If you often travel across different countries, you probably have grown reliant on Global Entry .
If you’re not familiar with the program, let’s break it down: Global Entry offers quick entry to pre-approved, low-risk travelers when they arrive in the U.S. from overseas—and it’s definitely worthwhile to apply if you travel often and wish to reduce some of the stress involved in traveling.
Global Entry accelerates access to the U.S. through special dedicated booths in over 75 airports, which skips long U.S. Customs and Border Protection queues. Additionally, if you leave from one of 15 preclearance locations , you can complete the customs process before physically reentering the U.S.
Here's what you should be aware of regarding this topic. when applying for or renewing your Global Entry status — including how to get it for free What you should anticipate throughout the interview process and how this varies from other Trusted Traveler Programs.
Utilizing credit cards to obtain Global Entry at no cost
Although CBP imposes a $120 non-refundable application fee for a five-year membership, many credit cards I will compensate you for these fees by providing a credit.
This credit usually becomes accessible every four to five years; however, you should review the specifics of your particular card to determine the precise timing.
A a range of cards with minimal annual fees as well as premium options offer this benefit, including:
- United℠ Explorer Card : No introductory annual fee for the first year, followed by $95 annually afterwards.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card : $95 annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® : $550 annual fee
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® : $595 per year fee; see rates and fees
- The American Express Platinum Card® : $695 annual fee; see rates and fees
- The American Express Business Platinum Card® : $695 annual fee; see rates and fees
Many credit cards that provide an application fee credit also permit covering a Global Entry membership for somebody else. Therefore, if you have an unutilized Global Entry credit on your American Express Platinum card, you can put another individual’s Global Entry cost on your card and receive reimbursement for the transaction.
Advice for securing an interview slot
After you receive conditional approval for Global Entry, you generally have to schedule an interview Some conditionally approved candidates, such as individuals who are renewing their expired Global Entry status, might qualify for bypassing the interview step in the procedure.
You might not require an interview for renewing your program membership. After submitting both your renewal application and payment, regularly review your TTP account to stay updated on any additional steps needed to finalize the renewal process. per CBP You'll get an email notification whenever your membership status updates.
Should you be chosen for an interview, here are several methods to set it up.
Every first Monday of the month at 9 a.m. local time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection collaborates with Trusted Traveler Programs. release interview appointment slots For applicants who have been provisionally accepted, it's beneficial to ensure you attempt to reserve your spot at the enrollment centers as soon as scheduling slots become available.
You might try to arrange a time slot as well. appointment online at an enrollment center . Of course, appointment availability varies by state and city, and you might have to try a different location to find an opening.
My favorite option and personal recommendation for completing the interview is to do so at the airport via either Enrollment on Arrival or Enrollment on Departure, as detailed below.
What does "Enrollment on Arrival" mean?
Upon arrival, conditionally approved applicants can complete their applications and undergo an interview at the airport instead of having a formal interview at a designated enrollment center through the Enrollment on Arrival program.
This service is presently accessible here 16 international airports and 50 domestic airports within the U.S. If you plan to register upon arrival, bring your U.S. passport with you—assuming you will have this document if coming back to the U.S. from overseas. Additionally, confirm whether any supplementary residency verification materials like mortgage papers or rental receipts are required.
Enrollment on Arrival allows you to complete your Global Entry enrollment interview as part of the immigration process when arriving at the airport after an international trip. To do this, plan to follow signs in the airport for the "Enrollment on Arrival" lanes — and be sure your flight arrives during hours when interviews are offered.
A CBP agent will complete your Global Entry interview during your admissibility inspection. If you don't see any signs for this, ask a CBP agent.
What is Enrollment on Departure?
Enrollment on Departure is akin to Enrollment on Arrival and is presently offered at Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Miami International Airport (MIA) for individuals leaving the country via international flights.
Daily enrollment departure can be done at Gate B41 within Terminal B of IAD starting from midday until 8 PM. In MIA, this service is provided from 8 AM till 6 PM every day except Sunday; you'll find it located at door 32 on level 2 in concourse J close to where the Lufthansa check-in counter is situated.
In order to qualify, travelers should have received conditional approval for Global Entry and now find themselves at the last stage of completing their application process.
The interview process
For your interview, you'll need a valid passport or permanent resident card and proof of residency, such as a driver's license with your current address, a mortgage statement or a recent utility bill.
This entire procedure shouldn’t exceed 10 to 15 minutes; however, set aside approximately 30 minutes to allow for potential holdups. Throughout the interview, expect queries aimed at confirming your identification along with inquiries pertinent to your application, such as details about your most recent travels. Concluding this will involve providing your fingerprints followed by having your photograph taken.
You should receive your Global Entry card and Known Traveler Number seven to 10 days after your interview. Use this KTN for both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, since Global Entry includes membership to TSA PreCheck .
You should also activate your card within 30 days of receiving it, although CBP says you don't need your physical card to pass through Global Entry kiosks at the airport.
How to utilize the Global Entry kiosks
After approval, going through the Global Entry lane upon returning to your country should generally be straightforward; however, keep in mind that the kiosk functions vary depending on where you are.
In the past, you would utilize your fingerprints, respond to queries, have your photograph taken, and subsequently provide the printed document obtained to a CBP officer.
After halting plans to add e-gates As part of a trial initiative for Global Entry at IAD, paperless entry stands as the newest technological advancement. This feature is extensively accessible at the majority of airports equipped with Global Entry services, where participants primarily require letting a device capture their facial image.
Young children can often be quite restless, making it difficult to obtain accurate fingerprint scans. If this occurs, you could end up with a printout that has been blacked out for you to present to the CBP officer instead.
Using the Global Entry mobile app
As of 2023, there's also a Global Entry mobile app that travelers can use to bypass Global Entry kiosks and instead verify their arrival in the U.S. on a smartphone at select airports.
The application can be utilized now. nearly 80 airports As of February, you can utilize the application to verify your presence at a participating international airport through a selfie. The CBP will subsequently match this image with the photos stored in their records and dispatch a mobile confirmation which you can present directly to an officer.
For more information, read our guide to using the Global Entry mobile app .
TSA PreCheck is a perk of Global Entry
A five-year Global Entry membership also includes five years of access to TSA PreCheck. To ensure TSA PreCheck shows up on your boarding pass , you must enter your KTN into your airline reservations when booking. You can also add it when checking in for your flight online or at the airport.
Though I've never been denied TSA PreCheck, it is not 100% guaranteed for every flight. In any case, you should have TSA PreCheck access almost any time you have Global Entry access. Just make sure that the name matches the name on the ticket and that you've entered your membership numbers into your ticket purchase or frequent flyer account(s).
US citizenship isn't required
Individuals who are not U.S. citizens and those who hold permanent resident status from Twenty-one nations qualify for the Global Entry program. To utilize within the U.S. through international agreements with the American government.
In order to join, you need to submit an online application via the Trusted Traveler Program and pay the required fee.
To learn more about how individuals from different nations can apply for and obtain approval for Global Entry, refer to the needs and details provided by CBP . For example, the application procedure for UK residents involves registering through the U.K. government and paying a processing fee of 42 British pounds (around $52) before enrolling in the U.S. Trusted Traveler Programs website and pay an additional $120 to the U.S. government.
Canadian citizens and residents can also apply for Global Entry through this process. Nexus program , offering pre-screened travelers streamlined entry procedures when coming into the U.S. and Canada by air, vehicle, or boat. Additionally, it grants access to Global Entry kiosks upon arrival through one of these modes of transportation. nine Canadian preclearance airports In Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Alberta.
If you frequently travel between the U.S. and Canada as an American citizen and are thinking about enrolling in Global Entry, think about opting for Nexus instead. This will speed up your entry process into Canada significantly. Going through Canadian customs and immigration procedures can be time-consuming, particularly at busy airport hubs. With a Nexus card (available to both U.S. citizens and residents), you'll gain access not only to this but also to Global Entry and TSA PreCheck benefits.
The Nexus Program costs half as much as Global Entry ($50 per adult and free for individuals under 18 years old). To join this initiative, you have to visit an enrollment facility located near the Canadian border.
Delays in renewing Global Entry status often occur.
A Global Entry membership lasts five years and expires on your birthday that fifth year. To keep using it, you must renew it before the expiration date noted on your card.
Users have encountered significant holdups related to renewals going as far back as 2018, with further delays occurring since 2020. As a result, CBP has increased the duration during which you can utilize your benefits to up to two years following the expiry of your Global Entry membership. To be eligible for this extension, though, you need to file your renewal application prior to the expiration date.
Make sure to renew your membership well ahead of time to prevent any hold-ups.
Parents need to sign up for their children individually.
Parents can't bring their babies or children through the Global Entry kiosks with them unless they are separately enrolled in the program, but it's free for children under age 18 to accompany you through Global Entry. TSA PreCheck benefits extend to family members with children up to 12 years old, so you can all use the expedited lane together when traveling domestically.
Households can utilize a Mobile Passport to establish extra profiles for each member, allowing up to four individuals to file one combined customs declaration together. For families who do not frequently travel abroad, this option might be more suitable compared to opting for Global Entry.
Additional charges are not needed for kids applying for Nexus (and consequently, Global Entry) alongside their parents or those connected to their parent's application. SENTRI The SENTRI program facilitates quick entry into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico through dedicated SENTRI lanes, and it also provides access to TSA PreCheck lines at domestic and certain international airports within U.S. territories.
Upgrading membership using a new passport
If you obtain a new passport, you can modify your Global Entry profile to reflect it by signing into your account. TTP account And locate the part labeled "Update Documents." After pulling up this section, input your new passport number to link it with your Global Entry enrollment.
If you experience a name alteration or update to your immigration status, you're required to visit a Global Entry enrollment center to handle this modification; however, scheduling an appointment isn’t mandatory. Simply bring along the appropriate documents that verify the change and inform a CBP officer of your arrival purpose. The representative will then finalize the adjustment during your visit.
If you have two U.S. passports , ensure that the number in your profile matches the one on the passport you intend to use for your international trip.
Global Entry cards are valid federal IDs
You don't need to travel with your Global Entry card to use Global Entry. However, it is a valid form of identification that can serve as a legal alternative ID if you lose your driver's license or state ID.
There are specific instances—like traveling to the U.S. from Canada via air or reaching the U.S. through a cruise ship terminal, like Port Everglades—when you might have to present your Global Entry card To use those lanes. Additionally, this card can be beneficial for individuals residing in states where their driver’s license isn’t acceptable. Real ID compliant , as it can serve as an alternative form of valid ID at the airport.
TSA PreCheck does not include Global Entry.
If you already have TSA PreCheck and want to enroll in Global Entry, you must go through the normal enrollment process since you cannot upgrade a TSA PreCheck membership.
If you're unsure which option to choose, think about how much you travel internationally. Should you regularly visit foreign countries, the additional $42 for Global Entry benefits could be well worth it.
Is Global Entry really worthwhile?
Global Entry can assist you in bypassing lengthy queues upon your return from abroad.
If you venture overseas at least annually, I suggest sparing yourself the frustration of standing in a lengthy customs queue. That’s the very last activity you’d likely desire after arriving back home.
To view the rates and fees for the Amex Platinum Card, please click. here .
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here .
Editorial disclaimer: The views expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the opinions of banks, credit card issuers, airlines, or hotels. These statements have not been reviewed, authorized, or endorsed by the aforementioned entities.
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