UK citizens to be allowed to apply for US Global Entry
 

At last! Hooray!

Sorry, I have no other info at the moment except I just got an email inviting me to the official announcement by the US Ambassador, Matthew Barzun, at next week's World Travel Market in London.

Full details to follow from Tuesday onwards I expect.

I do hope this is true and that there won't be any caveats (or caveats that exclude me :p).

Me too!!

At the moment the only info I have is:

"The U.S. Embassy London invites you to the official U.S.-UK government announcement opening Global Entry to UK citizens on Tuesday, November 3rd. This announcement at World Travel Market will outline how UK citizens can enroll to skip the passport and customs queues at U.S. airports."

Please let this be true!

Shame it wasn't at the start of the year, when I really needed it....

Thanks OP

Please, please, please, please, please, please be true!

I wish that they would hold this up until the UK establishes a reciprocal program which provides the same benefits at the same cost. Global Entry is $100 for 5 years while the UK program is GBP 70 per year (the rough equivalent of $535 for five years).

Better still would be for the two programs to be reciprocal for a small additional fee. The US and Canada have done this for years with Nexus (actually for less than GE) and it works very well for all concerned.

Lastly, it will be important for BA to join TSA Pre-Check. GE gets you Pre-Check, but only if your operating carrier participates.

Already am... . (UK citizen with GE).

Me too.

Now, why isn't there a "smug face" emoticon on FT

Oh, wait...

:p:D

If this happens, do you think it is likely that queuing times for passengers who have not registered for global entry will change?

I got the same invitation. Also present will be Sir Charles Montgomery (Director-General of UKBF) and Gil Kerlikowske (Commissioner of US CBP).

I agree that Brits should get charged the same as they charge for their program. IRIS was a great program but is no more.

Am hoping that this will be a two-way street...our British cousins using GE to enter the US and us Yankees using GE to enter Great Britain.

No need, it came through thick in "Me too" :p

I've not really paid much attention to GE in the past as I haven't been eligible as a UK Citizen who hadn't been invited/didn't have an invite code. I'm going to assume that the GE program for UK Citizen will be fairly similar to the GE program for citizen of other countries, which may or may not be wise. Given that, I have two questions:

1) I'm under the impression that the application for the GE program involves an interview of some form. Do you think it'd be worth applying for my monthly trip to the States where I'm visiting my girlfriend (a US citizen) for a few days as opposed to for business purposes. For clarity, I am a UK Citizen and I enter the US on an ESTA.

2) In addition, what would happen if an application for GE is declined? Do you continue to enter on an ESTA or do you lose your eligibility to enter under the Visa Waiver Program (and therefore have to go through the VISA process via an embassy).

I am aware that the announcement has not been made and that perhaps this is gossip. However, I would have hoped that some people who already use the program (e.g. German citizens; UK citizens who were invited, etc) might have some thoughts or insight irrespective of any announcement.

Simon.

Awesome news if true, look forward to hearing something next week :-)