NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A trip through customs at Nashville International Airport will soon feel very different. U.S. citizens arriving from overseas are being ushered into a fully automated, touch-free checkpoint that photographs each individual and runs a biometric confirmation before they ever reach a human officer, according to a press release by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Beginning Aug. 20, 2025, the United States will launch a year-long pilot program that allows consular officers to require refundable cash bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 from certain business and leisure travelers seeking B-1/B-2 visas. The measure, published in the Federal Register, is designed to “encourage their nationals to comply with U.S.

Fast-Track Passport Control Without the $120 Fee

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.