Getting into the US

US Global Entry Enrolment Centre to open in London – FOLLOWING the announcement in December last year that UK citizens are eligible to apply for Global Entry, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will open a Global Entry enrolment centre at the US. Embassy in London for 60 days beginning September 26.

The centre will be open Monday through Wednesday from 8am to 4.30pm on an appointment-only basis.

Global Entry streamlines the screening process at airports for trusted travellers, bypassing the traditional CBP inspection line and using an automated kiosk to expedite admission into the US. More than 8,800 UK passport holders are already enrolled in the programme.

UK citizens should start their application on GOV.UK www.gov.uk/apply-faster-entry-usa. Conditionally-approved applicants can begin scheduling interviews with a CBP Officer at the London location now through the Global Online Enrolment System (GOES) website. There is a £42 processing fee on the UK side and a $100 fee on the US side.

Once fully-enrolled in the programme, Global Entry membership is valid for five years and membership includes TSA* Pre-Check when travelling with participating airlines.

*Transportation Security Administration 

www.VisitTheUSA.com/www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

Dublin Airport unveils 51st & Green for US-bound travellers – DUBLIN AIRPORT now offers travellers to the US pre-clearance ease and enhanced comfort with the opening of a passenger lounge after US Pre-clearance in Terminal 2.

The lounge – named 51st & Green to reflect Irish-American connections – is available to passengers travelling with Aer Lingus, Delta Airlines, United, and American Airlines holding business class tickets and airline club cards. The lounge has seating for 180 people, a concierge service, shower rooms, and an entertainment area with sports channels.

A record one million passengers used Dublin Airport's US Preclearance facility in 2015.

www.VisitTheUSA.com
www.dublinairport.com

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Vacation time? Guard your ID!

HOLIDAYMAKERS who used to worry about their homes being burglarized now face a greater threat while travelling: #identitytheft. The increased use of social media, public WiFi networks, ATM machines and mobile devices by families on holiday in the US and abroad have made them prime targets for cybercrime. A free Summer Vacation Guide to Identity Security is now available, offering safety tips for protecting devices, data, and identities.

‘Anyone – adult or child - who uses a computer, tablet or mobile device on a plane, in a hotel room or in a cyber cafe can be a victim of #cybercrime,’ says cybersecurity expert Morgan Wright.

Wright, a former law enforcement officer who has advised the US departments of Justice, Defence and Homeland Security on cybersecurity strategies created the guide in response to an internet safety threat report that reveals a dramatic rise in identity theft, digital extortion, and data corruption.

Among the guide's do's and don'ts are how to identify and avoid:

· Bluetooth and WiFi vulnerabilities

· Social media and mobile app risks

· Malware and ransomware attacks

· Credit card, online banking and ATM scams

Wright recommends that families read the guide prior to leaving on vacation in order to implement some of its recommendations from their secure home internet networks. Then, he suggests packing it along with their travel itineraries as a reminder of cyber safety precautions when on the road.

Copies of his guide can be obtained at www.scribd.com/doc/266503798/Summer-Vacation-Guide-to-Identity-Security

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Up in the air …

MANCHESTER AIRPORT and Heathrow have been shortlisted by the US Department of Homeland Security as priority airports to have US security pre-clearance.

Pre-clearance, which allows passengers to clear immigration, customs, and agricultural inspection by US Customs and Border Protection before boarding their flight, means that passengers can avoid waiting in often lengthy queues after landing in the US.

International flights which have been pre-cleared can use domestic terminals at US airports, meaning passengers connecting onto onward domestic flights can do so with shorter transfer times than those who have not been pre-cleared.

Only two other airports in Europe – Dublin and Shannon – allow for pre-clearance.

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US airport security to be revised

REVISED security procedures across the US are planned after tests found that airport screeners allowed mock explosives and weapons through checkpoints 95% of the time. A screener in one test failed to find a fake bomb taped to an agent's back despite patting the man down.

ABC News reported that the tests were carried out at 70 US airports. Only three airports were able to detect the banned weapons, a Homeland Security Department report said.

A department spokesman said security officers should be re-trained and scanning equipment re-tested.

‘We take these findings very seriously in our continued effort to test, measure, and enhance our capabilities and techniques as threats evolve.’

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