The agent took a real quick look at us, took the slips we had printed out, and sent us on our way. It was profiling!

...of harmless old people.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/tru...rograms/global-entry

We've discussed this before, it's $100 for five years and includes Pre-Check. If you travel often it's a great deal. There are e-forms to fill out (similar to a security clearance) and you'll get printed and photographed, easy as long as you live close to an enrollment center.

FWIW, we took a three week Viking river cruise Amsterdam to Bucharest, had a great time. Our flight from Munich to ORD was an Airbus 350-900, a first for me.

This is for Americans that have traveled out of country ?

Review of The Viking Cruise?

quote:

Originally posted by Haveme1or2:
This is for Americans that have traveled out of country ?

Yes, it is the "express lane" for coming back in from overseas. Pre-check is the outbound version for going thru TSA.

quote:

Originally posted by craigcpa:
Review of The Viking Cruise?

I'd like that as well.

Jim

Best money I ever spent as I am packing for a trip to Columbia.

The first time you walk down a line with two other people and look over at the 100's in the other customs line you realize it's the best $100 you can spend.

That and not taking everything out of your bag.

Global Entry is great because of fast return to the USA plus you get TSA PreCheck for domestic travel. It's only $15 more than TSA PreCheck.

If you live near the Canadian border, NEXUS is the one to get as you get Global Entry for fast return to USA, TSA PreCheck for domestic travel, and fast entry into Canada. Even better it's $35 less than TSA PreCheck (no that is not a typo). The only hitch is your enrollment interview is with both Canadian Customs and US Customs which are colocated so there are less enrollment offices than Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Yep well worth the money. Meh recent flight from London was a tight connection and there is no way I would have made the connection without the global entry. My platinum Amex card reimbursed my 100 bucks as part of the benefits, so a win win.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:

quote:

Originally posted by craigcpa:
Review of The Viking Cruise?

I'd like that as well.

Jim

I started a separate thread:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...180072644#6180072644

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:
...That and not taking everything out of your bag.

We did not even open up our bags! I had all our souvenirs in the same area, had a list of prices and total cost (all of $240), but like last year he never asked.

Global Entry has been a life saver when coming in from International. ESPECIALLY when it's the last leg in and I'm ready to go home!!

There's two easy ways to get through Customs

If you haven't signed up for GE but have an international trip coming up soon, get yourself signed-up, and handle all the online stuff before departing, then when you return, while at the airport, do your interview.

Customs has a program called Enrollment Upon Arrival.

The hardest or, most aggravating part of the process is scheduling an interview. When I signed-up back when it first became available, the earliest time for an interview was 6-months out. I flew a cheap same-day round-trip to Las Vegas to do my interview. The interview was all of 2-minutes, a few cursory questions, photo and prints. Done. I spent more time waiting in the CBP waiting area then the actual interview.

If you barely travel, have one lone int'l trip coming up and that's it, then consider downloading and using the Mobile Passport Control App. Unlike GE you don't pay $100/5yrs and no TSA-Pre privileges but, it'll make your life easier when returning back to the US. Just make sure to set-up your profile before you leave.

We got Global Entry before our trip to the Baltic.
At Sea-Tac we just walked past a long line, cruise through security, and got on the plane.
Re-entering in Chicago it was the same as Sigmund reported.to left left a large room full of people in lines. To the right three kiosks and a separate exit. Scan passport, scan fingerprints, look into the camera, answer 6 questions. The receipt pops out. Baggage claim was empty save for those with Global Entry. Picked up the bags. Went to the Global Entry exit. The customs agent opened the gate and waved us through.
The application process was very friendly. We registered online, got preliminary approval. Then logged in to to select an interview time. At the interview, it was a pleasant conversation as out photos, then fingerprints were scanned. Within a week, we had our cards. Maybe, both of us once having security clearances, helped.
Frankly, it was the most common sense and hassle free dealing we’ve had in years.

The first time you walk past the 700 or so unwashed masses that just got puked out of a few triple sevens and stroll through customs like an African General you will realize that the $100 or so bucks you spent on Global Entry was the best hunnit bucks you ever spent in your life.

quote:

Originally posted by Rev. A. J. Forsyth:
The first time you walk past the 700 or so unwashed masses that just got puked out of a few triple sevens and stroll through customs like an African General you will realize that the $100 or so bucks you spent on Global Entry was the best hunnit bucks you ever spent in your life.

That about sums it up