Discover America Partnership
Entry System Reforms
U.S.-Brazil Global Entry Pilot (GEP) Program
The Council supports the implementation of a trusted traveler Global Entry Pilot (GEP) program between the United States and Brazil to allow for expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. In January 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposed the establishment of GEP to its Brazilian counterpart and on April 9, 2012, the joint statement from U.S. President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff affirmed that they “discussed the ‘Global Entry’ pilot-program and praised the efforts of both governments to facilitate travel, to the benefit of their respective citizens.” BUSBC believes GEP to be a first step towards a full-fledged reciprocal Global Entry program between both countries.
U.S. Global Entry Program
The Council urges the U.S. government to include Brazil in the U.S. Global Entry program and to secure Brazilian reciprocity for U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.
Visa System Reform
U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
The Council strongly supports the U.S. government’s efforts to include Brazil in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and to secure Brazilian reciprocity for U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil. The VWP enables nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Recognizing the importance of VWP, President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced on April 9, 2012, a joint statement of their commitment “to work closely together to satisfy the requirements of the of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and Brazil’s applicable legislation to enable U.S. and Brazilian citizens visa free travel.” On July 11, 2012, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Brazilian Minister of External Relations Antonio Patriota issued a joint statement toward cooperation on travel facilitation establishing a bilateral Working Group on Visa Issues (WGV). One of WGV’s key goals is to “be the platform to propose measures and procedures for the implementation of such presidential guidance, taking into account the requirements of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and Brazil’s applicable legislation.”