowing 
certain German citizens to apply for Global Entry. This pilot program 
allowed certain German citizens who participated in ABG Plus, Germany's 
former trusted traveler program, to apply for participation in Global 
Entry.\2\ During this limited pilot, German citizens who were 
identified as potentially being eligible for participation in the pilot 
program received a promotional code and information about the program 
from the German government. The United States and Germany limited the 
number of citizens who could apply for Global Entry to allow for the 
development of the program's infrastructure. The notice stated that CBP 
expected to be able to expand eligiblility to include all German 
citizens in the near future and that such an expansion would be 
announced by notice in the Federal Register and on http://www.globalentry.gov.
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    \2\ ABG Plus has since been discontinued.
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Expansion of Global Entry Program to Include All Citizens of Germany

    This document announces that pursuant to the Joint Declaration 
signed

[[Page 7823]]

by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP, and the Federal Ministry 
of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany on April 14, 2010, 
CBP is expanding Global Entry eligibility to include all German 
citizens in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below. 
As a result, CBP is concluding the limited pilot program. All pilot 
participants will continue their Global Entry membership for the 
initial five-year membership period. If pilot participants want to 
renew their membership when their initial Global Entry membership 
expires, the renewal will be subject to the terms and conditions set 
forth below.

Terms and Conditions

    Any German citizen may apply for Global Entry. Unlike the pilot, a 
German citizen does not have to participate in ABG Plus to be eligible 
to apply for Global Entry. As noted in the previous section, Germany's 
ABG Plus trusted traveler program has been discontinued.
    Before a German citizen can apply for Global Entry, he or she must 
visit an EasyPASS \3\ enrollment center in Germany and complete a 
thorough risk assessment by the German Federal Police. The list of 
EasyPASS enrollment center locations is available at http://www.easypass.de/EasyPass/EN/EasyPASS-RTP/rtp_node.html. After a German 
citizen is vetted for Global Entry by the German Federal Police, the 
German Federal Police will notify both CBP and the applicant that the 
applicant is eligible to apply for Global Entry. Then the applicant 
will be required to complete the online application for Global Entry 
located on the GOES Web site, pay the non-refundable Global Entry fee, 
and satisfy all the requirements of Global Entry. The applicant will be 
permitted to participate in Global Entry only upon successful 
completion of a risk assessment by CBP and completion of an interview 
with a CBP officer. If an applicant is not vetted by the German Federal 
Police prior to applying to Global Entry through GOES, the Global Entry 
application will not be processed. The vetting criteria were mutually 
agreed upon by both agencies and are consistent with each agency's 
applicable domestic laws and policies. CBP will notify the applicants 
whether or not they have been accepted in the Global Entry program.
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    \3\ EasyPASS is an automated border control process available to 
registered third-country nationals when entering Germany.
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    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.

Validity Period

    Global Entry has a five-year membership period. After the second 
year of membership, German citizens will be notified by CBP, via email, 
that they must again visit an EasyPASS enrollment center and be vetted 
by the German Federal Police. If a German citizen Global Entry member 
fails to be vetted by the German Federal Police within the allotted 
time, Global Entry membership will be terminated. These additional 
vetting requirements are not applicable to pilot participants during 
their initial five-year Global Entry membership.

U.S. Citizens' Participation in EasyPASS

    Any U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, has the option to 
enroll in EasyPASS. EasyPASS is a registered traveler program in 
Germany that provides expedited entry into the country via the use of 
eGates, an automated border control system that uses facial recognition 
for biometric verification of the individual's identity. Consequently, 
an ePassport is required for EasyPASS. A U.S. citizen does not have to 
be a member of a CBP trusted traveler program to apply for EasyPASS.
    U.S. applicants may apply for EasyPASS at an EasyPASS enrollment 
center in Germany. U.S. applicants must register for EasyPASS directly 
with the Government of Germany. There is currently no fee associated 
with EasyPASS. The applicant will be notified immediately at the 
enrollment center about whether he or she is approved for EasyPASS. The 
limited number of U.S. citizens who enrolled in ABG Plus, under the 
eligibility conditions described in the August 9, 2013 Federal Register 
notice, have been automatically enrolled in EasyPASS. More information 
about how to apply for EasyPASS and about the program is available at 
http://www.easypass.de/EasyPass/EN/EasyPASS-RTP/rtp_node.html.

    Dated: February 10, 2016.
Todd C. Owen,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2016-03030 Filed 2-12-16; 8:45 am]
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