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New York, New York - U.S. Customs and Border Protection signed a joint agreement today with the government of the Netherlands to develop a process to integrate CBP’s Global Entry program with the Dutch “Privium” program to facilitate travel of U.S. and Dutch citizens between the two countries.

The signing event occurred at John F. Kennedy International Airport between CBP and representatives of the Netherlands Immigration and Naturalisation Service.

"We are very pleased to be part of this joint effort with the government of the Netherlands to integrate our international trusted traveler initiatives," said CBP Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern. "This agreement is an important next step in extending the benefits of expedited and automated CBP processing to additional low risk international travelers, and at the same time providing for reciprocal benefits for US citizens traveling abroad."

CBP announced the Global Entry pilot program April 11 to build upon other CBP trusted traveler programs, such as NEXUS and SENTRI, designed to facilitate and expedite the entry process for low-risk international travelers into the U.S. NEXUS is a joint program with the Canada Border Services Agency that allows expedited processing into the U.S. and Canada at the land border and Canadian Pre-Clearance airports. SENTRI provides for dedicated processing at the U.S.-Mexico land border.

"This expanded partnership with the Netherlands continues to extend the zone of security beyond our physical borders and strengthen our international relationships by facilitating travel between our countries," Ahern added.

The Global Entry pilot will kick off for U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents on June 10 at the three initial airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, and Washington Dulles International Airport. CBP started taking online applications May 12. It is expected that citizens of the Netherlands will be invited to apply by the end of 2008 or early next year.