reclusive46

Am I correct in thinking MIA doesn't have a customs exit at all now? I went through the global entry process and didn't notice any customs points at all.

They seemed to doing it more YYZ style and roaming around the baggage hall asking people questions.

SoggyDollar

I went through MIA on Friday and there was no customs check. Just walked straight through.

andrelux

Oh, and one further question, if I may?

As a UK passport holder, I understand I need a valid ESTA in order to apply for GE. But ESTAs are valid for two years, GE is valid for five.

Does GE trump ESTA? In other words, should I obtain GE, would I also need to renew ESTA every two years, or could I leave that to one side.

jcm9000

Op. Stop typing, get applying. I got it a few years ago with a promo code, cost me nearly $1,000 with flights and sourcing polis clearance, don't give a baboons you know what - it is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Larry panetta i believe is the head of the scheme and the man is a god to me. Transformed my travel experience and oh how i want to buy that man a beer. Am i waxing lyrical enough yet? Sure they have machines for esta holders now as well, but trust me i have recently again seen long lines even for that, Ge lets me plod on by (esp at miami - no queue at all, ever) with a very smug grin plastered on my mug.

As for estas, different 'schemes' if you will, i renew mine every two years (and you still must), nowt to do with GE other than if you try to enter the us without an esta (or a ge valid visa of which there are very few visa categories that are ok to use with GE i believe), kiss your GE goodbye for life. So much as cough in the wrong way and they will take it off you, no second chances.

As for customs - yes mia still has customs, it changed from post baggae to the person you talk to prior to going down to the baggage hall. GE holders notice it most as you now have to wait to hand your form to the chap/lady at the far left of the hall (usually still a 10 second wait) instead of the 'secret door' at hard left of the bottom of the escalator that is now shut. Previously, Ge holders were not stopped at all after the GE machines upstairs until you got to that 'secret door' downstairs.

When you apply you have 30 days to book an appointment. You can then move it out months if needed. Mia is also friendly for drop-ins if you find you cant get an appointment when you need, book one in 30 days, then shove it out a few months and just show up the next time you are there (before your booked date - keep moving the booked date if needs be and just keep showing up unannounced until they can see you).

Steve_ZA

andrelux, I've just checked my GE application and it took 8 days from when I applied until the conditional approval, so unless you are flying next week you should have time to get it done.

I can't see if anyone answered the question about the cost definitively but yes you pay Ł42 to the UK (for a records check that is done within a day) and $100 to the US for a first application.

KARFA

You will still need a valid ESTA regardless of whether you have GE or not. The fact the renewal dates of each don't align is irrelevant, you just need to make sure both are valid when you travel. Both ESTA and GE are linked to a specific passport so if you renew your passpost you will need to update your GE and get a new ESTA.

Moderator2

Moving to the Trusted Traveler Forum, for housekeeping purposes.

televisor

In a lot of airports, previous ESTA users use the same APC kiosks that US citizens use. (They're not ESTA specific.) Usually only your first ESTA entry has to go through normal processing, after that you're clear for the kiosk. This varies by airport though. But in those airports where ESTA users are allowed to use APC kiosks you're getting the same treatment as a US citizen.

Last year I entered using a Visa at IAD, and was the only foreigner in the "true foreigner" queue (i.e. I got processed immediately, no waiting): everyone else coming off the plane was going to the Kiosks which did have a queue. So it's actually sometimes faster to be a foreigner (I think my flight was early, and from a european country - I can imagine later flights from non-european countries end up with a lot more people in the foreinger queue).

televisor

To help clarify this a bit more:
- ESTA is just a travel authorisation, you shouldn't be able to get on a plane to the USA as a foreigner without either a Visa, or an ESTA.
- GE is just faster entry processing in the USA. You can't use it unless you actually get to the US border in the first place.

I believe you don't actually need ESTA for a Visa Waiver entry, this is possible if you're entering a land border from Canada. What I'm not sure about is if the same applies for a preclearance entry from Canada. Air Canada certainly never checked my Visa when flying Europe-YYZ-USA, which suggests you wouldn't need an ESTA either if flying that route, or from Canada to the USA from a preclearance airport.

I might be able to test this theory later this year: I currently have an ESTA and a Visa: I see two visa waiver options (business, tourist), in addition to my visa, as entry methods when using the GE kiosk. My ESTA expires later this year, so I'll soon be able to see if visa-free entry with GE is intrinsically linked to ESTA or not (if the visa-waiver options disappear then clearly it is linked).

techie

Turn-around with of Home Office checks -- about 1 working day (the fact that I hold a security clearance may or may not have helped here).
Turn-around of USA CBP checks once online form was submitted -- about a week with a weekend in the middle.
Not needing to queue at busy interchanges (I almost always have to take a domestic) and a bonus of Pre-Check when travelling internally -- priceless.

cgtechuk

31/05/2016 - Interview completed and approved. All in 23 days could have been a few days earlier but appointments didn't suit, I got a cancellation a week out for today. Interview was good, CBP officer very pleasant and professional

Lewis42

I got the UK code however when I go to signup for GOES it says my UK code could not be validated at this time.

I have contacted GOES but anyone got any ideas?

techie

Try emailing [email protected] about the problematic code.

TWA884

We've recently had some confusion in other threads due to a members' use of the term GOES when referring to Global Entry.

GOES is the acronym for the Global Online Enrollment System and the website which is used to enroll in and update or edit information for all Trusted Traveler Programs: Global Entry, Flux, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST.

If you were discussing Global Entry when you used the term GOES, it is recommended that you edit your earlier posts to make it clear that you are referring to the Global Entry program as opposed to the enrollment website.

TWA884
Co-moderator, Travel Safety/Security

Accidental Scientist

Just in case anyone is worrying about a LONG processing time:

March 27th - UKBF application
March 27th - UKBF application successful, code issued
March 28th - GOES application

....

June 3rd - Conditional approval (finally!)

Turns out there was some sort of admin error involved. Very frustrating to sort out, GOES helpdesk were excellent