Anyone Ever Get Turned Down for Global Entry?
#226
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,402
Coming back to this forum after a long time now...
A few years back, I applied for GE and was denied. Either had to do with my nationality (Pakistan) or the fact that I had traffic violations on my record (speeding etc) which I cant remember if I checked Yes or No to.
Fast forward to now.... Over the last 2 years, i have traveled a lot for work (passport completely filled). Almost always went through really fast in CBP process (with just a few cases taking longer in the last 20+ trips). A few times got Pre-Check beeps too... Last change: I will become a US citizen next week.
With that history:
1) Should I even apply for GE with the prior rejection? Have there been cases of approvals after a prior rejection?
2) Should I apply now (as PK citizen) or after becoming a US citizen?
tx
A few years back, I applied for GE and was denied. Either had to do with my nationality (Pakistan) or the fact that I had traffic violations on my record (speeding etc) which I cant remember if I checked Yes or No to.
Fast forward to now.... Over the last 2 years, i have traveled a lot for work (passport completely filled). Almost always went through really fast in CBP process (with just a few cases taking longer in the last 20+ trips). A few times got Pre-Check beeps too... Last change: I will become a US citizen next week.
With that history:
1) Should I even apply for GE with the prior rejection? Have there been cases of approvals after a prior rejection?
2) Should I apply now (as PK citizen) or after becoming a US citizen?
tx
#227
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,692
A friend of mine is applying for global entry and his interview is in a couple days. He's unemployed. I read though the forums here and noticed a couple reports of unemployed people being denied Global Entry. Is this still the case?
Thanks!
Thanks!
#228
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
Certain things appear to be automatic dealbreakers, like attempting to evade a Customs law.
So in a nutshell, my best guess is that employment history might have some bearing on how they score an applicant. But again, this is pure speculation. I have no idea how they'd score someone who was, for example, independently wealthy.
#229
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: California
Programs: AA Advantage Gold, Rapid Rewards A list, Sky Miles Gold Medallion, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 403
No one knows for sure. My guess, however -- and it's purely a guess -- is that there's some sort of algorithm involved that provides a score, akin to your credit score. One might get points for stable employment, for being a US citizen, for never having had a run-in with the law, for living in one place for a length of time, even for being married. Anything to show stability.
Certain things appear to be automatic dealbreakers, like attempting to evade a Customs law.
So in a nutshell, my best guess is that employment history might have some bearing on how they score an applicant. But again, this is pure speculation. I have no idea how they'd score someone who was, for example, independently wealthy.
Certain things appear to be automatic dealbreakers, like attempting to evade a Customs law.
So in a nutshell, my best guess is that employment history might have some bearing on how they score an applicant. But again, this is pure speculation. I have no idea how they'd score someone who was, for example, independently wealthy.
Good luck to your friend!
#230
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 12
Background check?
I'm curious about one aspect of the background check: does Global Entry run your record once they've received your on-line application, leading to conditional approval (or not)?
Or does the investigation begin AFTER the face to face interview?
Thanks.
Or does the investigation begin AFTER the face to face interview?
Thanks.
#231
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
The investigation begins before the interview. The interview occurs near the end of the process. Several people in this thread and elsewhere report the interviewer bringing up past episodes with law enforcement and customs which would have required a background check to uncover.
#232
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 22
Based on my experience and several others posting to the forum, it appears that there is ongoing profiling that occurs after the interview, and continues after approval. I am ok with the concept of an opt-in profiling program. But it is quite disturbing when you know you have complied with all the rules and regulations and live a clean life, but GE won't tell you why they mysteriously drop you from the program.
#233
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
Based on my experience and several others posting to the forum, it appears that there is ongoing profiling that occurs after the interview, and continues after approval. I am ok with the concept of an opt-in profiling program. But it is quite disturbing when you know you have complied with all the rules and regulations and live a clean life, but GE won't tell you why they mysteriously drop you from the program.
#234
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 4
Eric,
Have you received anything back from the Ombudsman? Also how did you contact them? Did you send an email or a letter?
I had my interview today and i just received my denial over email.
I was given the same generic "Failure to meet the strict standards of the Trusted Traveler Program." reason.
I have never been arrested or had any problems with customs so I am baffled to why I was denied. I thought the interview went fine. The only think I thought was weird was after he asked me where I travel for work, which i replied london and spain, he asked about afghanistan. I said no and i figure he was joking because i have a big beard. FWIW, ive never been to the middle east and the only countries I have been too are england, france, and japan.
Im really nervous im going to get the same generic response from my appeal and im left paranoid that something bad is mistakenly coming up in my background check and I will never know what it is.
Have you received anything back from the Ombudsman? Also how did you contact them? Did you send an email or a letter?
I had my interview today and i just received my denial over email.
I was given the same generic "Failure to meet the strict standards of the Trusted Traveler Program." reason.
I have never been arrested or had any problems with customs so I am baffled to why I was denied. I thought the interview went fine. The only think I thought was weird was after he asked me where I travel for work, which i replied london and spain, he asked about afghanistan. I said no and i figure he was joking because i have a big beard. FWIW, ive never been to the middle east and the only countries I have been too are england, france, and japan.
Im really nervous im going to get the same generic response from my appeal and im left paranoid that something bad is mistakenly coming up in my background check and I will never know what it is.
#235
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
Perhaps we're both victims of mistaken identity.
I tried with a paper letter, then also sent an email a few weeks later when I found the appropriate address. Never got any response through either channel. Not exactly transparent.
I'm traveling abroad to Turkey, Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria in the next few weeks. We'll see if I have a decent reception from CBP when I get back! Fingers crossed.
I tried with a paper letter, then also sent an email a few weeks later when I found the appropriate address. Never got any response through either channel. Not exactly transparent.
I'm traveling abroad to Turkey, Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria in the next few weeks. We'll see if I have a decent reception from CBP when I get back! Fingers crossed.
#236
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 4
now i want to have a background check run on myself to see what might comes up.
how extensive are the background checks for something like this? Do they do things as simple as googling my name (steve riskus)? If they do that they will get some pretty interesting results in relation to 9/11 conspiracy nonsense (i witnessed the pentagon crash and have been dragged through the mud since) which im now wondering could be the problem.
how extensive are the background checks for something like this? Do they do things as simple as googling my name (steve riskus)? If they do that they will get some pretty interesting results in relation to 9/11 conspiracy nonsense (i witnessed the pentagon crash and have been dragged through the mud since) which im now wondering could be the problem.
#237
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike...
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,339
now i want to have a background check run on myself to see what might comes up.
how extensive are the background checks for something like this? Do they do things as simple as googling my name (steve riskus)? If they do that they will get some pretty interesting results in relation to 9/11 conspiracy nonsense (i witnessed the pentagon crash and have been dragged through the mud since) which im now wondering could be the problem.
how extensive are the background checks for something like this? Do they do things as simple as googling my name (steve riskus)? If they do that they will get some pretty interesting results in relation to 9/11 conspiracy nonsense (i witnessed the pentagon crash and have been dragged through the mud since) which im now wondering could be the problem.
#238
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
I can only speak for myself, but I assure you that I was honest when describing my situation. Never even been pulled over for speeding, never touched a drug in my life, never been arrested for anything else. And never been stopped at customs.
I'm pretty much an open book. That's why the lack of transparency in the process is disappointing.
Last edited by RandomBaritone; Oct 3, 2013 at 10:15 pm
#239
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
From what others have said, CBP appears to use a system more akin to a credit score.
#240
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
I don't think a garden-variety background check is what's being conducted for GE; for example, I easily qualified for Clear, and I'm assuming I'll also qualify for the standalone version of Pre-check that's being rolled out later this fall.
From what others have said, CBP appears to use a system more akin to a credit score.
From what others have said, CBP appears to use a system more akin to a credit score.
You should be able to get some sense of how CBP operates by looking at what the PIA for ATS mentions or otherwise indicates:
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/p...ia_cbp_ats.pdf