As Brand USA launches a campaign to clear up misconceptions around travel to the US, the US Travel Association is also moving to reassure travellers.
“You have a better chance of being struck by lightning than you will have issues with Customs and Border control arriving in the US,” says US Travel Association head of government relations Erik Hansen.
His message for Kiwi travellers is that ‘point zero 1%’ of international arrivals have their phones or social media posts searched by US Customs and Border Protection. These numbers are consistent with the Biden administration and policies have not changed, he adds.
. . . Advances
What has changed is the new level of computer assisted biometrics. Select nations have access to a global entry facility which expedites entry. It speeds up their return visits as shared information platforms between Australia and the USA red flags any individuals of concern. However, while available for Australians, it is not available to New Zealand passport holders.
. . . Biometrics
Washington DC’s Dulles airport is going a step further, he adds, and within time biometrics will identify an individual as they walk through the corridors at the airport and they will seamlessly go through the entry point.
Computer generated passport control is in place for US citizens (like we have in New Zealand) which, combined with the global entry facilities, ultimately speeds up the lines and assists with freeing up officers to process visitors, he states.
. . . MPC
But the good news for New Zealanders, according to Hansen, is the Mobile Passport Control.
“The MPC app for Kiwis is really just as good and so much faster and is working well. We want to make it as easy as possible to travel to the USA. Please expect the same experience you had in the past and if anything, the speeding up for lawful travellers”.
