100,000 travelers used pilot program to enter the U.S.

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A pilot program designed to speed international travelers through the immigration and customs process has been used by 100,000 people at U.S. airports, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday.

The program, known as Global Entry, allows pre-approved travelers to use electronic kiosks at 20 U.S. airports -- including Los Angeles International Airport -- to bypass the long passport processing lines.

The program, launched in 2008, is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who must pass an intensive background check and pay a $100 fee for a five-year membership. (Under a special agreement, citizens of the Netherlands can also apply to the program.)

Program members can go directly to special kiosks at the international-arrivals area, insert their passport or resident card, provide digital fingerprints and answer customs declaration question on the screen. The kiosk then provides a transaction receipt, which the traveler must present to a customs agent before leaving the inspection area.

The U.S. government launched a similar pilot program, called Registered Traveler, for domestic travelers that ended in 2008. Several private companies tried to continue the program for travelers who paid a fee and provided background information to bypass regular security lines. The private efforts failed in 2009 because of financial problems. Since then, New York-based Alclear has tried to relaunch the program, offering the services at airports in Denver and Orlando.

-- Hugo Martin