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| Expedited entry |
| by Brian Kelly |
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Global Entry (also known as the Trusted Traveler Program or TTP) is a godsend for anyone who travels internationally. The program allows travelers with low-risk profiles to get pre-approved by the government. So, when you reenter the United States, you can use a Global Entry kiosk for expedited entry. It hasn’t taken me more than a few minutes — if that — when I return from international trips.
We’ve all seen long immigration lines in major airports, even though some airports offer Mobile Passport Control (MPC). That program isn’t as reliable as Global Entry, in my opinion.
Dulles International Airport (IAD) outside Washington, D.C., will be piloting a program for e-gates starting this summer, which will also utilize the Global Entry app that provides a mobile receipt allowing you to skip the kiosk and head right to the Customs and Border Protection officer (CBP).
One of the best things about Global Entry is that the $100 application fee also gets you TSA PreCheck. So, don’t pay $85 for TSA PreCheck only — always get Global Entry for just a few dollars more.
Here are some interesting facts you might not know.- Global Entry fee will increase: The Global Entry application fee will be going up to $120 as of Oct. 1. If you don’t currently have it, I highly recommend applying now.
- You can get Global Entry for free: So many credit cards will reimburse you for the Global Entry application fee, and it isn’t just the premium cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It includes cards with $95-$99 annual fees, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
- Use reimbursement for family members: If you have multiple credit cards that offer the Global Entry credit as a benefit, you can use the other credits for family members. Speaking of family members — every single person in your family must have Global Entry. You cannot bring kids through the line like you can with TSA PreCheck. You could even potentially lose your Global Entry for trying to bring other people through the line. I had to get Dean his own Known Traveler Number at two months old and I had to take him in for an interview! But, there is good news with the fee hike, kids’ applications will soon be free if the parents already have Global Entry.
- Interviews: Once you get conditionally approved, you need to get an appointment to do your interview in person with a CBP officer at an airport, or you can do an interview upon arrival back in the U.S. I recommend doing your interview prior to an international trip so you can use your Global Entry on the way back since you cannot use it until you’re approved. For approval upon arrival, you would still need to wait in the normal line and then let the officer know you want to do an interview.
- Try this to get approved quicker: If you’ve applied and your status is still pending, a trick that a lot of people have tried is to book an international trip, and in many cases, it could trigger the system to conditionally approve you. When you fly back into the country, you can do your interview upon arrival.
- Renewals: You need to renew every five years, so always log into the system to ensure your Global Entry does not lapse. It’s much easier to renew it, and you might not be required to do an in-person interview if you apply for renewal before it expires. Here’s the link to the portal to login to your Global Entry account.
- Consider Nexus: If you live along the northern U.S. border with Canada, you might consider getting Nexus — it’s only $50, and it includes Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. That will also increase to $120 on Oct. 1. The trick is you need to go to an interview at one of the border entry points from the state of Washington to Maine, but if you frequently travel to Canada, it’s a good idea.
- Consider the APEC Business Travel Card Program: It stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and this program is an add-on to Global Entry that will give you expedited security when traveling to Asia. It’s a nice perk to have if you frequently travel to countries in Asia.
- You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen to get Global Entry: You can be a U.S. lawful permanent resident or a citizen of Argentina, Brazil, Bahrain, India, Colombia, U.K., Germany, The Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan or Mexico.
- Check out Appointment Scanner: If you can’t find an appointment, there’s a $29 service called Appointment Scanner that will send you alerts when it finds an appointment near you. A tip for New Yorkers — there’s a Global Entry office at Bowling Green Station in the Financial District. I was able to get appointments for me and all of my friends by setting alerts on Appointment Scanner.
If you’re planning to travel abroad soon, I hope these tips help make your return seamless.
Have a great weekend,
BK
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| Photo Credit: WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY. |
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