Global Entry card tips for customs and TSA

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A Global Entry card speeds travelers through customs and serves as an alternative ID

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Global Entry (GE) can be a major time saver for U.S. citizens returning to the country, speeding you through passport control. I’ve been in and seen airport Customs and Border Protection (CBP) passport control lines that take as long as 45 minutes to an hour to get through. Americans with a Global Entry card can bypass those lines.
Global Entry members go to GE kiosks in the passport control area which read their passport and scan their fingerprints. Members answer customs declaration questions on the kiosk’s screen. The kiosk issues a receipt to later give to a CBP officer.
I’ve never waited for more than five minutes to use one of the kiosks, which takes about a minute or so to process each GE member.
Once you have your receipt, you proceed to claim your luggage in the U.S. Customs area. As long as you have no duty to pay, you can then immediately leave the area with your belongings after turning in your kiosk receipt.
At busy times in international airport terminals, upon returning to the U.S., I’ve often used the Global Entry kiosk, retrieved my luggage, turned in my receipt and left the airport while most passengers on my flight were still waiting to have their passports checked.
BONUS: Global Entry members are “Trusted Travelers” and therefore are automatically eligible for TSA PreCheck.
TSA PreCheck means you’re generally able to use TSA PreCheck security lines, which are typically faster than TSA’s regular security lines. You get to keep your belt, lightweight jacket and shoes on. You don’t need to remove your laptop or 3–1–1 liquids’ baggie from your carry-on bag.
TIP: Children 12 years old or younger may be permitted through TSA Precheck lines with parents who have a Global Entry membership.
If you’re on a family trip, PreCheck eligible and your boarding pass indicator gives you PreCheck access for your flight, TSA permits your children, traveling with you, ages 12 and under, to go through the PreCheck security line with you. If your children are 13 and older they would need to be “Trusted Travelers” themselves with the PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass to use the PreCheck lines. Without that, they must use TSA’s standard security lines. Children under the age of 18 can become Global Entry members with parental or guardian consent.
Applications for a Global Entry card must be made online. To submit your application, a $100 fee for your five-year membership term must be paid. It’s non-refundable, so make sure you’re eligible for membership.
To be eligible you need to be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or a citizen of one of the foreign nations participating in the program. You can’t have been convicted of a criminal offense or found in violation of customs, immigration or agriculture regulations and laws.
TIP: A number of credit cards and loyalty programs offer to pay Global Entry card fees for their card holders and members.
To apply for the Global Entry card you create a GOES account at CBP by clicking on the “New GOES User” “Register” button.
In the application you’ll answer questions and fill in information about your passport, driver’s license, if any, residence, employment, etc. You’ll list the countries to which you’ve traveled in the last five years and other questions to help CBP evaluate you.
It can take a week or so for CBP to respond to your application by email, but lately it only takes a few days. Once conditionally approved, you’ll need to follow the directions to set up an interview with CBP. Most international airports have a CBP Global Entry office in which the interviews are conducted. At some locations they have openings for interviews within a few weeks of receiving your conditional approval.
The interview takes about fifteen minutes. U.S. citizens will need their passport for proving their identity, citizenship and admissibility to the U.S. Others will need other documents. Everyone will need their passport, as it’s used to practice using the GE kiosk at the interview. Be sure to bring a printout of your “Interview Scheduled” document.
At the interview you’ll be asked to confirm some of the information you supplied in your application as well as some other questions. The CBP officer conducting the interview will take your fingerprints electronically and digitally photograph you. You’ll be taken to a GE kiosk, with your passport, where you’ll go through the procedure you’ll use when you enter the U.S.
Within a couple of weeks after the interview, you’ll get your Global Entry membership card with your “Trusted Traveler Number.” The card isn’t used when you’re flying into the U.S. It’s not used with the GE kiosks at the airport. The GE card can be used for lawful entry to the U.S. at land and sea ports of entry, including SENTRI and NEXUS expedited travel lanes entering the U.S.
You’ll need your “Trusted Traveler Number” to use TSA PreCheck. Each time you purchase an airline ticket on a PreCheck participating airline, your “Trusted Traveler Number” must be entered into your profile. Your boarding pass will indicate if you can use PreCheck for your flight. Sometimes you’re randomly chosen for regular security.
TIP: If you’re living in one of the nine states where driver’s licenses are not approved under the Real ID program, you can use your Global Entry card for identification to fly domestically and to enter federal facilities.
If you only travel domestically, you can get the less expensive TSA PreCheck membership, but if you’re considering any international travel, you can’t go wrong getting the Global Entry card for just $15 more for a five-year term, a mere $3 per year extra.