For many travelers, the most agonizing part of their journey often isn’t waiting at the baggage claim, but rather being stuck in the winding queue before the passport check at immigration. This daily ordeal of “arriving and still having to queue up” is set to change come June this year: the upcoming “New Terminal One” at JFK International Airport is preparing to introduce a brand-new Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) biometric clearance system which will allow eligible U.S. citizens to swiftly complete identity verification by simply “taking a glance”, reducing clearance time to just seconds without the need for prior registration or payment.
Developed in collaboration between “New Terminal One” (New Terminal One) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) along with the biometric identity company iProov, this technology operates by comparing passengers’ real-time facial images with the “passport photo files” in the government system, eliminating the need to repeatedly present documents or wait for manual inspection.
This new identification system, known as Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP), is different from the Global Entry program which requires a $100 application fee. EPP operates on an “automatic enrollment” basis for most U.S. citizens, unless travelers choose to opt out and go through the standard entry inspection process.
Andrew Bud, founder and CEO of iProov, expressed in a statement the company’s excitement in providing technical support for the launch of EPP at “New Terminal One”, describing how travelers can complete cross-border verification within seconds without the need to wait in long queues or frantically search for documents. Francis Russo, Director of the CBP New York Field Office, highlighted how this technology can help law enforcement officers expedite identity verification, allowing them to focus more attention on “higher-risk” travelers, ultimately enhancing overall efficiency and security.
The system also emphasizes accessibility design: for example, family travelers can go through the process together; passengers in wheelchairs can also use the same fast lane, easing the burden of the clearance process.
The upgrade of “New Terminal One” is part of the massive $19 billion overall reconstruction plan for JFK. Once completed, the new “New Terminal One” will cover an area of approximately 2.6 million square feet and is expected to serve over 20 international airlines, including China Airlines and EVA Air. The initial phase of the project will include a brand-new arrivals hall and 14 boarding gates, with the anticipated opening set for later this year.