International Entry expedites entry to the U.S. for American vacationers through designated International Entry kiosks at greater than 75 airports, permitting them to bypass prolonged U.S. Customs and Border Safety traces. As well as, in the event you depart from one in all 15 preclearance places, you possibly can clear customs earlier than bodily reentering the U.S.
After making use of for International Entry, you may obtain a bodily International Entry card through 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 indicate the cardboard within the three circumstances outlined beneath.
When you must carry your International Entry card
Listed below are three eventualities when you must plan on exhibiting your International Entry card.
When you’re 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 indicate the cardboard to entry that line and people kiosks.
“Though the International Entry card isn’t required for air journey, each worldwide traveler is topic to random checks or further questions by a CBP officer when they’re getting into the US,” a CBP spokesperson instructed TPG. “There have been no adjustments within the processing of International Entry members aside from the transition to facial comparability know-how the place an individual may very well be requested for proof of program affiliation to be able to direct them in the 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 stated members of Trusted Traveler Applications, 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 stated through electronic mail.
Subsequently, passing by way of airports that enable People to preclear U.S. customs in a overseas territory earlier than getting into the U.S. may end in you being requested to indicate your International Entry card as an added verification layer.
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In case you are touring to one of many 14 beneath preclearance airports, convey 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, try to be ready to indicate your card if getting into the U.S. by automotive through SENTRI or Nexus lanes.
“A card is simply required for expedited entry on the SENTRI and NEXUS lanes coming into the US,” per CBP.
SENTRI is a Trusted Traveler Program that permits U.S. residents and lawful everlasting residents, Canadian residents and everlasting residents, and all different overseas nationals to enter the U.S. from Canada and Mexico through SENTRI-specific lanes. SENTRI customers even have entry to TSA PreCheck lanes at airports inside the U.S. and abroad territories.
Nexus, however, gives prescreened vacationers with expedited processing providers after they enter the U.S. and Canada by airplane, automotive or boat. It gives entry to Nexus-only processing lanes at designated entry ports alongside the northern border, kiosks when getting 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 wish to indicate it.
Choose cruise ports
Cruisers might need to carry their card with them since particular cruise ports might require a bodily card.
For instance, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, a well-liked cruise port, says vacationers should present their playing cards. “Cruise visitors enrolled in CBP’s International Entry program ought to observe the signage directing them to the entrance of the road and current their International Entry card to the Customs agent for processing,” stated TPG Managing Cruise Editor Erica Silverstein.
Backside line
If you happen to’re a International Entry member who might be preclearing customs earlier than returning to the U.S., particularly in case your flight is originating in Canada, strongly contemplate 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 embody cruising or a border crossing by land, chances are you’ll need to have it useful as nicely.
When you will not all the time want it, the very last thing you need is to have gone by way of the trouble of getting International Entry however not be capable to use it.
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