First Global Entry Use - Amazing
 

I've used NEXUS quite a bit, but hadn't traveled to an international destination other than Canada since getting GE with NEXUS early this year. That changed when I returned from an amazing 2 weeks in Santorini.

I flew back to LAX through IAD on UA 937 from ZRH. For the uninitiated, the flight from ZRH lands when a bunch of other international TATL flights come in, so the C Concourse FIS is a zoo. I was really happy to have GE at that point and made my way to the kiosk. The touch screen declaration was a snap and the machine was far more accurate at the biometric stuff than the training machine at LAX. I was pleased with the current declaration on foodstuffs, which is more accurate to the rules than before (though they still need to clarify that yoghurt and most cheeses are fine), so I didn't have to declare the nuts from Greece and Swiss chocolate I had since I was way under the value limit. I then got my receipt and made my way to the customs area.

The baggage claim was an even bigger zoo, with a huge line in place for non-GE types. I couldn't remember if I got to cut there too and no CBP people could be found to confirm. The line was so far back that I could barely see the sign for the GE "line" to enter customs so I started walking up. Some Air Serv idiot tried to send me to the back of the line, but I could see the GE sign by now and told him "I have Global Entry and that (pointing) is my line." He kept trying to block my way, but I reiterated my point and showed him the CBP sticker, and he reluctantly let me through. I was behind one UA captain (a lot of pilots were using GE, which is smart) then handed my receipt to the CBP agent who said "thank you sir" and gave me only the second or third smile I have ever gotten from those people.

All in all, an amazing experience, especially for someone who has been subject to racist behavior from the IAD CBP before.

Great report!

I am very much looking forward to trying out GE on my trip back from LHR next year (into LAX). Next time I am near LAX, though, I need to remember to take my passport and get my sticker.

Thanks for letting us know about your experience.

The Nexus consoles are still asking about ANY food and sending you to secondary if you have ANY food. Why are the GE consoles distinguishing between allowed and dis-allowed food and not Nexus?

Thanks, N1120A. ^

Interesting....I may have to reconsider GE. I still prefer not to give them employer or DL info.

Side question: how long after submitting online information can an interview be scheduled? I'll be flying into IAD on the 22nd. Is that too early?

The way I thought about it was that I'm not giving them any information which they either don't already have access to or can't discover with due diligence. It would be different if filling out the form for TS/SCI . . .

Depends-- you have to be conditionally approved before you can schedule an interview. I'm afraid one week is very likely not sufficient time though you can apply now and see what happens; I was approved within a few days.

Good point. Maybe I've been on here (TSS) too long :D Can I claim being a student if I just do night classes?

My layover is only 2hrs. Would that be enough time (assuming no delays) if I have no luggage?

edit: scratch that......I'm arriving Sunday, office is closed.

I thought these had been changed? The thing about NEXUS is that you still have to fill out a paper declaration for both the Canadians and the Americans, which reflects the actual laws of each country.

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Keep the GOES to yourselves. You don't want the GOES machine line grows to the size just like the others, right?

Minor correction - the program is GE (Global Entry). GOES (Global Online Enrollment System) is just the application website for the various programs (GE/FAST/SENTRI/NEXUS).

Can anyone who has used a GE kiosk recently perhaps list the food items that DO NOT need to be declared according to the food descriptions. One poster above mentioned chocolates, how about cookies, and the likes? I have taken absolutely no food items into the US because of the previous wording regarding food. An update would be great.

The current on-screen declaration actually reflects a more targeted wording than the Form 6059B I just pulled out of my bag to compare to. It asks about "fruits, vegetables, seeds, dairy products, meat, plants." The change I wish they would make is changing dairy products to "fluid milk and unaged, raw milk cheese" because those are the only products that you can't bring in. Even CBP agents have told people not to waste their time declaring things like Stilton and brie, but we should out of an abundance of caution because they are dairy products.

^ Thanks, that clears up the candy/cookies issue for me.

Is there any food that is not any of the above? I can think of mushrooms and perhaps a few animal products such as skins... that's it. (I assume "plants" and "seeds" include products thereof e.g. bread).

You need to put in all of your employer information for the previous "X" years. You can put "student" as you occupation if that's how you see it but you still have to disclose your employers for the past "X" years. Same with addresses.

:eek: