jasec

Which is interesting on another point: the only real point of this is to allow you quick entry to the US on arrival - i.e. skipping the queues. Other than that it is very easy to get an ESTA - and presumably the checks there are limited (I assume the US homeland security service don't have full access to any police records held about you...).

So - the point is - if you apply for this and are rejected - could that possibly mean that you might struggle to get an ESTA in the future?

leaveamessage

Dont think so.
The ESTA form asks specifically about offences involving moral turpitude, whereas there are reports of GE applicants being denied for misdemeanours- some many many years ago- or even such stuff as traffic offences- none of which you would have to declare when applying for ESTA.


My permanent resident card is pending right now- looking forward to not having to wait in the visitors line any more and hopefully applying for GE later

Panda4

According to the US Embassy in London, you should not used an ESTA if you have ever been arrested (even if not charged or convicted).

The rules aren't very clear, and I suspect a lot of people may get caught out.

jasec

That seems a bit unlikely - the ESTA questions are very precise in their terms, in particular in this case:

However, that's my point really: applying for the GE program means that you are volunteering significant additional information to the US authorities. Giving appropriate answers to the questions on the ESTA form does not guaranty that you will be accepted: they can (and presumably do) carry out further checks on you and can reject your application for whatever reason they choose. So - I am saying that by volunteering extra information in a GE application (such as your police record) then if rejected for GE you potentially increase the risk of you being rejected when you make a subsequent normal ESTA application since the US authorities will now hold a whole load of information on you that they did not have any right to previously.

JFX1764

Surely that only becomes a problem is you have "a past"?

I think for $100 and an interview, it's a bargain for 5 years of skipping the queues.

jcm9000

Yes indeed. Its simply because i am platinum (mid-tier) with AA. It only applies if i am flying within the US only that day (i.e not transferring from/to an international flight. Note i have got through Pre-check flying in from grand cayman the night before and heading on the next day on the same PNR). Pre-check is not guaranteed even if you are cleared for it as its still experimental, there is a long thread on the AA board where those with pre-check note how often their boarding passes allow it in the US. It is very fast when it works and at Miami for instance there is a chap at the side of the fasttrack security where you can ask for him to scan your BP.

Im watching closely for GE opening up as i have to go through miami anytime i want to get somewhere.

And i very much would like separate lines for ESTA holders as visa holders do take quite a few minutes to process compared to around a minute for ESTA holders (who are often frequent entrants to the US). But who are we to tell the US what to do for their homeland security (not starting an argument about what the US may demand of the rest of the world!!) and frankly CBP have improved. Even Miami takes a lot less than it used to in busy times due to the new immigration hall (although CBP currently do not have enough staff to keep the old E crossing open for the Europe evening arrivals which was the original plan and would have made miami one of the fastest points of entry minus the slog from the far gates), and CBP officers are starting to break a smile every now and then. I'm finding I am nowhere near as concerned as I used to be about going through Miami.

On another note while I am at it - i was talking to a Canadian chap on an AA flight who was interviewed for GE/Nexus (what Canadians use for GE). He detailed everything but said had no issues with 'the law'. They asked him twice something like - are you CERTAIN you have had no dealings with law enforcement (clearly about to refuse his application). He said his car was broken into once many years ago, he called the police, they did not respond, he dropped it. This is what the GE officer was referring to. They appear to dig into EVERYTHING.

MSPeconomist

At least when Ge was first introduced, at most GE airport interview offices, one could show up and be taken care of it an interviewer was available. It might have worked only for the office where one had requested a future appointment. Also, as others have said, keep checking for slots that open when someone cancels an appointment. Again, when I went through the process, one needed to schedule the initial interview within a certain time limit of when the preliminary approval was granted, although that interview can be freely cancelled and rescheduled for a time that exceeds the limit.

MSPeconomist

ESTA is basically an expedited visa procedure, specifically a check on one's fitness to enter the USA for a certain period.

GE, at least as it's explained to USA citizens, is more about expedited customs clearance, specifically about whether there is a risk of the person violating the rules about what can be brought into the USA, not just drugs and excess cash, but also fruit, meat, etc.

TSA and PreCheck deal with airport security issues and the risk of a potential terrorist bringing forbidden items onto a flight.

It's not surprising that the criteria and questions for these different programs are not the same!

ADDED. PreCheck is not available for trips, including domestic connections within the USA, that are considered to be international. It one has a domestic flight on an international itinerary but for a different day, I'm not sure whether the passenger would be eligible for PreCheck but I suspect not.

jcm9000

Yes i get pre-check, and that is always when i get precheck (as im always coming from the cayman islands and sometimes overnight in miami - and i am a brit using esta, no us visa).

ExpatExp

The Pre-Check thread includes reports of people successfully using Pre-Check lanes when international flights are on their itinerary the same day. However, it is apparently not supposed to happen, and does appear to be infrequent.

nbevan

I assume that UK citizens is still only apply for GE if they have received an invitation?

Lolbert

I received an invite, completed the form and submitted it a couple of weeks ago. My application is showing as "pending" on the website. Anyone know how long it typically takes before I get approval to arrange an interview?

Lolbert

Update.....still waiting. Anyone know how long this typically takes for a UK citizen? US nationals seem to get clearance for interview in less than 2 weeks. I've been waiting about 3 so far.

HighLife

Correct. You can go through the whole of the long online form and then right at the end it will ask you for a police reference number / application code. You will not be allowed to continue without these.

corporate-wage-slave

4 to 6 weeks.