There is nothing that excites me more than visiting new places. In efforts to maximize my time while traveling and avoid waiting in lines (yes, I hate lines), I applied for Global Entry. Global Entry is a program established by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to expedite the customs process for frequent travelers. For a small fee of $100, you can bypass the line and common annoyances of the customs process when reentering the U.S. The great part about it is that with Global Entry, you are eligible for TSA Pre-check for domestic flights as well. I don’t believe it’s guaranteed but being that you’re issued a Known Traveler Number, your chances of being selected are way higher.
Before applying, you may want to prepare yourself to ensure that you have all of the necessary documents and information. They ask A LOT of questions so please do yourself a favor and have any and everything handy. They ask about work history as well as all of your past residences in the last 5 years.
Maybe I was lucky but it literally took me 13 days from submitting the application to receiving my Global Entry card in the mail. I completed the online application on April 5, 2016. From there, I received my conditional approval the following day. On April 11, 2016, I was asked to pick an appointment location and date for the “in person” portion of the process. Newark (EWR) was booked up until May 11, 2016 so I tried the next best place, Kennedy (JFK). Surprisingly, JFK had an appointment available for the following evening.
When I got to JFK, it was very easy to locate the Global Entry office. There was an officer at the podium who asked my name and directed me to the waiting area. A video about the program played as I waited. Although I got there early, it isn’t really beneficial because people aren’t likely to miss their appointment. Expect to be seen on time or just a few minutes early.
When my name was called, I went to an office area where an officer reviewed my documents and asked me why i’m interested in the program. Honestly, I just hate waiting and since I’m pretty seasoned as far as traveling, I felt it to be a good investment. It’s also another form of government ID. I’m not sure if me being in my omplete work uniform made it that much easier but within 5 minutes, she was taking my picture and circled my Known Traveler Number (KTN). Upon approval, you’re able to start using the number immediately. Being approved for Global Entry and receiving a KTN does NOT mean you’ll get TSA Pre check with your flight plans. It’s likely but not a guarantee.
When I left the interview, I felt great. Although it is a luxury, I was proud to be approved and excited to use it for my upcoming trip abroad. According to the paper that your are given, it states that your card would arrive by mail in 7-10 business days. My countdown started as soon as I walked out of the airport.
Within a few days, my golden (not really) envelope had arrived. My picture is definitely less than flattering but i’ll just have to get over it. Instructions regarding activating the card were enclosed as was a protective sleeve. They recommend that you keep your card in the RFid case they provide or your own. Without being long-winded, RFid cases protect your cards and passports from electronic pickpockets.
As soon as it was activated, I added my newly appointed KTN to my itinerary. In the passenger information section, there’s a drop down (or something similar) that allows you to add your KTN. Once, it’s added, there’s nothing more for you to do. You do not need to carry your Global Entry card when traveling by air unless you want another form of ID. Personally, I brought mine with me so that I didn’t have to walk around with my passport.
The day of my trip arrived and I couldn’t wait to see what the process would be like. As I expected, I was granted TSA precheck. When I arrived at Newark Airport, I proceeded to the checkpoint and was met by a super long line. There was a separate line on the upper level for United Premier members as well as those with TSA Precheck. Thankfully, this one was a lot shorter. It was maybe 5 minutes that had passed between the time I got to the line and to the time that I walked through the detector.
During this process, I only had to place my carry on luggage on the belt and keep it moving. I wasn’t told to take off my jacket or boots (of course i’d be at the airport in Timbs) nor was I patted down or subjected to any other security induced violations. After retrieving my belongings, I was off to the bar nearest to my gate.
Coming home was a bit different. I did not have the luxury of precheck and the line was indeed long. Not to mention that I had overslept and they made me check my luggage but I guess we can’t always win. I hustled through the matrix and made my way to my gate.
Shortly before landing, I was given the standard CBP Declaration form that most people would fill out. Because I was going back into the U.S., it was not needed for those with Global Entry. I deplaned and followed the signs to the checkpoint. I believe most airports have designated lines but large international airports are almost guaranteed to have them. I proceeded to the line labeled “Crew, Diplomats, Global Entry”. I was literally the only person walking that way. You never really notice how much people stare until you’re skipping the whole line without a care in the world. At the end of the maze, there was about 8 designated kiosks set up along side a CBP podium and booth. The agent told me to use any machine and I began the process.
Phones aren’t allowed at CBP checkpoints and I’m really careful when it comes to security so I obeyed and you’ll have to visualize what happens next. The kiosk instructs you to insert your passport face down and it scans your information. After confirming that this is correct, you proceed to the next step which is the fingerprint scanning, located to the right hand side. You’re asked if you have any items to declare and the other standard questions on the Declaration form and then told to look in the camera. Snap! I must have been thinking too hard because my picture was a mess. Or maybe I was just making a habit out of these disastrous ass pictures. My receipt printed and I walked out. If I had to estimate the time it took to complete all of the steps, it was about 1 minute.
Luckily for me, my bag dropped down as soon as I walked out and I was on my way to another exit. I skipped yet another line with just a few people and the agent took my receipt and told me to have a nice day. All in all, I was very pleased with the Global entry process and would recommend it to anyone who travels both domestically and internationally. It may very well be the difference between missing a flight or wasting 45 minutes or more in the TSA line. I look at it as an investment as well as a luxury. $100 well spent.