Mexico's equivalent of Global Entry, "Viajero Confiable", is up and running after a year of saying it was "coming in 2013".
At this point, it's a fairly limited program and is only available at Mexico City International Airport, Cancun International Airport and San José del Cabo International Airport. "The possibility of expansion to other cities is under review" according to the website
The program is open to Mexican citizens and to US citizens who are members of the US Global Entry program. Although citizens of Canada, South Korea, and the Netherlands can be Global Entry members, it looks as if they're out of luck for now.
The application process is much like the US one: an online application and payment of a 1,372 peso (roughly $100 US) non-refundable application fee followed by an in-person interview at one of the 3 airports listed above. If accepted, membership is good for 5 years. One difference from the US program is that no useless card is provided. Another is that they take iris scans in addition to fingerprints. A big difference is that there doesn't appear to be a review between completing the application and scheduling the appointment, which can all be done in a single brief session on the computer. Maybe they're using Global Entry to do their screening work for them.
You have to have a passport with 6 months left on it at the time of the interview, and the interview must be scheduled at least 2 weeks after completion of the application (so maybe they do some review during that time). You can reschedule interviews if your travel plans change or you miss it for some other reason. I am able to access the scheduling module at the application website on my iPhone, but I have not actually tried to reschedule my interview. I might need to, since it's about half an hour after my flight lands and the next one isn't until 3 1/2 hours later.
I don't yet know if kiosks are actually available in the airports at this time. I'll find out in a few weeks when I'm in Cancun for my enrollment interview. For Global Entry, members are entitled to skip to the front of the line if kiosks are unavailable. I doubt that applies in Mexico, but I harbor the secret hope that it might eventually do some good when arriving at Cozumel's airport (where my wife can use the teensy line for Mexican citizens and residents but I have to use the long one for non-residents).
This program is definitely not for you if:
At this point, it's a fairly limited program and is only available at Mexico City International Airport, Cancun International Airport and San José del Cabo International Airport. "The possibility of expansion to other cities is under review" according to the website
The program is open to Mexican citizens and to US citizens who are members of the US Global Entry program. Although citizens of Canada, South Korea, and the Netherlands can be Global Entry members, it looks as if they're out of luck for now.
The application process is much like the US one: an online application and payment of a 1,372 peso (roughly $100 US) non-refundable application fee followed by an in-person interview at one of the 3 airports listed above. If accepted, membership is good for 5 years. One difference from the US program is that no useless card is provided. Another is that they take iris scans in addition to fingerprints. A big difference is that there doesn't appear to be a review between completing the application and scheduling the appointment, which can all be done in a single brief session on the computer. Maybe they're using Global Entry to do their screening work for them.
You have to have a passport with 6 months left on it at the time of the interview, and the interview must be scheduled at least 2 weeks after completion of the application (so maybe they do some review during that time). You can reschedule interviews if your travel plans change or you miss it for some other reason. I am able to access the scheduling module at the application website on my iPhone, but I have not actually tried to reschedule my interview. I might need to, since it's about half an hour after my flight lands and the next one isn't until 3 1/2 hours later.
I don't yet know if kiosks are actually available in the airports at this time. I'll find out in a few weeks when I'm in Cancun for my enrollment interview. For Global Entry, members are entitled to skip to the front of the line if kiosks are unavailable. I doubt that applies in Mexico, but I harbor the secret hope that it might eventually do some good when arriving at Cozumel's airport (where my wife can use the teensy line for Mexican citizens and residents but I have to use the long one for non-residents).
This program is definitely not for you if:
You're not a US or Mexican citizen
If you're a US citizen who doesn't have Global Entry membership
You never fly into one of the 3 airports currently in the program
You don't want to spend a hundred bucks to get through immigration and customs faster and with no paperwork
You fear you might not pass whatever screening they do (Mexican arrest record?)
