Does LAX have a different Global Entry process than elsewhere?

I entered the US at LAX today and successfully got a receipt from the Global Entry kiosk. It was a "pass" receipt -- no X on it. Maybe it's just my bad memory, but I seem to recall never even having to speak or stop for the immigration officer (at the first station).

After I got my receipt today, immigration officer waves me to his station. I start to walk straight by and he says "Whoa! Stop here." He looks at my receipt, looks at my passport, verifies the photo matches me, and then hands my receipt back and sends me on.

There was nothing unusual about my interaction with the Customs officer (second station).

Is my memory bad? Or is this a different process than is used elsewhere?

Different process.

IAH has been doing that for a while now also. There is a large bank of 10-12 machines on the south side of customs hall, with one office at a small podium (no computer that I could see) that was collecting receipts and viewing the passports quickly.

As an aside, he did let me through with children under two :-) just viewing their passports.

I am not sure how the GE machines are set up on the North side at IAH, but southside has been like that a few months now.

The nice thing at IAH is if you don't have bags you can go out "the back way" from the GE area and not have to see another agent.

At IAD the last 6 months or so I have had one pass port check after GE machines and two no checks. YMMV.

Fascinating that comparing the photo in the passport is done after the fingerprints are matched by the machine . . .

Isn't it? Not only that, the machine takes your photo, too, and I'm guessing there's facial recognition software in use.

Anyone know why some airports do this? What's the point, exactly? How long has LAX been doing this for?

I've never had that before. Usually I just hold up the receipt and catch the nearest officer's eye as I walk through the primary inspection (passport control) booth area....he/she nods and I continue.


As far as verifying that the receipt matches my name in my passport, I have had it happen at the Customs exit about 40-50% of the time since I became a GE member.

I would assume it's to make sure that it's actually your receipt, and it's from that day. Otherwise, you could give the receipt to someone and they could use it again.

I've never done that-- I just walk through-- no one's ever said anything to me.

The ORD folks at the customs exit have a "CBP" sticker fetish or something-- they insist on seeing the back of the passport.