May 23
2011
I’ve always wanted to apply for the Global Entry program that allows you to shortcut the passport control line. It wasn’t until American Express Platinum card offered to refund the $100 application fee that I actually decided to do it.
You first must apply online and pay the $100 application fee. My $100 statement credit from American Express showed up in 2 days. After you’ve applied online, you then need to submit an interview time. I didn’t realize at the time of my application that you can’t interview at every airport. Luckily, I was able to schedule an interview in Detroit during my five hour layover.
When you arrive in person for your interview, you must provide them with your passport and driver’s license. The interview itself took about 30 minutes. They asked a lot of questions about what company I was working for and where I had traveled to previous. They were also curious as to how I heard about the program. I know that the Global Entry kiosks were completely empty during our landing from Frankfurt.
They then take all of your fingerprints and have you watch a six minute instructional video and then have you use a sample machine as an example of what you will do in the future.
It’s worth noting that the five year approval for the Global Entry program is passport specific. My passport expires next year and therefore I will have to come back into a Global Entry application center and have them certify my new passport (but not go through the whole application again).
Overall it was a pretty painless process. Thanks American Express for the freebie!
Anne & Kirk said,
You’ll love it! Just back from our Visions of Venice tour a couple of days ago and what a pleasure it was to avoid that long line at passport control! Well worth the $100 for frequent travelers.
Sice said,
Can you take traveling companions through with you
jason said,
@sice / nope but I can wave to my wife as she stands in line !!
Acker said,
I’m waiting for my application status to switch from “pending review”. I signed up on May 5th, Amex credited my account within 2 days. I’m in DC this weekend and hope it clears by the end of the week so I can set up an interview. Site suggests it might take upward of eight weeks to move from pending to ready for interview. Here’s hoping.
Brad Benner said,
I did this about 2 years ago and have enjoyed getting through passport control quickly. I especially like when the agent in the lounge or the gate agent looks at me confused and says, “passengers are still getting of that plane.”
Keep in mind that you won’t be able to use Global Entry for travel between US & Cananda — there’s a separate program for that. I was planning to look into it.
Simon said,
Did you get an approval e-mail or only notice when you logged in to check your application status?
jason said,
@Acker – mine took about a week to go to approved
jason said,
@Brad – thanks for sharing your experience – luckily I never go to Canada!
jason said,
@simon – I got an email notice of approval – took about a week
Simon said,
@Jason – thanks, just got an e-mail 20 mins ago
Conditionally approved – schedule interview. BOOM!
Stephen said,
Actually you don’t have to go back to the office when you get a new passport. You can use the same system you used for the application process (GOES) to update your passport information online.
jason said,
@Stephen – I hope that’s the true! The lady at the interview said you had to come back in because they put in a sticker in the back of your passport and if you don’t have it, you’ll have problems.
Stephen said,
Ah, that sticker is the source of some controversy. I was told it was unnecessary though others have reported that they were asked to show it. I haven’t heard of anyone actually being denied use of the kiosks, however. Which makes sense as the Global Entry registration information is online–nothing to do with your physical passport.
lili said,
I registered my new passport online at the website and used it without the little CBP sticker. (Carried my old passport with the sticker just in case.) Plan to drop by and get a sticker someday when it’s convenient, but not sure it’s necessary.
jason said,
@lili – good to know!
Arun said,
My application for Global Entry has been pending review for 10 days already. I hope I am able to schedule an interview soon. Also, what is the backlog for scheduling interviews? How far in advance can a person schedule an interview?
jason said,
@arun – i scheduled my interview two months in advance – they seemed to be pretty quick in approving as well
jenjenk said,
is it passport specific?? i was trying to find information on that since i need to renew next year. I saw an area on the GE website where you can make upates to your passport information, including a space where you can update your passport number…
jason said,
@jenjenk – just like you, I have seen when you logon that you can change your passport number. Therefore it isn’t passport specific and the agent who was instructing me was wrong.
Richard Chen said,
UA Premier Platinum members also get the fee compensated.
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