International Entry expedites entry to the U.S. for American vacationers by way of designated International Entry kiosks at greater than 75 airports, permitting them to bypass prolonged U.S. Customs and Border Safety traces. As well as, when you depart from one in every of 15 preclearance areas, you’ll be able to clear customs earlier than bodily reentering the U.S.
After making use of for International Entry, you will obtain a bodily International Entry card by way of mail inside two to 4 weeks. If you happen to’re like me, you possible put the cardboard away in a drawer with out ever desirous about it once more.
Per U.S. Customs and Border Safety, which runs International Entry, it is “not mandatory to acquire a International Entry card to proceed utilizing International Entry at an airport.” Even so, chances are you’ll be requested to point out the cardboard within the three circumstances outlined under.
When you need to carry your International Entry card
Listed below are three situations when you need to plan on displaying your International Entry card.
When you find yourself at an airport that gives preclearance
If you happen to’re touring to a vacation spot the place you’ll use International Entry earlier than returning again to the U.S., chances are you’ll be requested to point out the cardboard to entry that line and people kiosks.
“Though the International Entry card shouldn’t be required for air journey, each worldwide traveler is topic to random checks or extra questions by a CBP officer when they’re coming into the USA,” a CBP spokesperson informed TPG. “There have been no modifications within the processing of International Entry members apart from the transition to facial comparability know-how the place an individual may very well be requested for proof of program affiliation so as to direct them in direction of processing kiosks or portals or in any other case help them in navigating the arrivals space.”
That is additionally the case at Canadian airports, per the Canadian Air Transport Safety Authority, CBP’s Canadian counterpart. It mentioned members of Trusted Traveler Packages, together with International Entry, should present their “doc of entitlement” to entry these lanes in Canada.
“Passengers with a International Entry card or sticker can entry the Verified Traveller Screening Strains at Canadian airports,” a CATSA spokesperson mentioned by way of e mail.
Due to this fact, passing via airports that permit People to preclear U.S. customs in a international territory earlier than coming into the U.S. may end in you being requested to point out your International Entry card as an added verification layer.
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In case you are touring to one of many 14 under preclearance airports, carry your International Entry card simply in case:
- Calgary Worldwide Airport (YYC)
- Edmonton Worldwide Airport (YEG)
- Halifax Stanfield Worldwide Airport (YHZ)
- Montreal-Trudeau Worldwide Airport (YUL)
- Ottawa Worldwide Airport (YOW)
- Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)
- Vancouver Worldwide Airport (YVR)
- Winnipeg Richardson Worldwide Airport (YWG)
- Lynden Pindling Worldwide Airport (NAS)
- L.F. Wade Worldwide Airport (BDA)
- Queen Beatrix Worldwide Airport (AUA)
- Dublin Airport (DUB)
- Shannon Airport (SNN)
- Zayed Worldwide Airport (AUH)
Nexus and SENTRI lanes
Despite the fact that you should not want your bodily card to make use of International Entry at U.S. airports, you ought to be ready to point out your card if coming into the U.S. by automobile by way of SENTRI or Nexus lanes.
“A card is barely required for expedited entry on the SENTRI and NEXUS lanes coming into the USA,” per CBP.
Nexus, however, supplies prescreened vacationers with expedited processing providers after they enter the U.S. and Canada by airplane, automobile or boat. It supplies entry to Nexus-only processing lanes at designated entry ports alongside the northern border, kiosks when coming into Canada by air and International Entry kiosks when arriving at a preclearance airport.
SENTRI and Nexus members additionally get entry to International Entry, and that card serves as membership to all three packages — which is why these people would want to point out it.
Choose cruise ports
Cruisers could need to carry their card with them since particular cruise ports could require a bodily card.
For instance, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, a preferred cruise port, says vacationers should present their playing cards. “Cruise company enrolled in CBP’s International Entry program ought to comply with the signage directing them to the entrance of the road and current their International Entry card to the Customs agent for processing,” mentioned TPG Managing Cruise Editor Erica Silverstein.
Backside line
If you happen to’re a International Entry member who shall be preclearing customs earlier than returning to the U.S., particularly in case your flight is originating in Canada, strongly take into account bringing your bodily International Entry card with you to make sure you can entry the road to make use of the International Entry kiosk. Moreover, in case your travels embrace cruising or a border crossing by land, chances are you’ll need to have it useful as nicely.
Whilst you will not at all times want it, the very last thing you need is to have gone via the trouble of getting International Entry however not be capable of use it.
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