Global Entry at disembarkment port

[sr4mjc]

San Juan let us join the much shorter Suite line for customs, but you HAD to have the Global Entry cards in hand.

[bEwAbG]

I noticed the sign in FL after we had entered the regular line. I approached the agent and said we had Global Entry. She asked for our cards, which we didn't have with us. I told her we never needed them at JFK or ATL and she took pity, I guess, and let us through the GE line. Aren't the cards used for Canada and Mexico? We always had used the kiosks and never needed the cards. I don't believe my passport shows any evidence of membership.

 

Interesting. The officer who did my interview/took fingerprints made it a clear point to me that the card would only ever be needed if doing a land crossing into Mexico or Canada. I'll be sure to bring it next month just in case (I'm using Miami and not Port Everglades).

[jagoffee]

Interesting. The officer who did my interview/took fingerprints made it a clear point to me that the card would only ever be needed if doing a land crossing into Mexico or Canada. I'll be sure to bring it next month just in case (I'm using Miami and not Port Everglades).

 

Based on our experience in Fort Lauderdale in November the GE is really not operating yet. There was a line with a sign, but everything else was as normal. Therefore I would say at this port currently it is just a priority line, but not really GE.

[bigbenboys]

When we went (nov 22nd) we were put in a Global Entry queue and then escorted to the next available officer. We also bypassed a huge line

 

 

 

We're a year away from renewal. I'm curious to hear how it works. The cards expire on your birthday. So my DH expires first, and then 6 months later my son expires, with my daughter and I in between. I really don't to travel back for 4 interviews of 4 months. Would be better if they expired on the anniversary of getting the card. I thought maybe it was all done on line and no interviews required :(

 

You can renew 365 day before it expires. I'm expires in Dec 2016 and I'm doing it now. I'm hoping to get a GE wallet card like others have. It looks like I'm going to have to be interview again.

[Texed]

Shhh....Before we know it the line will be longer than the regular line, just like all the special lines for check-in to the ship.;)

 

Joanie,

 

Now that you are Zenith, I bet you skip a lot of lines. ;)

Edited January 21, 2016 by Texed

[Ma Bell]

Joanie,

 

Now that you are Zenith, I bet you skip a lot of lines. ;)

 

Only when absolutely necessary.:)

[DancerOT]

If I recall from my interview, we don't need to fill out the customs form when returning through airports. Would the same be true for the cruise port?

[BosoxI]

If I recall from my interview, we don't need to fill out the customs form when returning through airports. Would the same be true for the cruise port?

 

If there were kiosks, no, you wouldn't have to, but we cleared the GE in the port in early December and actually spoke to a real live customs agent, as there were no kiosks. I'm sure I had the filled out form and quite sure he took it. It was exactly like clearing the regular customs like except the GE line had two people ahead of us instead of seventy five or more. The GE line was not well marked and it was only by chance that I glanced up and saw it. I'm usually in a daze, so I was quite lucky. Even my DW who never misses a trick had walked past it

[Doctor G]

Yes, Fort Lauderdale has it.

Hoping Miami gets it VERY soon! :)

 

This is great news. When I was in Fort Lauderdale in November they had Global Entry signs up, but it was not in operation.

 

Carolyn

[bob278]

My wife and I did the Global Entry interview and paid the fee and were approved. But I don't recall getting a card of any kind. What is this card people are talking about?

 

This is from the Customs & Border Protection website:

At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.

The only time we have used it was on a flight to JFK from London and this was the process we followed.

 

I am not aware that this works anywhere other than entering the US. But I'm all for any edge I can get when trying to move through an airport.

Edited January 21, 2016 by bob278

[iSailor]

My wife and I did the Global Entry interview and paid the fee and were approved. But I don't recall getting a card of any kind. What is this card people are talking about?

 

This is from the Customs & Border Protection website:

At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.

The only time we have used it was on a flight to JFK from London and this was the process we followed.

 

I am not aware that this works anywhere other than entering the US. But I'm all for any edge I can get when trying to move through an airport.

Its a GE ID card has your picture on it.

They normally mail it to you after your approval.

[waterbug123]

Its a GE ID card has your picture on it.

They normally mail it to you after your approval.

 

But you don't really need it for anything.

[monicajay]

When we went (nov 22nd) we were put in a Global Entry queue and then escorted to the next available officer. We also bypassed a huge line

 

 

 

We're a year away from renewal. I'm curious to hear how it works. The cards expire on your birthday. So my DH expires first, and then 6 months later my son expires, with my daughter and I in between. I really don't to travel back for 4 interviews of 4 months. Would be better if they expired on the anniversary of getting the card. I thought maybe it was all done on line and no interviews required :(

 

Bingo! you found the one bad thing about this process. Unlike our passports which all renew at the same time, our Nexus (with Global Entry) cards all expire on our birthdays. We have been through this process and it was 5 separate applications at different dates (for our family). Luckily they can now decide to 'select' only certain people for a new interview. Only one of 5 needed to go :).

 

Still, the whole process would be much easier if they renewed on the anniversary like passports rather than on birthdays, like drivers licenses.

[casper106]

They can and do ask to see the card when going through the Nexus only line at security.

[FLACRUISER99]

But you don't really need it for anything.

The GE card gives you front of the line privileges at any US Customs/Immigration checkpoint.

[ozark74]

The GE card gives you front of the line privileges at any US Customs/Immigration checkpoint.

 

At the Port of Miami they told us we had to wait in line. No special line or privileges.

[Sparky333]

We came in through Ft Laud last week. Because we got off the ship early by carrying our own luggage there really weren't lines at customs longer than a few people. I asked about a Global Entry line and was told since there were no lines yet they hadn't opened it -- but then she came back a minute later and said she'd move us to the front of the line.

 

HOWEVER, as others said you do need your GE card and we didn't have them. In the past we've only ever used our passports at GE kiosks at airports -- have not come in by land (apparently a cruise is considered the same as Cananda/Mexico land entry - which since it's not through an airport with kiosks makes sense).

 

Since we didn't have the cards we had to wait in the regular line which didn't take more than a couple of minutes. But if we'd been later getting off the ship and the lines had gotten long I'd have been very angry with myself for not having that card with me! In the future I'm going to have it in the passport wallet I use just in case it's ever needed!

[sippican]

Bingo! you found the one bad thing about this process. Unlike our passports which all renew at the same time, our Nexus (with Global Entry) cards all expire on our birthdays. We have been through this process and it was 5 separate applications at different dates (for our family). Luckily they can now decide to 'select' only certain people for a new interview. Only one of 5 needed to go :).

 

Still, the whole process would be much easier if they renewed on the anniversary like passports rather than on birthdays, like drivers licenses.

 

 

 

In the US we can renew anytime 365 days prior to expiration. So, although they expire on our birthdays, we could renew at the same time.

Are the rules different in Canada?

[Queen of Oakville]

Bingo! you found the one bad thing about this process. Unlike our passports which all renew at the same time, our Nexus (with Global Entry) cards all expire on our birthdays. We have been through this process and it was 5 separate applications at different dates (for our family). Luckily they can now decide to 'select' only certain people for a new interview. Only one of 5 needed to go :).

 

Still, the whole process would be much easier if they renewed on the anniversary like passports rather than on birthdays, like drivers licenses.

 

Thanks. I was wrong on my dates, I don't have to worry about this until 2019. From what I read on the website, it says you may not be selected for an interview. I guess your experience supports this.

 

The GE card gives you front of the line privileges at any US Customs/Immigration checkpoint.

 

Not true. We had our nexus cards with us at Miami airport. You could only do the expedited security if your boarding pass had TSA precheck on it. Ours didn't. I now know that a call to SWA would have fixed that. Our last flight (jet-blue) we had TSA pre-check and got the shorter lines.

 

 

For those that don't have cards ... I would think that no cards = no service. How else do you prove that you have pre-cleared?

[jagoffee]

The GE card gives you front of the line privileges at any US Customs/Immigration checkpoint.

 

You are implying that this is true even we there are no GE line/operation. I will see if this is true when entering immigration/customs at the Miami port. I have my doubts, but your statement sounds confident.

[chamima]

You are implying that this is true even we there are no GE line/operation. I will see if this is true when entering immigration/customs at the Miami port. I have my doubts, but your statement sounds confident.

 

I've been in those long lines.

Just who would you even show your cards to?

I don't remember any customs people until we got to the front.

[az_tchr]

You are implying that this is true even we there are no GE line/operation. I will see if this is true when entering immigration/customs at the Miami port. I have my doubts, but your statement sounds confident.

 

If there is no TSA-PRE line at the airport then you get no special treatment. Those lines are not always open at every airport. TSA-PRE is not the same as Global Entry. One can get TSA-PRE on airplane boarding passes by being 75 years old, a top tier airline flyer group or GEntry member. Also about 5% of the time when boarding you get the random regular line inspection.

 

Second, those from the USA need to apply for Nexus to have entry into Canada and Canadians GE for entry into the USA. Both cost $$.

 

Last, GE at Fort Lauderdale for cruise ships according to CBP is an experiment to see if it can reduce manpower needed to clear cruise passengers. Sort of silly as they made no pre announcement and did not install the machine. There is no plan to expand the service until after the test in FL. Again according to the CBP people here in Arizona. CBP people in both New Orleans and Miami at the cruise port laughed when I handed them my GE card. Hope they expand the program.

Edited January 21, 2016 by az_tchr

[Hlitner]

Keep in mind that in the USA there is Global Entry (GE), Nexus, and Sentri and FAST and while they are all grouped under a category called "Trusted Traveler Programs" they each involve a different process (and fees) to get into the program. So, for example, DW and I both are in the Global Entry Program, but we are not in Nexus or Sentri. While we could join those programs it would mean more fees and likely at least one more interview. I believe GE still costs $100 for a 5 year certification and one needs to schedule an interview as part of the process.

 

GE is really nice for those who fly into the USA but has little use for driving across the Canadian or Mexican border. It is GE that being tried at Port Everglades. When we were recently at the Port of Miami there was no GE....and we asked a CBP Officer it there future plans to offer that service at POM. He told us it was under consideration...which is government speak for "nobody knows."

 

Hank

Edited January 21, 2016 by Hlitner

[Oceangoer2]

Thanks. I was wrong on my dates, I don't have to worry about this until 2019. From what I read on the website, it says you may not be selected for an interview. I guess your experience supports this.

 

 

 

Not true. We had our nexus cards with us at Miami airport. You could only do the expedited security if your boarding pass had TSA precheck on it. Ours didn't. I now know that a call to SWA would have fixed that. Our last flight (jet-blue) we had TSA pre-check and got the shorter lines.

 

 

For those that don't have cards ... I would think that no cards = no service. How else do you prove that you have pre-cleared?

Passengers indicate Nexus number when you provide TSA information on your airline ticket before boarding; I just filled ours in online. It's mandatory to have your card with you.

 

Copied from the AC website Q&A.

 

"TSA Pre✓™ is available for Air Canada flights departing from select U.S. airports.

The TSA determines a passenger's eligibility for TSA Pre✓™ on a flight by flight basis. You will be advised when you check in for your flight if you are eligible. Even if you have a Known Traveller Number, you may not be eligible for TSA Pre✓™."

Edited January 21, 2016 by oceangoer2

[Oceangoer2]

Keep in mind that in the USA there is Global Entry (GE), Nexus, and Sentri and FAST and while they are all grouped under a category called "Trusted Traveler Programs" they each involve a different process (and fees) to get into the program. So, for example, DW and I both are in the Global Entry Program, but we are not in Nexus or Sentri. While we could join those programs it would mean more fees and likely at least one more interview. I believe GE still costs $100 for a 5 year certification and one needs to schedule an interview as part of the process.

 

GE is really nice for those who fly into the USA but has little use for driving across the Canadian or Mexican border. It is GE that being tried at Port Everglades. When we were recently at the Port of Miami there was no GE....and we asked a CBP Officer it there future plans to offer that service at POM. He told us it was under consideration...which is government speak for "nobody knows."

 

Hank

In our experience, having the NEXUS card gets us over the US border much faster....last trip across, the Nexus line had 5 cars ahead of us...other multi lines had maybe a 1/2 hr wait time each line. It's getting more popular though, as trip prior had NO ONE waiting...just zipped through. Perhaps GE is handled differently?

Edited January 21, 2016 by oceangoer2