Britons Offered Chance To Skip US Customs Queues

The United States will let some British visitors skip passport and customs at its airports, in a bid to attract more visitors from the UK.

Britons will be able to sign up for the US Global Entry scheme - where travellers seen as low-risk can register in advance and then pass through automatic kiosks to get into the country - US Customers and Border Protection agency commissioner Gil Kerlikowske said.

There were no initial details on the start date for the programme, announced at the World Travel Market show in London.

Travellers have to go through a background check and an interview before they can register, according to the US Customs and Border Protection's website. Global Entry is already used by Canadians and Mexicans.

The number of Britons arriving in the US rose 3.6 percent to 3.97 million in 2014, out of a total of 75 million international visitors, according to US data.