If I have no plans to fly internationally, only domestic, and have no status with any airline, is global entry still the best program to be a part of if I want expedited security screening? If you're a US citizen, do you have to have a passport to be granted global entry or is a social security card, birth certificate, drivers license, etc sufficient?

First time poster, long time lurker.

If you live close to the Canadian border (or go there frequently) NEXUS would be your best deal as it's $50 for 5 years (and includes Global Entry) v $100 for Global Entry alone.

You can sign up for Global Entry even if you have never done any international travel. In fact, it's one thing CBP has been complaining about, that people are signing up for Global Entry just to get PreCheck. Once you do have Global Entry, you can enter your PASSID ("Trusted Traveler" ID) into your frequent flyer accounts and use PreCheck on any airline that offers it.

To answer your question, yes. You do need a passport for Global Entry as it is intended for international travelers.

I live in Florida, so no where near the Canadian borders, and no travel to Canada expected anytime soon. I've got 3 trips this year, one to Colorado, and two to Austin, Tx, and likely at least 2 trips to Austin next year, so all I'm looking for is something to help speed me through the security lines on the domestic flights. FWIW, the trip to Colorado is on UA, but the two Austin trips are on WN. Although I have FF accounts with both airlines, I don't have status with either, and in fact I've only ever booked and purchased myself one airline trip before in my life (last year on UA).

There are Global Entry enrollment facilities in Orlando (both at MCO and SFB), Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. Austin also has a GE enrollment center. Before you drop the $100 on the GE application fee, get your passport booklet first. After you get that, then you can apply for GE.

Precheck would work only on your UA flight as WN doesn't offer Precheck.

In order to obtain GE, you will need to obtain a passport. That entails application and photo fees. You will then need to apply for and obtain a GE card. That entails a $100 fee + physically going to a CBP interview.

For that, you will have the chance that you will have a faster and less PITA experience at the checkpoints for your trip to/from DEN. And, remember it's just a chance to qualify for the expedited screening --- not a guarantee.

So how long could this process take? Also, I thought with GE you automatically get expedited screening. You're saying that even with it I may still have to take shoes off, get intrusive pat downs, etc? Seems like a lot of time effort and $ for something that doesn't guarantee any benefits to begin with.

You're got the passport processing time which according to the Department of State is taking 4-6 weeks. You could expedite, which costs more, and get it in 2-3 weeks.

Then you've got the time it takes to vet you for GE, which can take up to a month. Then you've got to find an appointment time for your interview, which depending on where you choose to do it, could be the next day up to months in advance.

So figure at least 2 months to get your passport and GE. Also, since you'd be a first-time passport applicant, it'd cost you $135 for the passport which is on top of your $100 GE fee. The passport is good for 10 years, GE is good for 5.

While you are not guaranteed expedited screening, having GE greatly increases your chances of getting the "three beeps of awesomeness".

Remember, Precheck only works if you are departing from an airport that has a Precheck lane and with an airline that has Precheck (AA, UA, DL, AS and US).

Then unless I'm missing something GE sounds like a waste of time and $ if I don't have any plans to travel internationally anytime soon.

Pistole did say that TSA is considering a "Global Entry lite" for those in your situation. If/when that'll happen is anyone's guess.

Are you cer0tain about this? I just applied for Nexus thinking it was global entry and was worried that I would have to spend $100 in addition to get global entry or try to redirect my application which I figured would be impossible given the federal bureaucracy. I live fairly close to Seattle so going there for the interview is not a big deal if Nexus will get me global entry.

I'm certain. I think of NEXUS as Global Entry on steroids. It gets you everything that GE does and more, like use of the NEXUS lanes into Canada and expidated security at Canadian airports. Not to mention it's cheaper than just GE.

Here the release from CBP that NEXUS members can use GE at no additional charge. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/tr.../ge_kiosks.xml

How does the fingerprint process work? From what I understand global entry requires fingerprints but Nexus doe not. If applying for Nexus how do I get approved for global entry? And will this work even if re entering from someplace other than Canada?

CBP takes your fingeprints at your NEXUS interview. Just tell the CBP agent you want GE as well. When you're officially approved, you should see both NEXUS and Global Entry in your GOES account.

TSA have said there's no guarantee that Pre-Check eligible people (whether through GE, Nexus or certain frequent flyer programs) will get to use Pre-Check on any particular day. At the checkpoint, someone will scan your boarding pass and either allow you to use Pre-Check or not. Some people here report success every time. Others report a much lower rate, including long strings of failures.

Many here have come to the conclusion that the program is indeed a waste of time and money.

Consider, too, that you are paying your government to get a chance at being treated as any citizen should be treated in the first place.

Thanks very much for clarifying this for me.