US Global entry scheme

In news- Indian security agencies in the past two years have checked the antecedents of more than 9,000 Indians who wanted to enrol for the paid Global Entry Program.

About the scheme-

• The Global Entry is a facility run by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency that works under the Department of Homeland Security.
• The department fast tracks movement of pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival after a rigorous background check through designated kiosks. 
• At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, undergo fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration. 
• The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.
• Though the pilot project started in 2008, India became a member of Global Entry in 2017. 
• All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment.
• After receiving a request, the U.S. authorities send them to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). 
• The MEA forwards it to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which taps other ministries, State police and other databases to run a background check.
• The CBP does not process the application if a person has been “convicted of any criminal offence or have pending criminal charges, have been found in violation of any customs, immigration or agriculture regulations or laws in any country.”
• The other countries that are part of this programme are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

• The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is being used in India for antecedent verification for Global Entry. 
• This is not a public service open to all the Indian citizens.