Anyone Ever Get Turned Down for Global Entry?
Jun 11, 2012, 12:20 pm
#46
Join Date: May 2009
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Anyone in a position of trust or seeking a security clearance is asked about past drug use. The higher the level of clearance, the further back drug-use questions go. And the background check also inquires of references as to knowledge of drug use.
Jun 11, 2012, 12:27 pm
#47
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Join Date: Jul 2000
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The issue here is not that the poster was asked. He was denied GE based on drug use in the past (although he didn't say how long in the past.) Many, many people receive security clearances after admitting past drug use in college. It is hard to believe that the GE bar is any higher - i.e., any illegal drug use at any time in one's life leads to denial?
Jun 11, 2012, 1:38 pm
#48
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I was denied at DFW today.
We regret to inform you that your membership in Global Entry has been disapproved for the following reason(s):
Other
Applicant does not meet strict Global Entry Progam standards.
As far as I can tell, this means the following, none of which applies to me to my knowledge:
.
We regret to inform you that your membership in Global Entry has been disapproved for the following reason(s):
Other
Applicant does not meet strict Global Entry Progam standards.
As far as I can tell, this means the following, none of which applies to me to my knowledge:
.
The applicant cannot satisfy CBP of their low-risk status or meet other program requirements; or"
The drug use is the issue.
Okay..this thread is now getting me a bit paranoid. I have my interview in a few weeks.
What is the right answer if you have smoked some grass in the past and they ask if " Have you used illegal drugs? "
The truth or not?
I would hate to be denied because I have smoked some marijuana in college 30 years ago.
What is the right answer if you have smoked some grass in the past and they ask if " Have you used illegal drugs? "
The truth or not?
I would hate to be denied because I have smoked some marijuana in college 30 years ago.
The issue here is not that the poster was asked. He was denied GE based on drug use in the past (although he didn't say how long in the past.) Many, many people receive security clearances after admitting past drug use in college. It is hard to believe that the GE bar is any higher - i.e., any illegal drug use at any time in one's life leads to denial?
Hence all he lost here was $100. His GE would have been useless, and increasingly it is useless for more holders of GE regardless.
Jun 11, 2012, 1:51 pm
#49
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 72
My mother was denied twice but the rest of our family members were approved.
They said the reason for denial was she didn't declare some items when driving across the Windsor/Detroit bridge. Except that it was my father who was driving (and the car was in his name) and he didn't declare it the items (neither were fined), and he was approved no problem.
We have a feeling its because she was born in Lebanon and the rest of our family wasn't, but they claimed on both denials that it was due to this customs violation in the early 90's
They said the reason for denial was she didn't declare some items when driving across the Windsor/Detroit bridge. Except that it was my father who was driving (and the car was in his name) and he didn't declare it the items (neither were fined), and he was approved no problem.
We have a feeling its because she was born in Lebanon and the rest of our family wasn't, but they claimed on both denials that it was due to this customs violation in the early 90's
Jun 11, 2012, 1:54 pm
#50
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Did you declare the sandwich - or did the officer find it through a search of your carry-on?
Jun 11, 2012, 1:57 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 12
I don't care about the customs aspect of GE (except for being able to jump the line). I am not planning to smuggle anything and have no need to. I am only interested in it as a way into Precheck.
I paid fees to request my criminal records from both states I have lived in, and will send that to the ombudsman along with my plea that I do not understand the reason why I was rejected. I don't expect much, but I have seen success reports in other threads so it's worth a shot.
Other than that, I guess I'm out of luck because if you reapply and give different answers, won't they just use your previous application against you?
I paid fees to request my criminal records from both states I have lived in, and will send that to the ombudsman along with my plea that I do not understand the reason why I was rejected. I don't expect much, but I have seen success reports in other threads so it's worth a shot.
Other than that, I guess I'm out of luck because if you reapply and give different answers, won't they just use your previous application against you?
Jun 11, 2012, 2:00 pm
#52
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 72
It was a sandwich in a ziploc bag and I completely forgot that I even had it. The airport beagle smelled it and I then realized I have the sandwich. I showed it to the CBP officer. She wrote down something like thorough search on the customs form and the lady in a separate room said I can't take the sandwich (which I completely understand) and off I was go.
Jun 12, 2012, 8:09 am
#53
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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Posts: 7,417
. Nominally, clearance by the kiosk is a license to smuggle, but in practice, the customs side of the CBP ignores the clearance receipt. Thus, I don't know why he would have been denied GE, since customs would have subjected him to a secondary inspection regardless of GE status.
If the kiosk gives you an X, then you (may) get a more thorough check, but that's done by the kiosk system. And if your profile results in getting a X each time, why would GE even allow that person into the program?
Put in shorter terms: Why would the GE program let someone into it if the result is the person is always (or often) going to be subjected to secondary screening by CBP?
Jun 12, 2012, 1:26 pm
#54
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I don't follow this . . . if one uses GE typically one gets a ticket that one hands to CBP at the exit and is good to go. They may do a random secondary, but otherwise it's a sign that you're trusted to proceed. CBP doesn't "ignore it"-they follow it and have no indication from the receipt that you shouldn't be cleared right through (they hardly look at it when I give it to them).
If the kiosk gives you an X, then you (may) get a more thorough check, but that's done by the kiosk system. And if your profile results in getting a X each time, why would GE even allow that person into the program?
Put in shorter terms: Why would the GE program let someone into it if the result is the person is always (or often) going to be subjected to secondary screening by CBP?
If the kiosk gives you an X, then you (may) get a more thorough check, but that's done by the kiosk system. And if your profile results in getting a X each time, why would GE even allow that person into the program?
Put in shorter terms: Why would the GE program let someone into it if the result is the person is always (or often) going to be subjected to secondary screening by CBP?
Jun 12, 2012, 2:58 pm
#55
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"Nominally, clearance by the kiosk is a license to smuggle, but in practice, the customs side of the CBP ignores the clearance receipt. Thus, I don't know why he would have been denied GE, since customs would have subjected him to a secondary inspection regardless of GE status.
Hence all he lost here was $100. His GE would have been useless, and increasingly it is useless for more holders of GE regardless.
Hence all he lost here was $100. His GE would have been useless, and increasingly it is useless for more holders of GE regardless.
Jun 12, 2012, 3:17 pm
#56
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
I think part of the problem here is that, unlike most places where passport control is just about immigration, in the US the passport control guy also serves a customs function. The questions frequently go into customs subject matter.
In my limited experience with GE, I just go to the head of the customs line and show them my GE slip and am waved through - same as if the passport guy cleared me without sending me to secondary customs.
So, by definition, by skipping passport control you are skipping the first customs screening. When you reach the customs checkpoint, the officer obviously has the discretion to ask you questions if he chooses. But the officer knows that because you are GE you have been vetted in some way, and, as is well documented in this thread, would not have the card if you had anything the least bit dicey (from a customs perspective) in your background.
I believe that one of the reasons for the tough vetting process is that you are essentially getting an immigration and customs pass. When I obtained a Privium card at Schiphol a few years ago with my EU passport, the card was issued over the counter and I was asked no background questions (at least that I can recall.) In fact, if you look at the Privium application form, you can see that there are no background questions: https://www.schiphol.nl/web/file?uui...c-fa6f55858551 . This makes sense because Privium only gets you through passport control, which does not perform a customs function at Schiphol. All they need to determine is that you are an EU/EEA national and therefore entitled to enter the Netherlands.
For the same reason, a number of countries are installing automated biometric border gates without the necessity of pre-registration - because the gates only get you through passport control, which has no customs function in those countries. See http://bit.ly/Mqee6y.
In my limited experience with GE, I just go to the head of the customs line and show them my GE slip and am waved through - same as if the passport guy cleared me without sending me to secondary customs.
So, by definition, by skipping passport control you are skipping the first customs screening. When you reach the customs checkpoint, the officer obviously has the discretion to ask you questions if he chooses. But the officer knows that because you are GE you have been vetted in some way, and, as is well documented in this thread, would not have the card if you had anything the least bit dicey (from a customs perspective) in your background.
I believe that one of the reasons for the tough vetting process is that you are essentially getting an immigration and customs pass. When I obtained a Privium card at Schiphol a few years ago with my EU passport, the card was issued over the counter and I was asked no background questions (at least that I can recall.) In fact, if you look at the Privium application form, you can see that there are no background questions: https://www.schiphol.nl/web/file?uui...c-fa6f55858551 . This makes sense because Privium only gets you through passport control, which does not perform a customs function at Schiphol. All they need to determine is that you are an EU/EEA national and therefore entitled to enter the Netherlands.
For the same reason, a number of countries are installing automated biometric border gates without the necessity of pre-registration - because the gates only get you through passport control, which has no customs function in those countries. See http://bit.ly/Mqee6y.
Last edited by BigFlyer; Jun 13, 2012 at 10:32 am
Jun 13, 2012, 10:22 am
#57
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It is only the correct answer if you want to be rejected from GE; if you want to be approved for GE, then it is the incorrect answer. One of the qualifications for GE is 'cooperation' with CBP during the application process and then examinations/inspections once you have GE. Refusal to answer questions is not 'cooperation' and will result in rejection.
And you also have the right to be rejected for GE. If you don't have any record of drug use with the government or anywhere else, nothing bad is likely to come from a little lie. Something bad can come from telling the truth-- a GE rejection.
There are very few times when the risk of telling a lie to LE (virtually nonexistent in this case) is outweighed by the benefit of telling a lie rather than simply remaining silent, and this is one of those times.
There are very few times when the risk of telling a lie to LE (virtually nonexistent in this case) is outweighed by the benefit of telling a lie rather than simply remaining silent, and this is one of those times.
Jun 15, 2012, 1:20 pm
#58
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: DCA
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All federal employees, all federal contractors, and all members of the military are asked about previous drug use. And all will have some form a criminal background check. If it was casual use that never resulted in an arrest, the likelihood of the background check finding out varies based on the type (i.e. detail) of the check. If there’s an actual conviction, even the most basic of background check will query FBI’s NCIC. Lying about a conviction (even if it would not, by itself, disqualify the person from the job) is grounds for disqualification.
Jun 16, 2012, 11:57 am
#59
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I don't follow this . . . if one uses GE typically one gets a ticket that one hands to CBP at the exit and is good to go. They may do a random secondary, but otherwise it's a sign that you're trusted to proceed. CBP doesn't "ignore it"-they follow it and have no indication from the receipt that you shouldn't be cleared right through (they hardly look at it when I give it to them).
If the kiosk gives you an X, then you (may) get a more thorough check, but that's done by the kiosk system. And if your profile results in getting a X each time, why would GE even allow that person into the program?
Put in shorter terms: Why would the GE program let someone into it if the result is the person is always (or often) going to be subjected to secondary screening by CBP?
If the kiosk gives you an X, then you (may) get a more thorough check, but that's done by the kiosk system. And if your profile results in getting a X each time, why would GE even allow that person into the program?
Put in shorter terms: Why would the GE program let someone into it if the result is the person is always (or often) going to be subjected to secondary screening by CBP?
Secondary inspections are only supposed to happen if the kiosk produces an X.
IME secondaries occur whether you have an X or not. Indeed, when the kiosk produces an X I find that the secondary is much faster than if I have no X. I am starting to conclude that the CBP wants me to spend time on farms or spend my money on more than $800 in merchandise, and I am inclined to accommodate the CBP's desire if it gets me out to liberty sooner.
It is only the correct answer if you want to be rejected from GE; if you want to be approved for GE, then it is the incorrect answer. One of the qualifications for GE is 'cooperation' with CBP during the application process and then examinations/inspections once you have GE. Refusal to answer questions is not 'cooperation' and will result in rejection.
And you also have the right to be rejected for GE. If you don't have any record of drug use with the government or anywhere else, nothing bad is likely to come from a little lie. Something bad can come from telling the truth-- a GE rejection.
There are very few times when the risk of telling a lie to LE (virtually nonexistent in this case) is outweighed by the benefit of telling a lie rather than simply remaining silent, and this is one of those times.
And you also have the right to be rejected for GE. If you don't have any record of drug use with the government or anywhere else, nothing bad is likely to come from a little lie. Something bad can come from telling the truth-- a GE rejection.
There are very few times when the risk of telling a lie to LE (virtually nonexistent in this case) is outweighed by the benefit of telling a lie rather than simply remaining silent, and this is one of those times.
