Immigration/Custom question

France and the Netherlands are both in the Schengen zone. Even though you are just passing through Paris, you will be entering the Schengen zone, so you will go through immigration (passport check) there. If you were just passing through on your way to a non-Schengen country, you would probably be kept in a quarentine area and wouldn't go through immigration.

If you have checked your luggage through to Amsterdam, you will not see it in Paris. You will go through customs in Amsterdam, after you retrieve it from the carousel. Customs usually has a lane that says "nothing to declare", and you can usually walk out through this lane without any checks. I think you can, however, be subject to spot checks, but I have never seen this happen.

"nothing to declare" is more commonly called the "Green Channel", because that is how it is labelled. And yes, they do make spot checks, but very rarely.
The alternative is the "Red Channel" if you have something to declare.
The third option is the "Blue Channel" for travellers from other EU destinations (like Paris) who don't have to go through customs. But don't use that unless you are entitled (which if you came from the USA you are not). They can tell who came from other EU destinations from the luggage labels.

Sondra,

You'll go through Passport control when you arrive in Paris, since that's your first entry point to the E.U., and your Passport will be stamped.

I doubt that your Global Entry Pass will be of any use, since that's only used by CBP for entry to the U.S. (AFAIK). I don't think the E.U. countries recognize that.

Ken, you wrote "Passport control when you arrive in Paris, since that's your first entry point to the E.U."
Technically not correct. Lee was right. You go through passport control in Paris because that is your first entry point to the Schengen Area. Subtly different, EU (European Union and the Schengen Area are nearly the same countries, but not exactly.

I had never heard of "Global Entry pass", I looked it up. It is a US government scheme, only applies in the USA, totally useless in other countries.
When you go through passport control in Paris, there will be two queues: "EU+Schengen" and "rest of the world". You will need to go in the latter slower queue.

Global Entry is the US/TSA trusted traveler program (several different levels). ONLY good for getting back into the US. No value or importance to entering Europe.

"EU (European Union and the Schengen Area are nearly the same countries, but not exactly".

Example, UK and Switzerland. The UK is in the EU but not Schengen. Switzerland is in Schengen, not the EU. If you go from France to the UK, you go through immigration, but not customs. When you go from France to Switzerland, you go through customs, but not immigration. Go figure.

Chris F.,

OK, for those that are "splitting hairs" the term Schengen area may have been more precise. I was in a hurry and that one slipped by.

thank you for the info. so since I only have to go through immigration in Paris and not bother with my luggage until Amsterdam I'm thinking I should be good with 2 1/2 hour lay over assuming plane is on time of course.