BigFlyer

I arrived at SFO today at around 2:30. Worst crowds I ever saw at immigration, backed up to the end of the moving platform on the A side. Yes, there were a lot of people off of the Emirates flight (<redacted by moderator>), but I have arrived at the same time in the past and never saw such long lines.

Got to Global Entry, was happy to see no line for the machines - just walk right up. After getting my white slip of paper, I realized that I then had to go wait on a long line to turn in my slip of paper. Only it wasn't just turning in paper - every person received a series of questions from the immigration official. At least in my case, it wasn't discernibly different from the questions asked when you enter without Global Entry. With two officers handling the Global Entry people, it took about 15 minutes to get through.

Seems to defeat the whole purpose of a "trusted traveler" program.

flyerCO

There's periodic random questioning/searches to ensure compliance. All trusted traveler/vetted importer type programs have this built in.

Markie

It's standard now at JFK T7 and T8 based on recent experiences at both

Often1

The GE FAQ expressly disclose that this may occur.

It may be random or may be meant to look random. E.g., they have some information in hand, but not enough to identify the traveler, so everyone gets a bit of an encounter.

pa3lsvt

I (well, we including Mrs. pa3lsvt) had the same in MIA after returning from the DR a few years back. POTUS and AF1 happened to be at the field that day, so the whole process was very chaotic.

I get the 3rd degree EVERY TIME I use NEXUS/GE at YUL Preclearance. One CBP officer even told me I didn't look like my passport picture. I just looked at him and stroked my beard (not present in my passport photo). My next instinct was to ask, "Well, did my fingerprints match at the kiosk, Columbo?"

Fortunately, it didn't get to that point, because I know my mouth would have gotten me sent to secondary. It's only YUL; YYZ, YVR, YOW, YYC - they just pretty much wave me through after "Bringing anything back today?"

TWA884

It's happened to me every single time that I used the GE kiosks at MIA. Very different than my experiences at LAX, JFK, PHL, CLT and YYZ, where I don't recall ever being questioned other than some follow up questions when I declared food items.

BigFlyer

When I arrived at SFO on Wednesday it wasn't random - they were taking their time with each Global Entry person (I suppose the randomness could have been that some days they question everyone and other days they don't.)

The infuriating thing is that in most of the EU countries EU citizens just stick their passport in the automatic border gate, smile for the camera, and they're done. This is without going through the PITA vetting process required for Global Entry.

- In fact, Americans are now eligible to use the automatic passport gates at UK airports - meaning that Americans do not have to speak with an immigration officer not enter the UK, but have to speak to one to enter America.

flyerCO

They do. The only time I had it, was at YVR last year. There were reports on here that day from all over US. It was clear that day had been picked.

flyerCO

I go through T8 regularly with no issues. Just went through three weeks ago.

Sherab Sherab

For us, those questioning happens at US airport POE ALL THE TIME. Where did you go, why? how long did you stay? what do you do? I am not saying it is a race issue but I don't think those kinda questionings are asked to white caucasians, We are just an Asian American. At the buffalo border, I handed over my US passport card but I was still asked what my citizenship was.

To avoid waste of time or any trouble, I just very reluctantly but politely answer each questions. It is like guilty of something unless i sound innocent.

Never am I ever asked such questions when I travel to any other countries. So I guess it is WELCOME TO NOT YOUR AMERICA to these CBP agents I guess.

DBCme

Not (yet) experienced that at SFO or other entry point.
When signing up, had no expectation on how few or many questions i'd be asked when re-entering the U.S. each time.
Just that it'd probably be a shorter line than everyone else is in =) (airline and diplomats aside).
So, i'm OK with the randomness of this security procedure.

maninblack

God forbid we do our job and inspect people coming into the U.S., GE members or not...

"You're still subject to inspection...." is part of my interview process for GE applications.

And this is happening a little more often nationwide wide. Still not common, but it's a thing now....Get used to it.

BigFlyer

Inspecting for what? With the biometric identification at the kiosk, you have rock solid proof of identity. Given that the person is then identified as a US citizen with the right to enter, what are the immigration concerns at that point that justify asking questions?

(moderator: fine to move this to the policy debate forum, but I've always wanted the answer to this question and from maninblack's post it seems that he would know the answer.)

TWA884

Done.

catocony

As with Pre-check, you don't get your money back if you get removed from the program or if the current "surge' continues and gets worse and suddenly GE and Pre-Check have no actual value.