SFO customs experience without GE
Dec 22, 2023, 10:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: UA Premier Exec, SPG Gold
Posts: 318
SFO customs experience without GE
On arrival I noticed that the normal US passport holder line doesn't have forms or kiosks anymore. Does that make the process essentially the same as mobile passport and global entry? Should you just choose whichever is shortest (and less walking) ?
Dec 22, 2023, 11:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K/AS 100K …Bonvoy Titanium..Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 1,118
Not quite. Mobile passport, you need to download the APP on your phone and fill in the required information before going into the Mobile Passport line. Global Entry is an application based program and you cannot use it until approved into the GE program. The regular US passport lines uses something called simplified arrivals. You do not need to do anything compared to what was mentioned above and when you see the CBP officer, they will take a photo of you and review your documents.
Dec 23, 2023, 10:25 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,758
When we arrived from CDG on. 3-December, at the same time as a flight from China, the GE line was stupid long. Mobile passport line was the shortest. The regular line seemed fairly short as well. I think it would have been best to use mobile passport or the regular line. Especially as half the people have trouble using the GE kiosk.
TLDR: out of 700 people in line, 600 had GE, and yeah, screw that.
TLDR: out of 700 people in line, 600 had GE, and yeah, screw that.