Regulars at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport know the TSA PreCheck lanes like the back of their hand, yet thousands of local travelers are suddenly finding four ominous letters—SSSS—printed on their boarding passes.
Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP), a biometric “Global Entry alternative,” quietly debuted at eight of the nation’s busiest airports this summer, as reported by The Travel. Unlike the well-known Trusted Traveler Program, EPP requires no application, interview, or membership fee—yet still promises to shave valuable minutes off the re-entry experience for U.S. citizens.
Starting next year, Australian citizens will gain access to the U.S. Global Entry program, allowing them expedited customs clearance upon arrival in the United States. This development marks a significant enhancement in travel convenience for Australians and strengthens ties between the two nations.
Four years post-pandemic, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports improvements in Global Entry application processing times, despite facing an unprecedented surge in demand. The agency acknowledges that while progress has been made, the current wait times—ranging from four to six months—are still not ideal.
