globalentry.gov-Anyone Use it?

Hugh R · 09-10-2011, 06:31 PM

Just applied. You can avoid the customs and immigration lines at LAX and other airports. $50. I've traveled internationally at least 8 times this year that I can remember, and each time I spent about an hour going through customs and immigration returning to LAX. They issue you an RFID card and you scan your fingerprints. Its supposed to replace Nexxus and all the other start and failed programs like this.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Does it only work for US citizens?

slodave · slodave's Garage

Yes.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

I have been using Nexus/Canpass for Canada > US (and vice versa) entry for several years. You skip the lineups & walk up to an iris scan machine, answer 2 questions - no/no - and it spits out a card which you give to the custom's gate dudes on exit. It saves 30 minutes on US entry (in Toronto) & 10-20 minutes on return. Except when the machines are down . . .

As I understand it, it also will blend with Global Entry. A must for any frequent flyer.

The older fingerprint/handprint machines had problems with different size handprints. Male/female etc.

Ian

Tishabet · 09-11-2011, 09:40 AM

I use it, though I think it cost me $100... However, some credit card benefits programs will actually pay the fee for you.
So far my experience has been good, but some airports do not have the system in place (e.g. BWI when I was there in July). Nothing like breezing by an hour long line.

Hugh R · 09-11-2011, 10:40 AM

I believe some resident aliens can use it as well. Even if my employer wouldn't pay for it, I'd get it anyway. I'll bet I've spent 10-12 hours in those immigration lines this year alone at LAX.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

my 1st question would be what addl. personal info. on you does this entail them gathering that you do not want them to have?

2nd question - if so, then is that worth the benefits

mjohnson · mjohnson's Garage

Somewhere there's a bad Michael Johnson out there - Immigration usually takes way too long. I've even spent time in the "waiting room of doom". I wonder if this could speed things up?

The gov't already knows _everything_ about me, and apparently trusts me (deep inside the nuclear weapons-industrial complex). Shame that counts for nothing at the airport.

Hugh R · 09-11-2011, 03:59 PM

Name, Mother's maiden name, Passport #, Driver's license #, DOB, place of birth, address and place of employment for last five years, a list of certain countries that I had to check whether I'd been to in the last five years. Nothing new that I can think of. I don't know if they do a more in depth background check than to verify what I gave them.

Tishabet · 09-11-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Name, Mother's maiden name, Passport #, Driver's license #, DOB, place of birth, address and place of employment for last five years, a list of certain countries that I had to check whether I'd been to in the last five years. Nothing new that I can think of. I don't know if they do a more in depth background check than to verify what I gave them.

I had to give past addresses, past employers, as well. Then about a month after applying I had to show up in person for an "interview" which was basically them verifying me by sight, then learning how to use the machine. The only thing they added to my passport itself was a little sticker, but I already have one of the passports with the RFID.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Is this being replaced or supplemented by the new "Trusted Traveler" program? I got an invite from American Airlines to see if I was interested in the pilot.

Found more information here

ErVikingo · 09-12-2011, 10:56 AM

Money well spent. I landed yesterday and the regular line at immigration looked like a line at Disney. I just straight to the "kiosk".

Some friends were coming on the same flight and it took them 1.25hrs to clear immigration and customs.

ErVikingo · 09-12-2011, 10:57 AM

Don, trusted traveler will be for TSA rather than CBP (or so I'm told).

jmaxwell · 09-12-2011, 11:20 AM

Ditto on skipping the long lines. the only issue I had was scheduling the interview, since it has to be at one of the major international airports, and I fly out of Tulsa. But walking up the kiosk and scanning my fingerprints is WAY better than standing in the long passport queues. Note, they still reserve the right to a random check.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I can't bring myself to pay $200 for my wife and me to have this. My time is worth something, but I only travel int'l. about twice a year and always on vacation, never having to be anywhere by a certain time.

ErVikingo · 09-12-2011, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjohnson

Somewhere there's a bad Michael Johnson out there - Immigration usually takes way too long. I've even spent time in the "waiting room of doom". I wonder if this could speed things up?

The gov't already knows _everything_ about me, and apparently trusts me (deep inside the nuclear weapons-industrial complex). Shame that counts for nothing at the airport.

Michael, I have a name conflict also and I travel internationally 3-5 times/month.

I use to spend a lot of time on the "room of doom". Since I have had the GOES (and INSPASS before) I have only been there once. I was one of the very early adopters due to the name conflict and wondered if it would help and it did !