Jul 21, 2016, 1:52 pm
Last edit by: TWA884
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
Jul 25, 2023 | 1:11 pm
#631
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,661
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
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
Sep 16, 2023 | 12:10 pm
#632
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Programs: AA, DL, AK, UN, CN
Posts: 1,116
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.
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?
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?
Ordered a new card, it arrived last week and I activated it for land border use.
Flew in from Colombia 2 weeks ago and used GE without issue. Thankfully as well, as l flew in to FLL and they have the worst immigration line i have ever seen.
So far anyway, no issues with GE for not having the card active at the border. Guess I will see what happens when i am up for renewal in a few years. Would be stupid to let me use it for 3 more years, then deny me on renewal as a risk, but stupider things have happened. Will keep my PreCheck as a backup just in case.
Oct 2, 2023 | 9:55 pm
#633
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 6,596
According to the US CBP Global Entry Frequently Asked Questions (scroll down to Global Entry Cards), you have to activate your card within 30 days of receipt; otherwise, you will not be able to use the card at NEXUS and SENTRI lanes when coming in to the US.
Nov 13, 2023 | 10:07 am
#634
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Warsaw,IN
Posts: 33
Is a new Global Entry card issued when renewed?
Members,
I used to have Global Entry few years ago. Recieved a card. Few years later, I switched to NEXUS and got NEXUS card.
Recently, I switched back to Global Entry using the RENEWAL option (as my NEXUS membership was nearing expiry). I got the approval directly.
My question : Will CBP issue a new Global Entry card now? Or can I still use the card from my membership which I had before NEXUS.
Thanks
I used to have Global Entry few years ago. Recieved a card. Few years later, I switched to NEXUS and got NEXUS card.
Recently, I switched back to Global Entry using the RENEWAL option (as my NEXUS membership was nearing expiry). I got the approval directly.
My question : Will CBP issue a new Global Entry card now? Or can I still use the card from my membership which I had before NEXUS.
Thanks
Nov 13, 2023 | 11:29 am
#635
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL DM 1MM
Posts: 3,558
Members,
I used to have Global Entry few years ago. Recieved a card. Few years later, I switched to NEXUS and got NEXUS card.
Recently, I switched back to Global Entry using the RENEWAL option (as my NEXUS membership was nearing expiry). I got the approval directly.
My question : Will CBP issue a new Global Entry card now? Or can I still use the card from my membership which I had before NEXUS.
Thanks
I used to have Global Entry few years ago. Recieved a card. Few years later, I switched to NEXUS and got NEXUS card.
Recently, I switched back to Global Entry using the RENEWAL option (as my NEXUS membership was nearing expiry). I got the approval directly.
My question : Will CBP issue a new Global Entry card now? Or can I still use the card from my membership which I had before NEXUS.
Thanks
Nov 16, 2023 | 11:03 am
#637
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 107
I have never shown my GE card. In fact, I've never carried it. It's only supposed to be for land crossings. Before the full-up facial recognition, you just used the passport.
Only once did I get something odd. I went through the facial recognition and it lit up green and I guess the guy couldn't find me on his mug shot screen as he asked if I was GE and where I did my interview. Finally, he took my passport and let me through.
All the other times, I've just been waved through (though I always stop to make my declarations).
Only once did I get something odd. I went through the facial recognition and it lit up green and I guess the guy couldn't find me on his mug shot screen as he asked if I was GE and where I did my interview. Finally, he took my passport and let me through.
All the other times, I've just been waved through (though I always stop to make my declarations).
Nov 16, 2023 | 11:24 am
#638
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,945
There have been reports of travelers being blocked from accessing the Global Entry kiosks at preclearance facilities in Canada - I remember YUL and YYZ being mentioned? - for failure to show a Global Entry or Nexus card. This was not my experience about a year ago at YYZ, and I have never flown out of YUL on a preclearance flight.
You do need to present a Global Entry or Nexus card to enter the expedited security lanes in Canada, but my experience is that you have unimpeded access to the Global Entry kiosks after security, at least at YYZ and YVR.
You do need to present a Global Entry or Nexus card to enter the expedited security lanes in Canada, but my experience is that you have unimpeded access to the Global Entry kiosks after security, at least at YYZ and YVR.
Nov 16, 2023 | 3:14 pm
#639
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,003
There have been reports of travelers being blocked from accessing the Global Entry kiosks at preclearance facilities in Canada - I remember YUL and YYZ being mentioned? - for failure to show a Global Entry or Nexus card. This was not my experience about a year ago at YYZ, and I have never flown out of YUL on a preclearance flight.
You do need to present a Global Entry or Nexus card to enter the expedited security lanes in Canada, but my experience is that you have unimpeded access to the Global Entry kiosks after security, at least at YYZ and YVR.
You do need to present a Global Entry or Nexus card to enter the expedited security lanes in Canada, but my experience is that you have unimpeded access to the Global Entry kiosks after security, at least at YYZ and YVR.
Nov 16, 2023 | 8:49 pm
#640
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,945
I went back on this thread to search for the article I remembered reading, and it's possible I read the report from an external site. Like your comment at YUL, YVR has the kiosks accessible regardless of which security lane you use. It was the same at YYZ a year ago.
Jan 4, 2024 | 2:52 pm
#641
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: DFW - North Texas
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum PRO, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 960
Jan 12, 2024 | 11:02 am
#642
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 817
My wife and I both renewed within a few months of each other, 12 months ahead of expiration. She received her new card a few weeks after renewal approved. I haven't received one. No big deal as we typically transit by air. I'll ask for a replacement a little closer to the date shown on the card.
Jan 12, 2024 | 1:40 pm
#643
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL DM 1MM
Posts: 3,558
My wife and I both renewed within a few months of each other, 12 months ahead of expiration. She received her new card a few weeks after renewal approved. I haven't received one. No big deal as we typically transit by air. I'll ask for a replacement a little closer to the date shown on the card.
Get Help On-line
Send us an email through our support portal at https://help.cbp.gov/s/questions?language=en_US. To ensure a faster response, please be sure to select "Trusted Traveler Programs" as your primary topic and then the subtopic that most closely describes your question.
Send us an email through our support portal at https://help.cbp.gov/s/questions?language=en_US. To ensure a faster response, please be sure to select "Trusted Traveler Programs" as your primary topic and then the subtopic that most closely describes your question.
Jan 21, 2024 | 1:50 pm
#644
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 3,251
I renewed in 2019 and have no recollection of activating the renewal card, which I've never used.
I renewed again last week and was approved (no interview) within 48 hours. There's still no "activate card" button in my account; I assume that pops up after the card has been mailed?
Supposedly, there's a 30-day deadline for activating the card, but I'll soon be out of the country for two months. Do you need the card in order to activate it, or is the activation a simple "I received the card" type of checkbox? (I'll know via USPS Informed Delivery if it has arrived in my mail.)
30 days seems like an absurdly short amount of time to give people who presumably want G.E. precisely because they travel a lot.
I renewed again last week and was approved (no interview) within 48 hours. There's still no "activate card" button in my account; I assume that pops up after the card has been mailed?
Supposedly, there's a 30-day deadline for activating the card, but I'll soon be out of the country for two months. Do you need the card in order to activate it, or is the activation a simple "I received the card" type of checkbox? (I'll know via USPS Informed Delivery if it has arrived in my mail.)
30 days seems like an absurdly short amount of time to give people who presumably want G.E. precisely because they travel a lot.
Jan 21, 2024 | 2:05 pm
#645
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,661
Global Entry Frequently Asked Questions
Activate your card within 30 days of receipt or you will be unable to use your card at the Trusted Traveler lanes.