Trusted Traveler Programs – The Quickest Way to Cross!
By admin ~ October 16th, 2008. Filed under: Travelers.
Trusted Traveler Programs – The Quickest Way to Cross!
(07/01/08)
Are you constantly traveling to Canada on business? Do you frequently cross the U.S./ Mexico border? Well, there is now a faster way to reenter the United States. As a member of the Trusted Traveler Program offered by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services this is now possible. All it requires is a small fee and a short application that will check your background.
The system serving Canada is NIXUS. If you drive a commercial rig, approved drivers get a FAST card. The program also speeds you on your way if you are traveling by air, sea or highway into the U.S.
For those frequently traveling to and from Mexico, it’s the SENTRI program. Whether you enter the U.S. via a roadway or walkway, as a member you will be speeded through the special automated lanes.
Currently, there are over 250,000 Trusted Traveler members in these two CBP programs. If you want more information on either the NEXUS or SENTRI programs, you can visit the CBP website www.cbp.gov.
Or you can become a member online at https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov.
Disclaimer:
Restrictions apply and fees are regulated by program administrators. The Canada Border Services Agency and CBP jointly administer NEXUS and FAST for the northern border and each independently approve or deny membership based on the application. For truck drivers to use a FAST lane, their company or a third party must also participate in the Customs – Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
Advisory Notice:
The CBP uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in its Trusted Traveler program. This means that:
All information provided on the application will be securely stored on the CBP database.
The RFID technology used does not allow member information to be stored on the device or transmitted elsewhere.
The RFID technology does allow for CBP to record the exact time and date of a border crossing by the member or user.
All information provided during the application process can and will be used by other law enforcement agencies to verify that a member’s eligibility remains current each time entry is requested to the U.S.
