Taiwanese eligible for US Global Entry program starting Nov.

台灣將在11月正式加入美國「全球入境計畫」

Taiwanese passport holders will be able to join the US Global Entry program beginning in November

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- Taiwanese travelers will be able to take advantage of the U.S. Global Entry program for swifter entry into the United States in November, CNA reported a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official as saying yesterday (Oct. 24).

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) hinted at the good news on a Facebook post on Oct. 13 and at a press conference yesterday announced that a ceremony will be held at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to launch the bilateral agreement tomorrow (Oct. 26).



The AIT said that the event will be attended by AIT Director Kin Moy (梅健華), Taiwan's Interior Minister Yeh Jiunn-rong (葉俊榮), and Taiwan's National Immigration Agency (NIA) Director-General Jeff J. Yang (楊家駿).

In April of last year, representatives of the AIT and Taiwan signed a joint agreement paving the way for Taiwan's participation in the Global Entry program, which allows expedited clearance of pre-approved, low risk travelers through U.S. Customs. MOFA said at the time that Taiwan was the seventh country in the world and the second in Asia to sign the agreement, following the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Panama, South Korea and Mexico.

Citizens of Taiwan will be able to join the Global Online Enrollment System for five years by paying US$100 (NT$3,000), undergoing a bilateral security review and taking part in a face-to-face interview, CNA reported.

On arrival in the U.S., the Taiwanese citizens in the program had to report to a special desk to complete the procedure and would then be allowed to enter the country in a special lane. When boarding at any airport in the U.S., they will also receive special treatment, the reports said.

On a reciprocal basis, U.S. citizens in the system would be allowed to use its e-gates at airports when visiting Taiwan, officials said, adding that participation in the program would mean important time savings for frequent travelers in both directions.

Implemented at airports and harbors in January 2012, Taiwan's e-Gate system uses facial and fingerprint recognition technology to identify travelers entering and leaving the country.