Jul 21, 2016, 1:52 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: TWA884

Global Entry cards are only issued to Global Entry members who are US Citizens, US Lawful Permanent Residents and Mexican nationals.

When Do I Need My Global Entry Card?

The circumstances under which a GE card is required/not required or useful varies to some degree. Certain travelers (e.g. those who are not Canadian or US Citizens, but are in another country's frequent traveler program and the US extends GE to them) do not have Global Entry cards. YMMV slightly with some of the below.

Scenarios when a GE card is absolutely required:

When crossing into the US from a foreign country (Mexico/Canada) via land and you want to use the NEXUS/SENTRI/Ready Lane lanes to enter the US, or returning to the United States by sea (if the destination in the United States doesn't have GE kiosks, e.g. some commercial cruise terminals).
You must show your GE or NEXUS cards to gain access to CATSA Trusted Traveler screening line at Canadian airports. (There are very limited reports of individuals using the now defunct CBP sticker on the inside of the back cover of their passport or logging into GOES on their smartphone to gain access to the line). Even if you clear using a non-TT line (premier or regular security line) you can walk over to the GE kiosks after clearing security (at YUL and YVR. May not be possible at at YYZ). GE kiosks at Canadian pre-clearance airports accept both passports and NEXUS cards.
There are reports of YYZ US CBP personnel expecting a GE card from those not eligible to them, but being satisfied by the user giving their Trusted Traveler Number (a.k.a. PASSID from GOES) in lieu of the card.
At cruise port where it does not have kiosks like Terminal 25 of Port Everglades, Florida, GE card is required to gain access to the GE lane.

Scenarios under which a GE/NEXUS card can be useful, but is not necessarily required:

When approaching GE lanes at certain airports, sometimes CBP or airport staff will ask to see the card to allow access to the GE kiosk area. If you don't have a card or don't have the card on you, you may want to try stating that you are enrolled in GE; if you have the defunct sticker in your passport, you can show that.
The GE card is useful at TSA Checkpoints domestically as an ID to match against the boarding pass. GE card is REAL ID compliant.
The GE card may be acceptable by CBSA for entry into Canada provided member is US citizen.
Use as a primary ID when you don't want your driver's license barcode/magswipe scanned and stored in a database (at a gated community, many retail stores, etc.) - although acceptance can vary because it is not the most commonly used ID.
Secondary proof of age/identification when the validity of a driver's license is in doubt

The GE card is normally not required (with the previously mentioned caveats) when using GE kiosks at US airports, since the airport kiosk reads the passport and user's fingerprints and cannot read the GE card.

The Global Entry Card

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Dec 29, 2022 | 9:17 am

#616

TWA884

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Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrh

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May 17, 2023 | 8:23 pm

#617

Rare

Join Date: Jul 2001

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ranles

Card will be mailed, but it is unnecessary per their declaration if by air, required if by land.

If flying within Canada or from Canada to the US, the card can be useful. It will get you into CATSA "Trusted Traveller" screening lines, and sometimes people are asked to show it in order to access NEXUS/Global Entry lines at US preclearance.

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May 19, 2023 | 3:24 pm

#618

happychic

Join Date: Apr 2015

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According to the wiki:

Quote:

Scenarios when a GE card is absolutely required:
...
At cruise port where it does not have kiosks like Terminal 25 of Port Everglades, Florida, GE card is required to gain access to the GE lane.

So if I am returning to the Port of Miami and want to take advantage of the GE lane, I will need my GE card? Anyone tried this in Miami?

Jul 4, 2023 | 2:49 pm

#619

rfclub

Join Date: Dec 2013

Posts: 72

I am at HNL right now. After processed in the GE kiosk, but the CBP agent at the counter actually asked me for the the GE card which I didn't bring.
I told her that I was told the card is not needed. But she asked me to go back to the regular lane.

I saw my photo was in her screen and showing green.
I pointed her my photo in her screen, she finally let me in.

This is my first time got asked for the card.

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Jul 4, 2023 | 6:13 pm

#620

flyerCO

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rfclub

You need an ID. Passport/GE/NEXUS card . However you don't need the GE/NEXUS card.

Jul 4, 2023 | 6:25 pm

#621

seawolf

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rfclub

As you pointed out, agent shouldn’t have asked for it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyerCO

You need an ID. Passport/GE/NEXUS card . However you don't need the GE/NEXUS card.

There is no passport exemption for trusted travelers entering US at HNL. Passport is required by both airline and CBP.

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Last edited by seawolf; Jul 4, 2023 at 6:52 pm

Jul 4, 2023 | 11:05 pm

#622

GUWonder

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Quote:

Originally Posted by seawolf

As you pointed out, agent shouldn’t have asked for it.

There is no passport exemption for trusted travelers entering US at HNL. Passport is required by both airline and CBP.

Years ago, a CBP agent at MSP asked for my GE card before clearing me in via GE. She was both young and new to the job there and not long thereafter I never saw her working there again. She was also the same CBP employee who on a previous trip was working as a line controller for CBP at MSP (and in a CBP uniform that time too) and had been asking to see docs to direct us to different counters. Neither time should have the card been required, but getting asked for it happened anyway.

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Jul 5, 2023 | 6:11 am

#623

SPN Lifer

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Even if not officially required, there would seem to be little downside in bringing one's Global Entry (GE) card when travelling.

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Jul 5, 2023 | 3:28 pm

#624

flyingron

Join Date: Aug 2009

Posts: 107

The good news is it's a legal "Real ID" and nothing on it is sensitive information unlike your driver's license.

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Jul 24, 2023 | 1:12 am

#625

ryandelmundo

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Crossed the border at TJ today, GE got me to the head of the insanely long line but had trouble w the agents as according to them my card was not active. They could not understand how i could have gone thru the airports as Ive done in the past few years.

Got pulled out, sent to some office, heavy inspection, and GE card confiscated.

Had no idea any activation was required.....now I am worried I will lose the GE for violating rules. What a bunch of crap, how is anyone supposed to know this?

Jul 24, 2023 | 9:09 am

#626

TWA884

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ryandelmundo

Had no idea any activation was required..... how is anyone supposed to know this?

The instructions that come with the card are quite clear that it needs to be activated.

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Jul 24, 2023 | 4:18 pm

#627

SPN Lifer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ryandelmundo (Post # 32)

They could not understand how i could have gone thru the airports as Ive done in the past few years.

Got pulled out, sent to some office, heavy inspection, and GE card confiscated.

Had no idea any activation was required.....now I am worried I will lose the GE for violating rules. [Emphasis added.]

Thank you for sharing your embarrassing oversight so those of us who have never had Global Entry (GE) are less likely to make this same mistake.

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Jul 25, 2023 | 9:12 am

#628

zephyr17

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ryandelmundo

I have a NEXUS card, which requires you to show the physical card for NEXUS specific privileges, like using NEXUS lanes or crossing the US-Canada border without a passport. In other respects, the program is administered by the same Trusted Traveler folks at DHS that administer GE (and include GE privileges in addition to NEXUS only ones), the instructions posted by TWA884 look the same as for NEXUS, the cards themselves look the same except for the title on top. I would not have dreamed of crossing into Canada or back into the US with an unactivated card. I guess because GE mostly works with passport use and you don't show the card to get the primary GE privileges, the card could just be considered a kind of swag and something to flash to get head of line privileges. Well, at border crossings to get head of line privileges you have to show the card which will be used as your ID, not your passport, just like NEXUS. That you ran into trouble when CBP ran an unactivated card is completely unsurprising to me.

The DHS Trusted Traveler programs are famously sticklers for rules and it is likely your GE status is endangered. The fact that the card was confiscated indicates your GE privileges were likely suspended right then and will probably remain so until you take some action to get them restored.

Last edited by zephyr17; Jul 25, 2023 at 9:25 am

Jul 25, 2023 | 12:08 pm

#629

kennycrudup

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I hate to pile on "O"P, but they do make it pretty clear at several steps the card has to be activated; I'm not sure how that was missed.

Jul 25, 2023 | 12:45 pm

#630

jimquan

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Is my GE card activated?

Tried to check / activate my GE card at the CBP website but no joy. The activate button is not there when logged in.

Cannot recall if I activated it when I renewed in 2021.

From the comments better not to try and present it at border crossings if activation status is unclear.

Jim