WASHINGTON—At a ceremony October 31 at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global (CBP) Entry Enrollment Center in Washington D.C., CBP Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) Representative Stanley Kao, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Managing Director John Norris, and U.S. Department of State Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Laura Stone, under the auspices of an agreement signed by TECRO and AIT, celebrated the eligibility expansion of U.S. and Taiwan trusted traveler programs – the U.S. Global Entry program and the Taiwan e‑Gate program. As of November 1, Taiwan passport holders will be eligible to apply for Global Entry, and U.S. citizens enrolled in a CBP Trusted Traveler Program will be eligible to join e-Gate, administered by Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency. Global Entry and e-Gate allow expedited immigration and customs processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers.
On November 1, 2017 – the 5th anniversary of the Visa Waiver Program in Taiwan – Taiwan will join a select group, becoming the 12th partner worldwide and the 3rd partner in East Asia whose passport holders are eligible to enroll in Global Entry. At the same time, U.S. citizens enrolled in a CBP Trusted Traveler Program will become the first non-residents to be eligible for Taiwan’s e-Gate.
The United States and Taiwan share a strong foundation of cultural, economic, and educational ties. Since the announcement of Taiwan’s participation in the Visa Waiver Program in 2012, overall travel from Taiwan to the United States has increased by nearly 60 percent. More Americans are traveling to Taiwan as well; the United States now ranks as the 5th highest source of tourists to Taiwan, the only country in the top ten outside of Asia. Over the years, AIT and TECRO have cooperated to encourage more travel and interaction between the United States and Taiwan, and today’s ceremonial launch is the latest reflection of these efforts.
During the launch ceremony, AIT Managing Director John Norris said, “With the introduction of Global Entry, we look forward to deepening our already extensive cultural, educational, and economic ties. Taiwan’s participation in the Global Entry Program, as well as the continuation of the Visa Waiver Program for Taiwan, signifies the strong trusted partnership shared between the United States and Taiwan.”
Currently available at 54 U.S. airports and 15 Preclearance locations around the world, Global Entry (https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry)
streamlines the international arrivals process at airports for trusted travelers. More than 4.7 million Global Entry members bypass traditional CBP inspection lines and use an automated kiosk to complete their admission to the United States. As an added benefit, Global Entry members are also eligible to participate in the TSA Pre✓®expedited screening program.
E-Gate is an automated border control system available to registered travelers to expedite entry into Taiwan. U.S. citizens who are members of a CBP Trusted Traveler Program (Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI) are eligible to register for e-Gate.
Visit CBP’s Global Entry website (https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry) for more information on the Global Entry Program and Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency website ( https://egate.immigration.gov.tw/ge-frontend/) for more information on e-Gate.
