Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today the opening of a temporary joint information center, located on the ticketing level of Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

The temporary location will allow travelers to learn about how to participate in TSA PreCheck and begin the application process for CBP’s Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program. The information center is scheduled to be in place for 90 days.

“TSA remains committed to working with our partners across the aviation community to provide travelers the most effective security in the most efficient way,” said Douglas Hofsass, TSA associate administrator for Risk Based Security Initiatives. “We are excited to partner with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) and CBP to help facilitate the application process for passengers to enroll in Global Entry, which also enables their participation in TSA PreCheck.”

“Global Entry allows CBP to leverage automated screening processes to focus on those individuals we know less about,” said Kevin McAleenan, CBP acting assistant commissioner for Field Operations. “Partnering with TSA’s PreCheck initiative allows us to further expand the population of those we consider low-risk.”

Global Entry is a CBP Trusted Traveler program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Upon arrival in the U.S. from international travel, Global Entry members are able to bypass the traditional CBP inspection lines and use automated kiosks. Travelers scan their passports and fingerprints, answer the customs declaration questions using the kiosk’s touch screen and proceed with a receipt to the exit with the whole process taking about a minute. U.S. citizens enrolled in Global Entry automatically qualify for participation in TSA PreCheck for domestic travel.

TSA PreCheck is part of TSA's broader effort to implement risk-based security concepts that enhance security by focusing efforts on travelers considered high-risk. By learning more about travelers through information they voluntarily provide, and combining that information with our other layers of security, DHS can focus more resources on higher-risk and unknown passengers. TSA PreCheck benefits include being able to leave shoes, light outerwear and belt on, keeping laptops in cases and 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in carry-on. To date, more than 2.7 million passengers have experienced TSA PreCheck, which is now available in 24 airports for Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways frequent flyers. TSA anticipates having TSA PreCheck available at 35 airports by the end of the year.