Global Entry Pass

Your guess NO is correct in my case. I wasn't able to use my Global Entry pass for any flights on any of my recent trips (once to/from Istanbul, once to/from Frankfurt and once to/from Rome) except when flying the domestic legs to and from US airports.

No, no, no, it is only good for getting you back into the US primarily through immigration. It is a US based program. Nothing helps in Europe at the moment. I did read but have not seen any details that the Brits might honor Global entry but nothing for the Schengen zone. And, of course, precheck is only good in the US with precheck lines. And there really is not a GE pass to flash. You don't get a pass to flash anyone. Your passport number is recorded in the US immigration system when you use the special entry computers.

Susan, your guess is correct. The US TSA (which sounds horrendously inefficient) doesn't run the security checks at airports in Europe and the various authorities in European countries are not going to take any notice of a "funny foreign pass".

A note about terminology.

• You go through Security at your departure airport, not at your arrival airport.
• Customs is a check on whether your goods are allowed into a country (and how much tax to be charged). In Europe, you just walk through the green channel, takes all of 30 seconds.
• Immigration (passport control) is the check whether you are allowed into a country, and for how long. This is the check you will get when you arrive at Charles de Gaulle (Paris). This can take 30 minutes average or up to 60 on a bad day. There are two queues "EU" and "non-EU". As a US citizen you go through the "non-EU", which is slower, as they do more checks.

International Arrangements
CBP has entered into arrangements with partner countries to facilitate travel. For additional information on existing arrangements, please select one of the countries below.

Australia

Canada

Germany

Mexico

Netherlands

New Zealand

Republic of Korea

United Kingdom

Click on the country name to see what is needed

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/international-arrangements

I just entered the US through Atlanta on Friday. I saw absolutely no advantages for the Global Entry people. Sure, they went into separate line at the first immigration checkpoint, but they still had to pick up/recheck their bags, and go through another security check with the rest of us. That last security check took over an hour - no priority lines - for people with ongoing flights. Constant complaint all around me. I don't see the point of paying extra to end up in the same security line.
(@ChrisF, you do go through security upon arrival into Atlanta. It makes no sense, but you do.)

Are you saying there were no PreCheck lines in Atlanta? Last year there were PreCheck lines in Atlanta so I doubt if they had been discounted since the TSA is pushing precheck. Precheck and Global entry are two different issues/system but for us has always been a great advantage. There is no security check point when you arrive in Atlanta on an International flight. You only go through security for connect flights departing Atlanta and that is because you have had access to your checked luggage for custom purposes. That is the system.

Nancy - "@ChrisF, you do go through security upon arrival into Atlanta." - why? How wants to smuggle a gun/bomb off a plane into a US city. I thought US cities had plenty of guns in them already :-).
In Europe the sequence on landing is always:

1) Immigration / passport control (but not if both departure and arrival countries are members of the Schengen Area).
2) Luggage reclaim
3) Customs (but not if both departure and arrival countries are members of the EU).

You go through security IF you are traveling onward to another destination.

@ Christi and Frank -

I looked at the links you provided with partner countries and it's confusing. Frankfurt is usually my entry and exit airport so it seems like I could use my Global Entry there. But the German site says I use my e-passport to do that. Do you think they mean they have scanners like US airports and I can just hold my passport up to their expedited scanners?

And if they needed some sort of Global Entry pass for me to do use those lines, Frank's statement about no global entry card made me curious. I DO have a card called Global Entry. It came in the mail last week. It's the size of a driver's license, has my picture on it, seems like it might have some sort of globe-shaped chip in the upper right and corner, has a hologram-type seal of an airplane and has a bar code.

I was told this was only for Canada/Mexico driving entry, but the card does say Global Entry. Think it might work in Frankfurt?

There currently are NO Pre Check lanes in the transition area at airports where you are arriving from an international flight and connecting to a domestic flight. At least not on any of the US airports I have arrived back into the US at. Everyone goes through the same woefully understaffed security check that can take more than an hour (my last one was just over 90 minutes). Of course you must go through security check because you have gone through an area where checked luggage, which can contain things that are not allowed as carry on items, is readily accessible.

However, Global Entry saved me over an hour going through the immigration and passport check. I simply inserted my passport into the kiosk, answered few questions on the screen, got it to read my fingerprints, and handed the resulting printout to the immigration officer. Took all of 3 minutes. The remainder of the passengers went through an hour long wait for the immigration check as well. So Global Entry saved me an hour on this trip and made it possible to make my connection.

I have found that I can exit the immigration area after going through all the necessary steps instead of going through the connections area at some airports and then renter for my connection through the normal security areas and get there quicker than the connections security check because they do have Pre Check, Priority 1st class, and/or Clear.

"I have found that I can exit the immigration area after going through all the necessary steps instead of going through the connections area at some airports and then renter for my connection through the normal security areas and get there quicker than the connections security check because they do have Pre Check, Priority 1st class, and/or Clear."

@Mark - we do the same thing - no bags to collect as we use carry on only

@Valerie - once you have your Global Entry you then can register for the German Easy Pass . Download forms here:

http://www.easypass.de/EasyPass/EN/Service/Downloads/downloads_node.html

Then visit Easy Pass Office in airport:

"To participate in EasyPASS-RTP, you should visit an enrolment centre at a German airport using EasyPASS. There, you will be informed about the enrolment procedure and our data protection policy. You will then be asked to sign a form to confirm your voluntary participation in EasyPASS-RTP and consent to the storage of your personal data. Afterwards the Federal Police will check whether you meet the participation requirements by means of a questionnaire."

No, your Global Entry card only works when going through immigration entering the US from Canada or Mexico and not from an airplane.

You must show your US Passport when entering any foreign country or the EU, and only your passport will work.

Several other countries offer membership in their Global Entry equivalent if you are a current Global Entry US member. But each requires payment of fees, filling out forms, and in many cases an in-person interview. I was asked multiple times to join the UK program mainly due to previous travel there, but unfortunately I was not able to plan a trip to be in the UK to do the interview in a timely manner so I have passed on their offer.

I would add this as well. Applying for GE is just half of the battle, Once you are conditionally approved (mine took around 2 weeks) you then must schedule an in person interview at one of the GE Enrollment Centers, which is where the fun begins. When I logged in to look for an interview date, the next closest time I was able to find here in Seattle were being scheduled 6 months out.

The good news for me is that I had a flight through Chicago scheduled two weeks out and was able to book my interview time during my layover. This process took 15 minutes and I was on my way.

I first used my GE status in Dublin Ireland, where US Preclearance is setup in terminal 2. I have to say, it was a breeze.

Best of luck!

THANK YOU for relaying your various experiences - so VERY informative. Seems as if people have had experiences ranging from excellent to awful! For me, the Pre-Check experience has been great so far, so we're hoping the GE will work as well. On a recent trip to San Francisco (Asheville-Atlanta-LAX-San Jose) I whizzed through security while the multitudes were waiting in line, at both Atlanta and LAX. And I got the precheck not by applying for it which, as someone else noted, sometimes randomly occurs. It was marked on my Delta boarding passes when I printed them out - surprise! Maybe they thought that a female over 60 was an unlikely terrorist.

We love the random TSA Pre-check status! DH was happy to turn 75 - no more removing the shoes!

We are applying for GE this year. 🙌

I don't like this at all. If I am reading correctly, the Global Entry card will not speed up immigration and customs and TSA pre-check will not work after an international flight because I am moving on to a domestic connection. Even worse, it appears I can't get a GE card at all because I am unable to schedule an interview.

Something that has not been discussed yet is eligibility for GE cards. I had never heard of Global Entry until last month. What are rules regarding eligibility beyond U.S. citizenship and possession of a passport?

What is a random TSA pre-check status?

The details of GE are on the Homeland Security website

It's random selection of certain travelers by an unknown computer or unknown person for an unknown reason, just the luck of the draw. Sometimes it's done if TSA anticipates the need to shorten the lines. TSA does the Precheck, Homeland Security goes Global Entry, different agencies, different rules, different application process. Google both to find the specifics.

Also you can use the Forum search bar to find many posts about this when travelers first started using these, most from 2014.

Actually Global Entry can help you qualify for something similar in one other country, that would be the Netherlands. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/international-arrangements/flux-netherlands

There are two separate programs - Global Entry that costs $100/5 years run by the US under its preferred travelers program and PreCheck that costs $85/5 years and run by TSA. However, as a courtesy, TSA precheck is included with the Global Entry so it makes more sense to apply for GE than precheck. If you only use it once it is worth it and the precheck is always worth it. For PreCheck you have to use special, designated lines for the pre-check. Generally it is one line off to the side. A couple of times, I have seen a precheck line on both sides of the security check area.

......the Global Entry card will not speed up immigration and customs and TSA pre-check will not work after an international flight because I am moving on to a domestic connection. ....

Don't know how you would come to that conclusion. Everyone who has GE claims that it really speeds up the process and it absolutely does. Some are suggesting that there are no precheck lines available when connecting to domestic flights. I have not found that to be true.

It is a bit of a hassle to get GE because of the need for the personal interview. We were able to schedule our interview fairly quickly by checking each day for a cancellation and got lucky. Second the form does require to list the jobs and housing for the past 20 years. Some find that intrusive.

..........What is a random TSA pre-check status?

For a while TSA through the airlines would randomly give pre-check to a few traveling passengers. It basically was a tease to get people to sign up for the PreCheck program. Sort of a free trial so you would apply for it. It is my understand that program has been dropped. So your probability of getting a one time PreCheck status is close to zero.

I visited the official CBP website to learn more about Global Entry. Atlanta is not listed as one of the cities it can be used in. Obviously, if ATL is not on the list of GE airports the card is useless to me.

Why would they care where I lived and worked and how much money I got in the last 20 years? None of that is relevant to re-entering the U.S. from Paris, where I will get my passport stamped.

Of course if you do not feel Global Entry or TSA Pre is worth the time, cost, and minimal effort to apply for it, then don't. If you only travel out of the US once a year or less, it really probably is not worth what it will take to get it. And if you are worried about the info the government wants when you fill out the forms, they already know all that anyway. :-)

Just make sure to allow extra time for connections when returning to the US -- more than the airlines consider the minimum. Without Global Entry, I don't feel comfortable with a connection time of less than 4 hours given the current TSA short staffing and other things you can read about in the news slowing down passengers in airports. With Global Entry, I am comfortable with a 2.5 hour connection time.

And GE is available at Atlanta. See this page for the most current list: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/locations The airports are listed by name, not city so Atlanta appears as Hartsfield.

My problem is actually Mom's job. She must always be available on short notice and works different hours every day, 7 days a week. It is not possible to schedule an interview months in advance that will take place two hours away.

We just applied for the GE pass and it was tentatively approved in less than a week and they had appointments available for the interview (15min) the following week (in Albuquerque). We were able to get more convenient times two weeks out (this week). I do not know yet how long it takes after that to get the final approval, we go for the interview on Wednesday.

Also important to note - there are some airlines that DO NOT participate in the TSA Pre √. So if you think you are going to always get in the shorter Pre Check line, think again. Lufthansa for one, doesn't participate. You will still have to stand in the regular line to get through security. The US carriers are OK, but foreign carriers are not.

Global Entry is a breeze, but unless you are doing just carry on - you will still have to wait for your bags to go through customs. GE lets you skip the line through passport control. Using GE, you don't need to fill out that blue and white form they hand you...the one where you have to fill in a family member's name, passport #, flight #, etc. GE does that for you.

We applied in November 2015, got our appointment early Feb for the interview and were able to use TSA pre right away.

Another important note, you must make sure your name is exactly the same in airline profiles, or you will not automatically get TSA Pre √ when you print out /or download your boarding pass. So, if you used a middle name, like you would on your passport, the airlines also have to have the exact same information. Used just an initial? Need to change it so everything matches exactly.

GE is only for entering the US as far as I know, it won't work in other countries, but it sure would be nice if it did - although I still want those ink stamps in my passport as a souvenir of my travels!

Traveling woman, not sure where you are looking but GE is available in Atlanta from personal experience. I would say that it is available at any airport that has international flights. If this is your only international flight then probably it is not worth the effort for you to get it. But what I have also noticed about you postings is that every time we offer a suggestion, you have reasons why it will not work for you. Not sure how we can help you if everything is rejected.

Frank - agreed. When someone repeatedly complains about suggestions given, I don't bother to reply any further.

Mark ,
thank you for posting list of airports that have GE entry posts. I notice that there are seven Canadian airports, plus Dublin, Ireland and Abu Dhabi. Does that mean you don't have to go thru GE once you enter the US, if you have been scanned at these foreign international airports? Have any of you encountered this? How does it work?

Also, I understand that one with GE status can apply for similar plan in Germany, specifically at Frankfurt airport, and does not cost anything, just fill application and show up at their office in the airport. Netherlands has a FLUX program, but I can't find the cost for enrolling. Do any of you know how much the cost is for US citizens to apply. The UK program is very expensive, so I am not interested. Amsterdam and Frankfurt are big transfer hubs in Europe, so it is worthshile investigating.
Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

Alright , I found the cost to join FLUX/Privius program in Netherlands costs €121 per year. Too much money.

...Does that mean you don't have to go thru GE once you enter the US,..... Yes, your are precleared for immigration. Your are done. Just get off the plane and go to you connecting flight if you have one.

You go through security IF you are traveling onward to another destination.

Exactly what I said, I arrived in an international flight, transitting to a domestic flight. Immigration in ATL is automated, whether you have GE or not. The snag is when everyone, GE or not, ends up in the same security line after that.

You don't have to fill out the form on the plane for any airport that uses automated immigration (ORD and ATL are two that I have experienced) if you hold a US passport. The questions are asked at the automated kiosk instead.

Yes, when you pre-clear US immigration through Canadian, Irish, and other airports it does mean you are done with all of that and when you get off the plane in the US it is just like a domestic flight and you have no further border clearances to hassle with.

I have done this in Canada multiple times and Ireland once. In Canada, the airports have a separate wing just for arriving and departing US flights. The clearance lines in the Canadian airports do seem shorter and quicker than what I have found in US airports, but it is still frustrating to see a long line with only 2 or 3 immigration agents working. In Ireland the clearance is done at the gate (or was last time I was there) and is very quick and efficient.

Thank you for the information. Will be useful when travelling through those airports. Wonder if other international airports will do the same in the future?

As the OP on this thread, here's an update. We applied on the GOES site the day I posted, May 15. Yesterday (5/26) we received notice that our application was processed and we could schedule the interview. The interview schedules in NC are totally booked until long after we've left the US, so we had to schedule in Atlanta on the first available date - not until August 15!! It's an 8-hr round trip for two 15-minute interviews. My advice is if you want Global Entry before summer of 2017, APPLY NOW!!

@Susan - Have you seen the previous advice about logging in to your account every 15 minutes or so over the course of a day at your closest interview site to grab a cancellation? We did this with SeaTac, which was offering us appointments for September way back in April and we managed to snag interviews for the very next business day.

Valerie, we haven't given up on that strategy so maybe there's hope. But not counting on it as Charlotte and Nashville showed zilch for months. We took the first available without having to fly to DC just to ensure we got any spot at all. If all we wanted was Precheck we could drive 45 minutes to Greenville SC. It's a shame there aren't more GE locations. A friend in Atlanta says the local media is loaded with horror tales about the lines, missed flights at ATL. Well the good news is that travel is increasing, despite those who fear a terrorist lurks at every corner!!