U.S. border processing streamlined via facial recognition at Toronto Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau

Americans and other pre-approved visitors travelling to the U.S. through two of Canada’s biggest and busiest airports can benefit from faster border processing times this summer, thanks to new facial recognition technology rolled out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In anticipation of this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S., in late May, the agency introduced two new initiatives aimed at “streamlining lawful travel” — Enhanced Passenger Processing at Montreal-Pierre Trudeau International and Seamless Border Entry at Toronto Pearson International. “By leveraging advanced technologies and mobile applications, we are transforming inspections at airports into a seamless, touchless process, enabling faster risk identification and efficient processing of legitimate visitors,” stated Diane J. Sabatino, CBP’s acting Executive Assistant Commissioner. Why is Canada setting up first-ever border preclearance site in the U.S.? Here’s what you need to know: How does Enhanced Passenger Processing work? When U.S. citizens head for the CBP checkpoint, they’ll approach a tablet which automatically takes their photo when they stand in front of it and uses the facial biometric information to match it with an existing passport in the database. If approved, the traveller can carry on without having to show their passport or interact with CBP officers. Those denied will need to check in with an officer for identity confirmation and risk assessment. “It’s really a game-changer for us in how we welcome U.S. citizens back home,” Sabatino said at a news conference at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport at the time, per travel website That Points Guy. Montreal is just one of 11 airports with EPP and the only one in Canada.

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EPP is also available at international airports in Orlando, Denver, Charlotte, Seattle, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Cross Border Xpress in San Diego and Dublin, Ireland. Since its trial introduction at U.S. airports last fall, CBP said it has seen a 25 per cent reduction in wait times, per Fox 4 in Dallas-Fort Worth. At DFW, the Points Guy reported that EPP has reduced wait times for non-citizens by more than 15 minutes as more officers were available to process their arrivals. How does Seamless Border Entry work? This new initiative builds upon Global Entry, the existing membership-based trusted traveller program already offered by CBP to expedite the arrival and screening process launched in 2008. For a US$120 fee, travellers, including approved foreign nationals, benefit from reduced wait times through special queues, aren’t required to fill out paperwork and get a Transportation Security Authority (TSA) PreCheck, an expedited security screening. Like EPP, Seamless Border Entry technology also photographs and assesses the traveller as they pass through a screening area overseen by CBP officers, but it does so without them even needing to stop walking. Outside of Toronto’s Pearson, it’s also available at international hubs in Los Angeles, Miami, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Newark, and George Bush Continental Airport in Houston.

• Why is Canada setting up first-ever border preclearance site in the U.S.?
• What lawyers are advising Canadians to do to minimize risk of scrutiny at the U.S. border

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