Global Entry Program

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I became a member of the Global Entry program in March and have since made four trips outside the U.S. - two to Canada, one to Europe and one to Thailand. Each time I re-entered the U.S. at Kennedy or Newark airports, it took me five minutes max to clear Immigration and Customs. That compares to anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes in the past.

 

The biggest advantage is that you can skip the line to Immigration control and use a kiosk that automatically scans your passport, takes your photo and reads your fingerprints. That takes less than a minute. The kiosk then prints a "ticket" that you hand over to the CBP agent as you exit the customs area.

 

Because all program members have been vetted as low-risk, "trusted" travelers, there's very little chance you'll ever be called over for a Customs' check, much less a "secondary examination."

 

This is the perfect solution for travelers who've had a hassle with Customs' checks in the past, assuming you haven't really done anything that would qualify you as a legit security risk.

 

You can read more about the program here: Global Entry . It only costs $100 for the firrst five years.

 

Evil

Edited November 18, 2010 by Evil Penevil

[The Jock Bomb 0]

Can't access that page where I am just now, is that purely for the USA?

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Can't access that page where I am just now, is that purely for the USA?

 

Whoops, sorry. Had an incorrect link but fixed it now. Yes, it is a program for entry into the U.S. It covers about 20 U.S. airports right now, but is expected to expand to all U.S. ports of entry. In the future, citizens of other countries will be eligible to participate in the program, but only for entry to the U.S.

 

Evil

[The Jock Bomb 0]

Looks like a damn fine idea if you ask me!

[jacko 8,762]

Looks like a damn fine idea if you ask me!

Agreed, so long as the 'ticket' cannot be passed to another person.

It is a form of 'profiling'........ and what is wrong with that? Patting down every 10th passenger. including old ladies and toddlers is asinine.

 

I was watching a report regarding complaints that Muslim women should not be patted down as it is un-Islamic.

Well Muslim women traveling is unislamic and for me, no security, no boarding.

I liked what I heard at Amsterdam once where a Nigerian lady, who had boarded at Lagos no problem with all these liguids in her hand baggage was refusing to give up some stuff. A stern Dutch lady just said, 'make up your mind, because we have to get your suitcase off the plane'.

[joekicker 53]

Does it give the right to demand the best looking female to grope you when you're going out? Or do you still have to do the full frontal nudity in front of the giggling TSA recruits from the back of the pizza box?

 

I'm a little bitter about US airport security. I'm not running down this programme at all, though.

 

.

[MM 6,562]

Is the application fee (non-refundable) the $100 for the first 5 years?

[oblong 8]

Is the application fee (non-refundable) the $100 for the first 5 years?

 

Yes. 100 bucks for five years. You have to meet with some agents to do an interview at an authorized airport once they accept your background check.

 

Also, if you travel to/from canada you can also get nexus. At one time you could pay 100 for nexus and get goes for free. I don't know if that is still the case or not, but it is highly suggested if so.

[statman208 41]

I also belong to this program. The process was pretty simple... fill out an on-line form, send in your $100, and then go for short interview at the airport..done.

[nkped 1,208]

Agreed, so long as the 'ticket' cannot be passed to another person.

Don't know all the details, but the only people you could pass it to would be those who had already gotten past the inspection booth. Not much gain to it at that point. Then you would have to get past the CBP officer at the exit without your ticket or a stamped customs declaration--that would probably be a problem.

[nkped 1,208]

Or do you still have to do the full frontal nudity in front of the giggling TSA recruits from the back of the pizza box?

I'm more worried about the workmen's comp claims from the TSA employees who say they got PTSD from having to look at my sorry ass.

[nkped 1,208]

Just got to use it for the first time and it was great. Three machines in Seattle, no waiting. Even the fingerprint reader worked fine and I would have to think that would be the part most subject to glitches. My bags were among the first out so I got out of the airport faster than I generally do on domestic flights.

[too_mutt 10]

Just curious what the interview consists of ? (type of questions)

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Just curious what the interview consists of ? (type of questions)

 

My interview consisted of a very few questions - Where do you live, where you work, etc. No political questions at all.

 

Evil

[nkped 1,208]

Just curious what the interview consists of ? (type of questions)

Same, and while I doubt I have as many trips to LOS as Evil, I have had at least one a year since 2002. They also tell you a little bit about what to do including a short run through on a kiosk machine.

[bigdelta 46]

I was hoping a cavity search would have been included in the $100 entry fee but kidding aside,I have only heard positive comments from several sources,both online and in person.

 

 

Just curious what the interview consists of ? (type of questions)

[aussiechic 209]

This is now automatic with new Australian passports. We then have to wait for our bags, but last time they were one of the first ones out and then we have to go through customs which we have had up to a 1 hour wait before. But last time we were stop by a customs guy who ask for our cards stamp them and told us to go out the yellow door, which to out surprise put us outside on the side of the terminal at Sydney airport. Don't know if we were flagged us frequent travels but it was very quick.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

... I have only heard positive comments from several sources,both online and in person.

 

In terms of saving time, it's probably the best $100 I've ever spent. I've re-entered the U.S. 16 times since I became a member of the Global Entry program. It's never taken me more than five minutes to clear Immigration and Customs (I never check any bags returning to the U.S.). That compares with 15 minutes at best and several hours at worst before I became a member, with the average wait probably 30 minutes. That's between seven and eight hours of time I could use for activities a lot more fun or productive than waiting in line.

 

When I de-planed at Newark Liberty from my last trip back to the U.S., I ran into a former co-worker who had just gotten off another flight. We didn't have much time to chat because it was only a short walk to the Immigration Control area, but we exchanged phone numbers. I used the Global Entry kiosk and she entered the rather daunting queue at Immigration. I heard from her a few days later and it turned out that before she had even cleared the queue, I had been been able to rent a car, drive 20 minutes to the motel where I was staying and check in.

 

Evil

Edited November 28, 2011 by Evil Penevil

[galt67 2]

If you get an AMEX Platinum card (annual fee $450) they'll reimburse the $100 fees for the Global Entry Program among MANY other benefits (lounge access, etc)

[nkped 1,208]

A couple of small improvements to how Global Entry is implemented, at least at the Seattle-Tacoma airport:

• After you get the receipt from the kiosk, there is no check by a CBP officer until you get to exit control when you are leaving the Customs area. Before, there was an officer looking to see that you had one before you left the area of the booths;
• While there was only one exit control officer, there were now separate feeder lines with Global Entry having its own lane. As it took a while to get my bags, this did save me a few minutes getting through as there was some back up in the general lane.

Also, this was the first trip after renewing my passport. I had entered the information for the new passport online. Worked like a charm, with no hiccups at the kiosk.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

At quite a few U.S. airports, there's a special Global Entry lane to clear the CBP control. That really saved me a lot of time once at Seattle-Tacoma and once at Newark Liberty. I bypassed huge lines on both occasions. I doubt I'd have made my connecting flight in Seattle if I hadn't gotten through as fast as I did.

 

Evil

[js007 795]

I once thought about this program, but after thinking about it a bit, I decided I've never really been delayed at immigration all that long. There's usually a line of some sort, but I don't remember ever waiting more than three or four minutes. Then again, I've only used a few places: LA, NYC, Minneapolis, Detroit. One agent asked me a few questions once, and that was it. The rest were just "welcome back" or something like that. And one time, I had to look around for a pencil to fill out the green form.

[too_mutt 10]

Nkped,

I was told ( when I had my GOES interview ) that when you renew your passport you must renew your Global Entry status also, even if the 5 year period for the Global Entry has not expired. Was this your experience?

Thanks.

[nkped 1,208]

Nkped,

I was told ( when I had my GOES interview ) that when you renew your passport you must renew your Global Entry status also, even if the 5 year period for the Global Entry has not expired. Was this your experience?

Thanks.

It was solely a matter of updating the information about the passport in the CBP GOES online system. After you sign on and acknowledge you are in a U.S. government sytem, you get a screen with your personal information. One of the options on the left side is Update Documents. Used that to show the new passport # and expiration date. I would not describe it as renewing the Global Entry status.

[losgrad 264]

It was solely a matter of updating the information about the passport in the CBP GOES online system. After you sign on and acknowledge you are in a U.S. government sytem, you get a screen with your personal information. One of the options on the left side is Update Documents. Used that to show the new passport # and expiration date. I would not describe it as renewing the Global Entry status.

Four years ago by U.S. mail I renewed my USA passport (with fees) for another 10 years and this year through online and a required interview appointment, I renewed my Global Entry Card for another 5 years (no additional fees since my original Sentri Card fees). My experience was similar to 'Nkped.'

 

This pre-screening trusted traveler program helps them manage resources, but they still indicate they may do an occasional check and if you violate any rules or laws, penalties are doubled and you will be removed from the program.

 

There is no indication on your passport, but upon scanning your passport at the kiosk at the airport, it has your flight information, takes your picture and prints out a "receipt" that you carry along with your passport in lieu of your declaration form. Your microchipped card does not have to be carried except for land border crossings, but the agent advised me to write the Global Entry number on one of my passport pages. If you lose the card, you will have to reapply and repay the fees.

 

An excellent program with improving procedures and many U.S. C&I agents are now educated.