Great news for people who hate to wait in long immigration lines when returning to the U.S.

Global Entry is, as of next week, being added to 13 additional U.S. airports, including (attention, Ngaire & Ken) Dallas.

Forgive me if this has been discussed previously on LCT (although I couldn't find it when I did a search a few minutes ago). Global Entry is one of several "Trusted Traveler" programs put into effect over the last year or so by the Dept. of Homeland Security. It allows people who have been pre-screened to skip the lines at regular immigration control and go to a kiosk to scan their passport and fingerprints. Pretty cool, no?? About five minutes vs. who knows how long in the regular line????

Here is a link to the press release:
Global Entry Expands

How this works is that one must first set up an account on the GOES system (there's a link to that on the site noted above). GOES gives one an account number. Then, one chooses which Trusted Traveler program to apply for and fills out the application on-line. The application is processed and pre-vetted. If preliminarily approved, one receives a message to set up an interview and have fingerprints taken.

When we applied for our NEXUS cards (used for quick passage across the border into Canada), we received the preliminary approval letters in less than two weeks and had our interview a few weeks later. We were approved; and our cards should arrive this week. We don't have to do another application for Global Entry because the data on the application is exactly the same for both programs (personal data, addresses, employment, and travel for last 5 years).

We expected, and received, quite a bit of scrutiny at the interview regarding our travel to a bunch of middle-eastern countries last year on CAMEL. The funny part of the interview was when the Border Patrol guy (who was wearing his cap with sunglasses perched thereupon inside the office - great look for a beach, a bit silly for an office) asked us why we'd visited so many Muslim countries - Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina. We wisely bit our tongues and did not point out to him that Argentina, being probably 99% Catholic, was not widely considered as a "Muslim country".

In any event, this Global Entry deal may be quite a nice thing for anyone who enters through any of the now 20 or so airports in the U.S. participating in the program.

The online application process takes a few minutes (15-30, including time to find birth certificates and passport numbers) but is not bad. I would suggest not using the "Application Wizard", as it screwed up a lot of data, which I then had to correct manually, taking longer than if I had simply gone page to page in the first place when doing the application.

Mama Sup & Ken - This may save you lots of time clearing immigration when returning from your many trips (assuming, of course, that Ngaire is not rejected from the program because of her highly suspicious propensity to eat prodigious quantities of lamb chops - after all, an interviewer who doesn't know that Argentina is not a Muslim country might think that Kiwis are not "Trusted Travelers" just because they have odd names that begin with two consonants that are not usually pronounced together).

Have a look at the program if it might be available at your favorite airport.

Cheers, Fred

PS - Look, LCT friends, I managed a whole (and dreadfully long) post with almost no feeble attempts at half-baked humor. I guess that I won't have to add any "joke" emoticons (which I can never figure out how to add anyway, being such a total goof at anything complicated).

Thanks for this info, Counselor.
Will definitely look into this.
What I didn't see at an initial glance was a cost for this program.

Oh this would be great. There was a one called CLEAR a few months ago, but they went belly up, http://blogs.zdnet.com/perlow/?p=10361 but I never subscribed or whatever, because it was not available at PHL and BWI as I remember. I would love to sail through the lines!

I have a bit of Arabic in my passport from CAMEL and it always seems to elicit scrutiny.

Thanks Fred.

Double post, sorry, deleted.

Freddie, thanks for the information (and humour).

Apparently this costs $100 for five years. This, unlike CLEAR, only pertains to entry into US from overseas. Of course, when the US finally gets around to having passport screening upon departure, it will help then, too. Japan started a similar program a few years ago when they started to collect biometric data on all foreigners entering and leaving Japan. Alas, Japan, realizing that registering people makes life easier, chose not to charge (this might have changed since we left). Our "illustrious" Secy Homeland Security seems to think it is better to have longer lines than making registration free and easy.

Oops, sorry for not mentioning the fee, which is, as Marc noted, $100 for 5 years. Still not a bad deal if it gets one through the line much faster. Pat & I are lucky, because, as Nexus pass holders, we don't have to pay the fee for Global Entry. Global Entry is trying to get more people signed on and is offering it for no additional fee to existing trusted travelers since they don't need another background check.

Marc, I think that I read somewhere on the Global Entry site that it can also be used to enter the Netherlands at Schipol Airport. Other than that it is only for entry into the U.S. from abroad.

Fred

Who is Ayn Rand?

Thanks for this info. MUST look into this for LAX, supposedly it's in this program....dreadful place. We avoid it like the plague.

Just curious if anyone out there has actually tried the program during the pilot period. Seems like I remember someone posting a comment about it on this board.
I didn't see anybody using the Kiosks when we went thru Atlanta on our way back from our Norway/Baltic cruise in July.

Thanks for this information, Fred. I'll be looking into it.

Well, today we were approved for Global Entry, with no additional fee or interview, based on our current status as Nexus trusted travelers. (Hmm, is that anything like "fellow travelers", a term Joe McCarthy liked to use, no?? Homeland Security - an unfortunately Soviet-sounding name in itself - is not too good at choosing the names of its programs.)

I've posted over on the CC Cruise Air board for any comments on using Global Entry, with no responses so far. As of August, the program only had about 16,000 "trusted travelers", which is a tiny portion of U.S.-based international travelers.

Okay, we now have the Global Entry membership and would love to try out the system. Donations for a trip to somewhere abroad from which we could return to the U.S. and try out the system will be happily accepted into our Cayman Islands account (details of which are available via LCT Private Message).

Cheers, Fred (your trusty Trusted Traveler)

If it works, that is a wonderful program (assuming you can get over the Big Brother fingerprint apparatus)

Fred,
So you can try out the Global Entry system I can arrange for an all expense paid tour to the location of your choice. Limit is 21 days. If you are interested, by the way it has first class air included, please send $50,000 us dollars to my account in Kenya. You need to send the deposit to show you are really interested. After you return from the trip your deposit monies will be refunded to you. I promise.

Ralph - That is just tremendously generous of you. However, I just got an email letting me know that Dr. Mwakum Umbwakum of Lagos, Nigeria was holding a check for my winnings in the Scottish Lottery in the amount of 2.5 million euros, if I simply send him a check for US$8,750 to pay the transfer fees and taxes. Thus, we won't need to take advantage of your kind offer. Hmm, could you maybe lend me the $8,750 though??

Cheers, Fred

Fred,

Sadly I do not have the $8,750 as I just wired a like amount to the same fello who said I had won the Irish lottery for 3 million euros and he needed the 8,750 to pay the transfer costs before he could send me the check. Should I be worried. I sent a cashiers check like he asked.

On a less serious note, hope you are having a great summer , give a hello to Pat for us.

Don't you love it when someone hi-jacks your tread for more serious topics.

I received your cashier's check for $8,750. Unfortunately, due to newly enacted IRS regulations, we'll have to withhold 95% of your winnings, Ralph. You can apply in 17 years for their repatriation.

In the meantime, I need your approval to invest the withheld proceeds in a Romanian based venture capital fund. Swiss bankers are providing the letters of credit on behalf of the investors. Fortunately, we can deliver the investment in a few short weeks when we stop on our Black Sea Cruise, at no additional expense.

Your original contact said he'd be sure to get you the additional 5% of the lottery winnings, as soon as you confirm the bank account details and secret password for wire transfer purposes.

You will own your undivided proportionate share of bridges and prime waterfront land beyond your wildest expectations. You should expect a free timeshare allotment as soon as the development is 40% complete. Fred signed up mere hours ago, so we've only got the one remaining slot for foreign investors ...

:p <img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" /> :p

Cheers, Anne

It is probably my just punishment to have the only serious thread I've begun in years to be hi-jacked, since I am so often the culprit in such devilish doings.

Nonetheless, we must keep the thread at least remotely alive with respect to its primary subject until Ngaire & Ken can read it and determine whether they want to enter into the labyrinthine Homeland Security application process to become Trusted Travelers with Global Entry certification.

In fact, the application process is not at all dreadful. The program now covers pretty much every port of entry N & K would use on their frequent trips.

So, here's to LCT'ers becoming TT'ers in the GE program.

Yours in TT'ness - Fred

OH!!!! Thanks Ralph and Anne for humor - you two are a hoot -

That is the funniest thread I have read in years.!! The only thing is that I wish you had let us invest in those lottery tickets, I am so envious of your winnings.

When we return we will investigate the Global Entry program. Certainly would be well worth our while.

A couple of people have privately asked me to post the link and the steps in the Global Entry application process. Here goes:

1. Go to the GOES website to register to become a GOES user. https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/
You will receive a GOES User ID, which will be the first initial of your first name, 8 digits, and the first initial of your last name.

2. Once you have a User ID, you can sign into the application system in the "Existing GOES User" box at that same website.

3. Then you are given the option to "Enroll in a New Program" and follow the instructions. It is good to have already at hand your passport, birth certificate, employment info and home addresses for the last five years, as well as any reminders you might need of the countries you've visited in the last five years. Fortunately, when you get to the country question, the application provides a list of countries from which to choose.

4. You then review the whole application and submit it, after paying the fee as part of the online process.

Before going to the bother of doing the application, one should check the list of airports participating. The list is included in the link in my first email on this thread.

Whether it is worth the bother to go through this process even if one does not go through immigration more than a few times per year is each person's individual choice. It probably depends on how bad the back-ups can get at one's primary port(s) of entry. Considering how frustrating it can be to stand in a passport line for 30-45 minutes after a long international flight, being able to bypass the line, spend 5 minutes at the kiosk, and go on through to baggage claim could be, as the commercial says, priceless.

Yours in continued TT'ness. Fred

I am definitely going to look into this. My husband and I have already been intensely scrutinized (and passed) as part of our son's high level security clearance (he is in Marine intell). They even took our computer and looked at it. I had to laugh as it only had my research for vacations and fashion on it. The guys looking at it probably laughed too.

Rachel - You will probably cruise through the pre-screening with flying colors, assuming, of course, that none of your fashion research had to do with such "Muslim countries" as Argentina!

Hmm, can you just imagine Madonna singing, "Don't cry for me, Allah in Argentina!" in her infamous role as Evita?

Your timid Trusted Traveler, Fred

HAHA, no burkahs for me, Freddie.