I don’t know if many here can answer this, but entering the US at JFK, which gets you through immigration more quickly assuming solo travel — Global Entry or Mobile Passport Control? Which is faster?
Thank you.
Posted by
Chicago
3838 posts
I believe JFK has the new face scanners. In my experience with the scanners at O’Hare, this was super quick. And free.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/biometrics/environments/airports
Global Entry might be quicker, depending on the number of flights arriving at the same time.
Posted by
226 posts
We went through Global Entry at JFK last month. From arriving at the camera kiosk to walking through the gate with the officer was probably about 3 minutes for our family of three.
Posted by
Connecticut
763 posts
Global entry kiosks at JFK terminal 4 are touch-less and use facial recognition. Once scanning is complete an officer greets you with a welcome.
Posted by
Southeast US, soon to be Kentucky
4408 posts
I also did Global Entry recently (August). It was super easy and super quick.
Posted by
Freedonia
18061 posts
I'm in and out of JFK a few times a year. I use Global Entry.
One time....there was a line at both. Each was seeing the same CBP officer. The person at the front directing people was saying "Global before Mobile." Meaning, Global Entry had priority. (We paid for this and had to go through screening. We should get priority.)
Lately, at least at Terminal 8 for GE, the procedure has been: have face scanned by kiosk, get called up by name by the CBP officer, get asked if you have anything to declare, waved on. No showing of passport.
My record from stepping off the plane to exiting the terminal--and going through immigration and customs in between--is five minutes.
If for some reason the computers are down and you can prove you have GE you will be escorted to the front of the line. (That's why I always have my GE card with me.)
I last went through a month ago.
Posted by
Central Florida
94 posts
Use the Global Entry app and bypass the kiosk.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
13073 posts
Use the Global Entry app and bypass the kiosk.
Is Global Entry an app?
Posted by
Minnesota🌲
10510 posts
No, it’s not.
Posted by
Freedonia
18061 posts
If you have Global Entry, you can use an app to bypass the GE kiosk.
I tried it once. When I got to the CBP officer, he called me up by name and mentioned I had something to declare. (The app asks this.)
It didn't really seem to save much time. In fact, trying to do everything in the app after the plane landed and was taxiing to the gate was a pain.
Posted by
Ohio
182 posts
I did Global Entry and it was so fast that I didn’t realize I was done.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8966 posts
To be honest, if you do not travel internationally several times a year, and JFK is not your final destination, then the free, quick, Mobile Passport Control app is much easier and quicker than jumping through the hoops to pay for and arrange for Global Entry.
At least in my experience, I get through quickly, and am standing by all the global entry people waiting for our bags after immigration, so no gain for them.