This summer, American airports are completely packed. If you’ve traveled from certain parts of the country, it’s likely that you’ve spent nearly two hours in line to get through security. But if you are a citizen or permanent resident, there is a way to significantly reduce the time spent in this process: TSA Pre-Check.
The TSA Pre-Check is a program that speeds up the security process at airports in the United States for those traveling domestically. Beneficiaries of this program go through an expedited physical security screening. This means you won’t need to take off your belt or shoes and can keep your liquids and laptops in your bag while going through airport security.
To qualify, travelers need to apply for the program, which costs $78 for five years. They will undergo an in-person interview, have their fingerprints taken, and go through a criminal background check.
“About 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes,” says the TSA on its website.
This week, the Department of Homeland Security, which manages the TSA Pre-Check program, announced a new partnership with Telos Corporation, a security company, to facilitate enrollment in the program.
The new partnership will provide travelers with additional enrollment centers. Initially, these new locations will be in Maryland, Nevada, and Virginia, with more openings expected to happen soon.
The TSA PreCheck program had 15 million active members as of May 2023, according to TSA data.
Global Entry
It’s worth mentioning that in addition to TSA Pre-Check, the U.S. government also offers Global Entry, a program from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members of this program enter the country through automated kiosks at selected airports and do not need to go through an immigration officer.
When arriving at airports, program members head to the Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and fill out a customs declaration. The kiosk issues a receipt for the transaction and directs the traveler to the baggage claim and exit.
Travelers must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous criminal background check and a personal interview before enrollment.
Source: Travel + Leisure and cbp.gov