Earlier this week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced it would subject any electronic devices larger than a cell phone to an x-ray screening process.

The change will subject travelers with tablets like the iPad, e-readers like the Amazon Kindle and portable gaming systems including the Nintendo DS and Switch to the same type of check that laptops are required to undergo.

Read: TSA New Rules Require iPads, Nintendo Switches, More To Undergo X-Ray Scan

The change to the screening process comes in light of recent intelligence reports that suggest terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and al Qaeda have started to attempt to develop explosives that can fit into smaller electronics.

The new electronics screening procedure may also have ramifications for travelers—including the possibility of slower lines at security checkpoints, as each electronic device will require to be placed in a bin with no other items on top or underneath them.

Lisa Delpy Neirotti, the Director of the Master of Tourism Administration at George Washington University, said she didn’t expect the change would cause any additional complications for travelers as long as the requirements are made clear to those going through security.

“I do not see this new requirement as overly intrusive and although more bins will be required," she said. Neirotti also suggested the overall screening process speed up as people adjust to the requirement, as the bins will make electronics immediately visible to TSA agents rather than obscured in a bag.

“If these new requirements are shared with travelers while queuing, things should flow smoothly,” she said.

Read: Laptop Bombs In Planes: Terrorists Try To Plant Explosives In Electronic Devices, Bypass Airport Security

Henry H. Willis, an associate director of the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC) and senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, said the outcome of the policy change will primarily come down to how effectively it is implemented and communicated.

“It's not obvious to me whether these changes will lead to increased time at the check points or less time at the checkpoints,” he said. “It depends on how it's rolled out."

Willis said if the TSA and airlines make the rules clear to the public before they reach the airport and as they are passing through the security lines, the screening process could actually speed up. Gadgets in bags can lead to secondary scans, which extend the wait time at checkpoints. Scanning them individually will require more bins but may save time in the long run.

However, Willis warned that failing to properly communicate the policy could lead to longer lines as people struggle to comply. "If they don't give clear enough guidance to the traveling public about what to do, it could create confusion and people wouldn't go through the lines as quickly," he said.

Willis also noted the new requirement may encourage people to register for TSA PreCheck, a program offered to low-risk travelers that allow them to go through an expedited screening process. Travelers with TSA PreCeck are not required to remove their electronics from their bag when going through the PreCheck screening line.

"To the extent, they are able to successfully get more people to enroll in PreCheck, they are able to use what the know about the traveling public to subject fewer people to these other rules," Willis said.

How To Apply For TSA PreCheck

For travelers who would like to skip the new electronics screen process, it is possible to do so by applying for TSA PreCheck. The program is open to any permanent resident or citizen of the United States and is available at more than 200 airports for 37 airlines.

The first step of applying for TSA PreCheck is to pre-enroll online. The TSA has a dedicated site set up for those interested in enrolling, which requires applicants to provide basic information including biographical and contact information.

Once submitted, the site will ask applicants to make an in-person appointment at one of 300 application centers around the country. Applicants will have to go to one of the application centers within 120 days of submitting the online form.

The center will require the applicant provide a number of documents to verify their identity. Applicants will want to take a valid photo ID like a driver’s license, valid proof of citizenship such as a passport or birth certificate and immigration documentation if applicable. The TSA provides a list of documents required based on a person’s current location and country of origin.

At the application center, the applicant will be subjected to a brief interview about themselves and their travel habits, including past travels. The applicant will also be required to submit to fingerprinting.

In order to finalize the application process, the applicant will be required to pay a nonrefundable application processing fee of $85. The payment cannot be made with cash or personal check. The TSA requires the payment be made via credit card or cashier’s check or money order.

The application process usually takes about 45 days, and applicants will receive a notification letter as to their status once available. Status can also be checked online via the TSA’s website by entering personal information.

If approved, the applicant will receive a notification letter with a nine-digit Known Traveler Number. That identifier will be required to be provided when making flight registrations so the airlines knows the traveler has been pre-approved by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is considered to be a low-risk traveler.

With TSA PreCheck status, travelers will be able to bypass a number of standard security checks including the new electronics scanning process. Travelers going through the TSA PreCheck line do not have to remove their shoes or belt and can keep their laptop and other electronics in their bag.

The TSA PreCheck approval lasts for five years. To renew the approval once it expires, travelers will have to undergo the process again and pay another $85 application fee.

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