LOS ANGELES — U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced plans Friday to reopen the Los Angeles International Airport Global Entry Enrollment Center early next month, but only for conditionally approve applicants.
Beginning July 6, conditionally approved Global Entry applicants will be able to complete in-person interviews, and applicants must schedule enrollment center interviews in advance via the applicant’s Trusted Traveler Programs account.
The Global Entry program allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the U.S. Members enter the U.S. through automatic kiosks at select airports.
The reopening plans were developed in consultation with CBP health and safety experts to include measures that minimize the risk of exposing travelers and personnel to COVID-19, officials said.
Appointments will no longer be available at the Long Beach enrollment center, which will be permanently closed. According to CBP officials, having a single location will streamline the process and ensure health and safety protections.
All applicants and visitors to enrollment centers will be required to wear face coverings consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and state-mandated requirements.
When it reopens, the Global Entry Enrollment Center at LAX will have staggered or reduced appointment availability. The CPB is also eliminating sign-in sheets and certain other touch points, reducing seating in waiting areas, installing barriers at service counters and employing other measures to promote social distancing.
Specific health and safety measures may vary among enrollment centers based upon the physical layout of the facility and other considerations, CBP officials said.
CBP will continue to require that all applicants submit fingerprints during their interview to complete the enrollment process.
CBP temporarily suspended operations at Trusted Traveler Programs enrollment centers on March 19 to minimize the risk of exposing travelers and personnel to COVID-19.
The Enrollment on Arrival program has remained operational for conditionally approved Global Entry applicants to complete the enrollment process without pre-scheduling an interview, CBP officials said.
The programs allow more than 9 million pre-approved, low-risk travelers to bypass traditional CBP inspection lines and receive expedited processing when entering the United States, CBP officials said.
