Two-way travel between Taiwan and the U.S. will be made more convenient with streamlined immigration procedures set to take effect Nov. 1 for citizens from the two sides under the e-Gate Program administered by the National Immigration Agency and Global Entry Program overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
During an official launch ceremony at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, MOI Minister Yeh Jiunn-rong said the two programs will allow low-risk travelers from both sides to enjoy pre-approved entry upon arriving at select ports of entry.
Under the arrangement, Taiwan will become the 12th country in the world and fourth in Asia to be included in the GEP, following South Korea, Singapore and India, while the U.S. is the first country in the world to enjoy Taiwan’s e-Gate privilege, he added.
The development further strengthens the already solid ties between Taiwan and the U.S. and bodes well for their further development, as well as bilateral collaboration in all aspects, Yeh said. It will also serve as a benchmark in government efforts to extend e-Gate services to additional partner nations, he added.
In response, Todd Hoffman, executive director for the U.S. CBP’s Admissibility and Passenger Programs, said around 50,000 Taiwan visitors made three or more trips to the U.S. in 2016, adding that these frequent travelers will certainly benefit from expedited entry. Hoffman is in the country to take part in celebrations for the fifth anniversary of Taiwan’s participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
Praising the development as a true milestone, American Institute in Taiwan Director Kin Moy said the historic display of reciprocal trust serves as a further indication of the strength of bilateral ties.
Over the past five years, travelers from Taiwan have proven to be among the most trustworthy visitors to the U.S., in addition to significantly contributing to the nation’s various local economies, Moy said. With the introduction of the Global Entry Program, the U.S. looks forward to welcoming more visitors from Taiwan, he added.
In a statement released later the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the development marks another major milestone in bilateral collaboration and reflects the mutual trust and friendly ties between the governments and peoples of the two sides. The MOFA expects the programs to further promote trade and people-to-people exchanges, adding that it will continue to seek privileged treatment for Republic of China (Taiwan) passport holders traveling abroad.
(Source: Taiwan Today http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2,6,10,15,18&post=123859)
E-Gate Enrollment System: https://egate.immigration.gov.tw/ge-frontend/home
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry Webpage:https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry
