The dreaded "X" with Global Entry
#91
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1
I used my GE card for the first time at YYZ this week and received the 'X'. The officer asked me if I had ever been fingerprinted, and I told him that I had, having had two misdemeanors some 40 years ago. Since I already was cleared for GOES, and not deemed a dangerous person, I wondered why this would even be an issue. The fellow at the kiosk was nice enough and told me that I'd have to go to a Global Entry office and get what is called a 'demotion' or else I'd keep getting X'd. I'm really confused!
#92
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: DL Platinum
Posts: 5
Is Global Entry worth it if I already get an X from the kiosk every time?
About once every month I make the trek down to Brazil on DL via ATL. Every time, without exception, when going through automated passport control in customs the kiosk spits out an X on my receipt (I'd love to know why, but that's not the purpose of this, my very first post).
Now that I have Platinum Medallion status with DL, one of the Choice Benefits I can choose is a voucher for the GE application. If I got GE, would it really be advantageous at all as I would still get the dreaded X receipt every time?
Now that I have Platinum Medallion status with DL, one of the Choice Benefits I can choose is a voucher for the GE application. If I got GE, would it really be advantageous at all as I would still get the dreaded X receipt every time?
#93
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: DL
Posts: 963
About once every month I make the trek down to Brazil on DL via ATL. Every time, without exception, when going through automated passport control in customs the kiosk spits out an X on my receipt (I'd love to know why, but that's not the purpose of this, my very first post).
Now that I have Platinum Medallion status with DL, one of the Choice Benefits I can choose is a voucher for the GE application. If I got GE, would it really be advantageous at all as I would still get the dreaded X receipt every time?
Now that I have Platinum Medallion status with DL, one of the Choice Benefits I can choose is a voucher for the GE application. If I got GE, would it really be advantageous at all as I would still get the dreaded X receipt every time?
#94
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
About once every month I make the trek down to Brazil on DL via ATL. Every time, without exception, when going through automated passport control in customs the kiosk spits out an X on my receipt (I'd love to know why, but that's not the purpose of this, my very first post).
Now that I have Platinum Medallion status with DL, one of the Choice Benefits I can choose is a voucher for the GE application. If I got GE, would it really be advantageous at all as I would still get the dreaded X receipt every time?
Now that I have Platinum Medallion status with DL, one of the Choice Benefits I can choose is a voucher for the GE application. If I got GE, would it really be advantageous at all as I would still get the dreaded X receipt every time?
GE is worth it...
#95
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: DL Platinum
Posts: 5
One time I was in the X line with a gentleman who was a member of a flight crew, he said he gets the X every single time as well and that no one could tell him why but one CBP agent suggested that he might share a name with someone on a naughty list. I do share a name (first and last, not middle) with a famous actor with a somewhat sketchy past...
#96
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: DL Platinum
Posts: 5
There is a section in the official GE site's FAQ which talks about what to do when you get an X, so the possibility of getting X'd won't go away apparently.
#97
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: DL Platinum
Posts: 5
One time I was in the X line with a gentleman who was a member of a flight crew, he said he gets the X every single time as well and that no one could tell him why but one CBP agent suggested that he might share a name with someone on a naughty list. I do share a name (first and last, not middle) with a famous actor with a somewhat sketchy past...
#98
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
Yes. The first time I asked I was met by a cold, angry stare as if I shouldn't be asking. The second time I asked I was told "Not sure" with a shrug of the shoulders.
One time I was in the X line with a gentleman who was a member of a flight crew, he said he gets the X every single time as well and that no one could tell him why but one CBP agent suggested that he might share a name with someone on a naughty list. I do share a name (first and last, not middle) with a famous actor with a somewhat sketchy past...
One time I was in the X line with a gentleman who was a member of a flight crew, he said he gets the X every single time as well and that no one could tell him why but one CBP agent suggested that he might share a name with someone on a naughty list. I do share a name (first and last, not middle) with a famous actor with a somewhat sketchy past...
#99
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ONT/FRA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 878
About once every month I make the trek down to Brazil on DL via ATL. Every time, without exception, when going through automated passport control in customs the kiosk spits out an X on my receipt (I'd love to know why, but that's not the purpose of this, my very first post).
Now that I have Platinum Medallion status with DL, one of the Choice Benefits I can choose is a voucher for the GE application. If I got GE, would it really be advantageous at all as I would still get the dreaded X receipt every time?
Now that I have Platinum Medallion status with DL, one of the Choice Benefits I can choose is a voucher for the GE application. If I got GE, would it really be advantageous at all as I would still get the dreaded X receipt every time?
#100
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 630
OP, I am in a very similar situation, you can search for a post of mine from about a week ago.
I am a green card holder and every time (no exception), I get an X on my receipt and I am sent to secondary, now, in secondary, nobody ask's me anything and we just play the wait game (20mins-3hrs on avg) and they let me in, I too got a cold and angry responses from CBP officers while questioned about why am I being sent here every time.
I did a bit of a research and I filed a complaint\inquiry to DHS, you can do the same by following this link - https://trip.dhs.gov/
I still haven't received any response (2 months have been passed) but I did receive a redress number which I am using on my reservations from now and on.
I also applied for GE and got approved, I asked the CBP officer in the GE interview about my situation and he said something like "well, even with GE is not guaranteed to skip secondary" I mentioned that I am OK with being sent every now and then, randomly, but this is getting ridiculous, he added a few notes on his computer and told me I am approved.
to be honest, even if I will skip the customs line in IAD and still get sent to secondary, it will still worth the $100 in my opinion.
I haven't left the states ever since obtaining my GE, but I will soon and keep you updated if you are interested. but my advice 1) file a compliant to dhs using trip 2) apply for a GE - you can do both simultaneously. 3) use the redress number that you will get from DHS on your reservations.
Good luck
I am a green card holder and every time (no exception), I get an X on my receipt and I am sent to secondary, now, in secondary, nobody ask's me anything and we just play the wait game (20mins-3hrs on avg) and they let me in, I too got a cold and angry responses from CBP officers while questioned about why am I being sent here every time.
I did a bit of a research and I filed a complaint\inquiry to DHS, you can do the same by following this link - https://trip.dhs.gov/
I still haven't received any response (2 months have been passed) but I did receive a redress number which I am using on my reservations from now and on.
I also applied for GE and got approved, I asked the CBP officer in the GE interview about my situation and he said something like "well, even with GE is not guaranteed to skip secondary" I mentioned that I am OK with being sent every now and then, randomly, but this is getting ridiculous, he added a few notes on his computer and told me I am approved.
to be honest, even if I will skip the customs line in IAD and still get sent to secondary, it will still worth the $100 in my opinion.
I haven't left the states ever since obtaining my GE, but I will soon and keep you updated if you are interested. but my advice 1) file a compliant to dhs using trip 2) apply for a GE - you can do both simultaneously. 3) use the redress number that you will get from DHS on your reservations.
Good luck
#101
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: DL Platinum
Posts: 5
I am a green card holder and every time (no exception), I get an X on my receipt and I am sent to secondary, now, in secondary, nobody ask's me anything and we just play the wait game (20mins-3hrs on avg) and they let me in, I too got a cold and angry responses from CBP officers while questioned about why am I being sent here every time.
justsawaufo, I hope things work out for you and will be interested to hear how things go on your next trip and return. 20 mins - 3 hrs on average!? I feel like I almost have nothing to complain about. At ATL, and usually on an early morning flight in and with the advantage of being on the front of the plane, I don't think I've ever been set back more than 20 minutes. It's usually about 10 minutes.
#102
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 630
I usually enter at Dulles, I got "lucky" sometimes where there was not a single soul in secondary and it took me 5-6 minutes, but the majority of the time it is well above 1.5hrs until you get called. It is still a hassle don't get me wrong, even if it takes 10 minutes, but at this point, if it's not going to workout, I'll keep the GE until I'll become a citizen, and hopefully then it will be easier, although I have seen citizens at secondary as well, but they get processed much much faster. I'll keep you posted on my process with DHS.
#103
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 439
Can I ask a stupid question. What's the point of having the system flag someone for secondary if the CBP officers conducting the secondary screen don't even know why someone's been flagged? Shouldn't it tell them so they know what to be on the lookout for? Seems pointless...
#104
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 630
Can I ask a stupid question. What's the point of having the system flag someone for secondary if the CBP officers conducting the secondary screen don't even know why someone's been flagged? Shouldn't it tell them so they know what to be on the lookout for? Seems pointless...
To be honest, its not their job to "fix" a person who's been flag automatically, its more like a catch and release system-
justsawaufo fly to the US (get flagged)
justsawaufo get X on his receipt
justsawaufo get sent to secondary
CBP officers "fix" the issue (1 time)
and it's a loop, over and over again, unless you contact DHS and get an actual response from them, its not going to go away.
#105
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: US/TYO/LON
Programs: Marriott Titanium; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 411
I get an X every single time as well, but I know exactly why I get it (and it has been disclosed to me many times by the CBP officers).
However, I still think it is worth it, because there is a dedicated officer for the GE kiosk section to which no other passengers except GE with an X and crew members are sent. It is still always faster for me to go that way, than the much longer queue of the general populace.
Also, once you clear immigration, you are still entitled to use the GE line for customs clearance which is much faster than the long lines for general customs clearance.
However, I still think it is worth it, because there is a dedicated officer for the GE kiosk section to which no other passengers except GE with an X and crew members are sent. It is still always faster for me to go that way, than the much longer queue of the general populace.
Also, once you clear immigration, you are still entitled to use the GE line for customs clearance which is much faster than the long lines for general customs clearance.