global entry.org

[fh2000]

Came back thru LAX custom yesterday with DW. The new quick entry method is refreshing. You entered few questions from the computer and took a photo. Then answered few questions with the custom officer. No more long waiting lines.

We had just one carry-on, so we proceeded with Exit. There were 4 long lines with other foreign visitors, but relatively quick. The officer there asked a few same questions, and we were on our way.

I saw an empty line for global entry approved visitors, so I am wondering if it makes sense to register. What would the qualifications be?

 

[braumeister]

The advantage is that you can simply go to a kiosk, enter a few items, and be on your way. No human interaction required.

As for Global Entry, the information is here:
https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes

But if you ever travel to Canada, or live or travel within reach of the border, I think NEXUS is a better deal than Global Entry. Half the cost, and all the same privileges, plus the same privileges traveling to/from Canada.
NEXUS | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

 

[BellBarbara]

We got it as well, have not used it yet. We were in a very long line in Logan Boston for 60 min returning from Rome and that sealed the deal for us.

 

[Willers]

Have global entry and have used it a few times. It helped me make a tight connection when one of my flights was late.

I travel quite a bit so I love anything that makes my travels easier and this really does. If I was a leisure traveler (especially if retired) I probably wouldn't pay for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[Willers]

The process is simple. You just need to apply (you can do it online). You then need to visit a customs office for an in-person interview. No qualifications beyond that assuming you don't have any skeletons in your closet.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[nwsteve]

After a hellish connection last month at Heathrow, I am convinced the money spent is well worth it. We had a 2 hr connection from inbound Barcelona flight with BA to connect another BA flight to Seattle. Barely made it--the security process was inane and populated by the inept and incompetent.
After speaking with our travel advisor, she suggested the Global Entry process and light bulb went off--there were clear, almost no wait Fast Track lanes.
Nwsteve

 

[2017ish]

Well worth the money, even for vacation travelers. We dive outside the US once or twice a year and do not live in a hub city. Got into Global Entry in May 2012, and I believe that every single trip since then, my wife and I have looked at each other and said that it paid for itself just on this trip. (Plus, it carries TSA Pre-Check with it--although that program is becoming increasingly less valuable at our airport)

Once we retire and are doing a lot more traveling, I anticipate that it will be even more attractive.

EDIT___{BTW, we came through LAX on 7.3.14 and there was no comparison between our blitz through customs/immigration and the line faced by other US citizens. Maybe it has changed since then?}

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Best deal ever and if you use an AMEX car to pay the fee, they will reimburse you for the cost.

Sent from my mobile device so please excuse grammatical errors.

 

[txtig]

I got my Global Entry a few months ago. The first time I used it was returning from Calgary. At the Calgary airport, you actually clear US Customs in Calgary. Well, I entered the Global Entry line bypassing a much longer line for the regular folks. At this point, I'm thinking everything is going very well and was really glad I got the Global Entry. I went to the kiosk and scanned my passport and Global Entry card. The kiosk then told me that it was processing my info and showed a little spinning clock on the display. Minutes passed and people who were behind me in line were passing me up one after another. Finally, after about five or six minutes, the kiosk spits out a receipt with my info on it with a huge "X" on it. I think "this is not good". I take the receipt to the customs agent just ahead of me and he looks at it and then looks at me for what seems to be a long time. Then he asks "has his ever happened before?" I say no. He says "ok, come with me". So, I'm following him and then I ask if there's a problem. He says "it's not good". At first, I think he's just kidding with me, but then I look at him and he's not smiling at all. Uh oh. Well, he takes me around the corner to a waiting area, he takes my passport and boarding pass and tells me to wait here. He disappears through a door into an area that looks like an office with several one way windows looking into the area where I'm waiting. I can see some movement behind the one way windows, but can't see what's going on. At this point, I'm getting a bit worried. I wait about 10 to 15 minutes. All sorts of things are going through my mind, including whether I'd soon be spending time behind bars. Finally, the agent emerges from behind the one way mirrored room, hands me my passport and boarding pass and tells me that I'm good to go. I ask him what the problem was was he provides some vague, not very specific answers. I got on my flight and had no problems after that. Not sure if I want to use my Global Entry card again. Maybe I'll just wait in line like I've always done before.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

 

[6miths]

I have Nexus. Works well however the first time I used it (border crossing into Niagara Falls, NY) I had an experience a bit like txtig and almost missed a flight. It wasn't quite so stressful though and the US Border agents were quite helpful in sorting things out. It was some sort of a glitch in the online registration process which they fixed pretty quickly and I was on my way.

 

[JTOrt]

We have NEXUS & Global Entry. Can't believe how easy this has made our travel. Bypass security & customs lines (even internally in Canada), no questions from the border guards and no need to fill out US declaration cards. Basically go to the kiosks and you are good to go. Makes the process a whole lot easier. 50 bucks well spent.

 

[omni550]

We have NEXUS & Global Entry. Can't believe how easy this has made our travel. Bypass security & customs lines (even internally in Canada), no questions from the border guards and no need to fill out US declaration cards. Basically go to the kiosks and you are good to go. Makes the process a whole lot easier. 50 bucks well spent.

I'm confused...you have BOTH? Might I ask why?

omni

 

[braumeister]

When I got my NEXUS card, I was told (in writing) that it automatically cancelled my Global Entry membership, since the GE was redundant for those in NEXUS.

 

[fh2000]

I got my Global Entry a few months ago. The first time I used it was returning from Calgary. At the Calgary airport, you actually clear US Customs in Calgary. Well, I entered the Global Entry line bypassing a much longer line for the regular folks. At this point, I'm thinking everything is going very well and was really glad I got the Global Entry. I went to the kiosk and scanned my passport and Global Entry card. The kiosk then told me that it was processing my info and showed a little spinning clock on the display. Minutes passed and people who were behind me in line were passing me up one after another. Finally, after about five or six minutes, the kiosk spits out a receipt with my info on it with a huge "X" on it. I think "this is not good". I take the receipt to the customs agent just ahead of me and he looks at it and then looks at me for what seems to be a long time. Then he asks "has his ever happened before?" I say no. He says "ok, come with me". So, I'm following him and then I ask if there's a problem. He says "it's not good". At first, I think he's just kidding with me, but then I look at him and he's not smiling at all. Uh oh. Well, he takes me around the corner to a waiting area, he takes my passport and boarding pass and tells me to wait here. He disappears through a door into an area that looks like an office with several one way windows looking into the area where I'm waiting. I can see some movement behind the one way windows, but can't see what's going on. At this point, I'm getting a bit worried. I wait about 10 to 15 minutes. All sorts of things are going through my mind, including whether I'd soon be spending time behind bars. Finally, the agent emerges from behind the one way mirrored room, hands me my passport and boarding pass and tells me that I'm good to go. I ask him what the problem was was he provides some vague, not very specific answers. I got on my flight and had no problems after that. Not sure if I want to use my Global Entry card again. Maybe I'll just wait in line like I've always done before.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

Hmmm. OP here.

Since I am a dual citizen, maybe I should just wait in line like everyone else. Not sure what sort of issues would pop up.

In LAX, there is already improvement. No long lines to check entry registration and passport. Just one line on Exit.

 

[JTOrt]

We are Canadian so that may be the difference. We received an email with the following message:

Global Entry Benefit: As a NEXUS member, you can now use the Global Entry kiosks located at the top 20 major U.S. international airports to enter the U.S. To use the Global Entry kiosks, you must use a valid machine readable passport. Do not use your NEXUS card in the kiosk, but you may wish to carry it with you. There is no additional cost to use Global Entry, and you may use it for the duration of your NEXUS membership.

Please be advised that, in an effort to improve the NEXUS program, the kiosks currently available in the U.S. pre-clearance areas at Canadian airports are being replaced with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry (GE) kiosks. Global Entry is a U.S. domestic trusted traveller program that offers expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk members. NEXUS members receive Global Entry benefits automatically, at no additional cost, and have access to the GE automated kiosks for entry into the U.S. at participating airports.

When we leave Canada to the US we use a Global Entry kiosk, when we come back to Canada we use a NEXUS kiosk.

 

[omni550]

We are Canadian so that may be the difference. We received an email with the following message:

Global Entry Benefit: As a NEXUS member, you can now use the Global Entry kiosks located at the top 20 major U.S. international airports to enter the U.S. To use the Global Entry kiosks, you must use a valid machine readable passport. Do not use your NEXUS card in the kiosk, but you may wish to carry it with you. There is no additional cost to use Global Entry, and you may use it for the duration of your NEXUS membership.

Please be advised that, in an effort to improve the NEXUS program, the kiosks currently available in the U.S. pre-clearance areas at Canadian airports are being replaced with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry (GE) kiosks. Global Entry is a U.S. domestic trusted traveller program that offers expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk members. NEXUS members receive Global Entry benefits automatically, at no additional cost, and have access to the GE automated kiosks for entry into the U.S. at participating airports.

When we leave Canada to the US we use a Global Entry kiosk, when we come back to Canada we use a NEXUS kiosk.

Thanks for the clarification.

Looks like I'll be applying for NEXUS.


omni

 

[braumeister]

We are Canadian so that may be the difference.

I don't think there is a difference; we got the same message.

But we had joined Global Entry first, and were issued cards in that program.

Once we were in NEXUS, we were told to destroy our old GE cards since they would be invalidated in the system. As NEXUS members, we still have all the GE benefits in addition to the NEXUS benefits, so I guess that's what you were thinking of.

 

[CoolChange]

I love my Global Entry status for coming back into the USA as well as for the TSA Pre benefits. (I have never randomly been denied my TSA Pre line since enrolling in Global Entry.)

Note that Australia and New Zealand also offer similar arrival benefits for those with Global Entry cards for free; I hope to try this out in the coming year. Anyone have actual experience using their GOES card to enter Australia or New Zealand?

 

[zinger1457]

Best deal ever and if you use an AMEX car to pay the fee, they will reimburse you for the cost.

Is that with any AMEX card or just the Platinum?

 

[RockyMtn]

If you are United Premier Platinum or higher United will pay for your Global Entry!

 

[zinger1457]

I could see the benefit of Global Entry if traveling with carry on luggage only but for most of my international travel (mainly through LAX) it is extremely rare when my checked in luggage is waiting for me on the carousel after going through customs so I don't see it getting me out the door any quicker. Am I missing something?

 

[Sunset]

Driving back from Canada, we were told to get the Nexus card by the U.S. customs, so we "would not have to wait in line with all the criminals".
I did look at the application, but it was about 45 pages long... and they wanted us to bring the car we would cross the border to an interview.
We don't live near the border and will be changing cars, so I passed on it.
Did another trip this year, and drove right up to the booth to get into Canada, no line.
On the way back had a 5 car line up, so it was pretty short 15-20 minutes tops.

 

[yupislyr]

I've participated in NEXUS since shortly after it was first introduced and the application has never been anywhere close to 45 pages.

Last check: 4 pages. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/bsf658-eng.pdf

Vehicle registration is optional. In the beginning it was mandatory but not anymore. I've crossed over in many different vehicles, including rentals, all unregistered and all without a hitch.

If you don't travel very much or during times where it's busy and the lines get longer, then it may not be of much value.

It's been around for over a decade and still only costs $10 a year so I still see it as a great value. Even if it only saves you 10 or 20 minutes a trip, that can add up quickly if you travel enough.

 

[braumeister]

Driving back from Canada, we were told to get the Nexus card by the U.S. customs, so we "would not have to wait in line with all the criminals".
I did look at the application, but it was about 45 pages long... and they wanted us to bring the car we would cross the border to an interview.

That must have been quite some time ago.
When we enrolled in NEXUS, a little less than a year ago, it was simple, quick and easy. Fill out the online application, get an interview appointment, and you're done.

Coming back into the US over the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit this past July, it saved us at least an hour. Bypassing the huge backup and sailing through the NEXUS lane was delightful!

 

[Richard4444]

I travel often and Global Entry is an enormous time saver. Enormous. Once, I even got a big 'X' as a previous poster mentioned, I was directed to a special customs officer. He simply had me fill out a regular blue form and after handing it back to him, he okayed it and I proceed through. I highly recommend it.