Practical Travel Safety Issues - Long Customs Exit Line after quick stop at the GE Kiosk

Heard from a friend that the customs exit line wait at EWR Terminal B on 5/10 was 30 minutes long. She does not have GE.

If I have my GE receipt, do I go to the front of the customs exit line or must I get in line?

On my return from CDG in Feb. with only carry on luggage, there was a long line waiting to exit customs from the luggage carousels on the opposite side of the hall but no one waiting on our side, so my spouse and I just essentially created a line and merged into the other, and walked to the front. THE CBP agent just looked at our receipts and let us exit.

Were we correct or is GE good only for immigration and not customs? Got another European trip next month and not looking forward to a quick entry but slow customs.

Some airports have a separate marked exit lane for GE (LAX TBIT comes to mind), but many do not. Unless there is a special line, I don't believe that there are any skip-the-line benefits at the exit for GE. At 'problem' airports, I think CBP should have special exits. I haven't seen a special line at ORD, but I've never had a problem there either.

When there is a long line, you can always try to find a CBP officer and ask if there is an exit line for GE; s/he might be able to help get you out faster even if there isn't a special exit lane.

The "go to the head of the line" is allowed for both immigration and customs. Most airports with GE have signs for lanes designated for GE. I've not seen any that are exclusive to GE so you just politely move to the front and hold up your CBP-stickered passport and receipt.

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The "go to the head of the line" is allowed for both immigration and customs. Most airports with GE have signs for lanes designated for GE. I've not seen any that are exclusive to GE so you just politely move to the front and hold up your CBP-stickered passport and receipt.

MileHigh is a bit of too high here...have you really done that? Fact: I was doing this at EWR last week and was "kicked back" to the end of the line by the custom -:(

Yes I have....with no hesitation. My regular US entry airport is MIA where there is a GE exit point from Immigration. There is also a designated GE exit lane downstairs in Customs. I'm polite, saying excuse me etc., while holding up my paassport with the CBP sticker and the kiosk receipt.

I have been told by any number of CBP officers that this is OK.....must be a Jersey thing.

Yes I have....with no hesitation. My regular US entry airport is MIA where there is a GE exit point from Immigration. There is also a designated GE exit lane downstairs in Customs. I'm polite, saying excuse me etc., while holding up my paassport with the CBP sticker and the kiosk receipt.

If there is a designated GE lane in Customs, why do you need to say 'excuse me'-- do other people block the designated lane?

I use JFK T8 for my intl arrivals. The big backups are getting through pp control--so GE is great here. I've never seen long lines at Customs.
In theory:D, couldn't GE people use the crew lines if the Customs lines were very long.:confused:

During my interview (about 1 month ago) I was specifically "instructed" to walk to the front of the line.

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During my interview (about 1 month ago) I was specifically "instructed" to walk to the front of the line.

Interesting, I'd like to use this line next time to see if it works -;)

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Yes I have....with no hesitation. My regular US entry airport is MIA where there is a GE exit point from Immigration. There is also a designated GE exit lane downstairs in Customs. I'm polite, saying excuse me etc., while holding up my paassport with the CBP sticker and the kiosk receipt.

I have been told by any number of CBP officers that this is OK.....must be a Jersey thing.

Good point, I guees I wasn't Jerseylious enough as he was -;)

I was told to go to front of the line at exit also and I have done that in EWR too.

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Interesting, I'd like to use this line next time to see if it works -;)

It was very explicit. That is one of the benefits as told to me.