Global Entry for Minors, Children and Infants
May 27, 2012, 7:30 pm
#46
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 889
Kids, Nexus and GE
I'm wondering if anyone else has Nexus for their family, including kids under 14, and if they have had any experience using GE. We've just received our approvals for everyone including the kids (both of whom are under 14).
Both the Nexus and GE websites clearly state that Nexus members who have registered their passports and been fingerprinted are eligible to use GE. The GE website states that GE is not available directly to anyone under 14, however I read that as meaning you can't get GE but if you have Nexus and meet the requirements you can use the machine.
The officers at our interview (SEA) not only said the kids could use GE but seemed to be aware that lots of people were applying for Nexus mostly to use GE rather than for traveling to Canada.
That said I'm wondering if anyone has actually had any experience and if there are problems.
Both the Nexus and GE websites clearly state that Nexus members who have registered their passports and been fingerprinted are eligible to use GE. The GE website states that GE is not available directly to anyone under 14, however I read that as meaning you can't get GE but if you have Nexus and meet the requirements you can use the machine.
The officers at our interview (SEA) not only said the kids could use GE but seemed to be aware that lots of people were applying for Nexus mostly to use GE rather than for traveling to Canada.
That said I'm wondering if anyone has actually had any experience and if there are problems.
May 27, 2012, 8:13 pm
#47
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: EWR, USA, AA 1MM Gold, United Premier Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 1,476
I'm wondering if anyone else has Nexus for their family, including kids under 14, and if they have had any experience using GE. We've just received our approvals for everyone including the kids (both of whom are under 14).
Both the Nexus and GE websites clearly state that Nexus members who have registered their passports and been fingerprinted are eligible to use GE. The GE website states that GE is not available directly to anyone under 14, however I read that as meaning you can't get GE but if you have Nexus and meet the requirements you can use the machine.
The officers at our interview (SEA) not only said the kids could use GE but seemed to be aware that lots of people were applying for Nexus mostly to use GE rather than for traveling to Canada.
That said I'm wondering if anyone has actually had any experience and if there are problems.
Both the Nexus and GE websites clearly state that Nexus members who have registered their passports and been fingerprinted are eligible to use GE. The GE website states that GE is not available directly to anyone under 14, however I read that as meaning you can't get GE but if you have Nexus and meet the requirements you can use the machine.
The officers at our interview (SEA) not only said the kids could use GE but seemed to be aware that lots of people were applying for Nexus mostly to use GE rather than for traveling to Canada.
That said I'm wondering if anyone has actually had any experience and if there are problems.
Just used it today coming back from vacation. Immigration was EASILY about an hour wait...myself, wife, and kids thru GE in 3 minutes. Love it.
May 27, 2012, 9:29 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 889
Good to know because the age restriction is still on the webs site in a number of places....
http://www.globalentry.gov/pdfs/Glob...y_Brochure.pdf
http://www.globalentry.gov/pdfs/Glob...y_Brochure.pdf
May 28, 2012, 5:41 am
#49
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: EWR, USA, AA 1MM Gold, United Premier Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 1,476
Good to know because the age restriction is still on the webs site in a number of places....
http://www.globalentry.gov/pdfs/Glob...y_Brochure.pdf
http://www.globalentry.gov/pdfs/Glob...y_Brochure.pdf
http://www.globalentry.gov/faq.html#21
May 29, 2012, 8:03 am
#50
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
+1 on the update. 8yo daughter conditionally approved recently (waiting for interview).
I suspect with the broader eligibility they will no longer allow a GE member to bring the family along, as at least some people have reported being able to do.
I suspect with the broader eligibility they will no longer allow a GE member to bring the family along, as at least some people have reported being able to do.
May 29, 2012, 8:34 pm
#51
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: EWR, USA, AA 1MM Gold, United Premier Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 1,476
I answered yes and she was fine with it until we were done...as we walked away she yelled out to me "EXCUSE ME!!! Do any of you have an "X"??? Your kids????" :roll eyes:
I answered no and kept walking.
Jun 30, 2012, 4:01 am
#52
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 20
Global Entry for Children/Infants
Hello,
I am not sure if this is the right forum for this, but I wanted to share my experience that I've had with the Global Entry (GOES) / Trusted Traveler Program with regards to enrolling children.
The program has recently lifted it's age restrictions to all ages (previously 14 years) and therefore everyone is eligible to apply to the program. My wife and I are already enrolled and we travel 6-8 times per year internationally, so this program has been great for us. We recently had a baby boy and we wanted to keep using the program going forward as we'll be traveling with him soon.
Our application was conditionally approved and we scheduled the interview at the Philadelphia Airport Customs location. Upon arriving yesterday, we were informed that they had never processed a child this young (9 weeks) and that they had no procedures in place for adding a baby to the system because of the digital fingerprinting requirement.
It was quite comical to have four uniformed, armed customs officers try to figure out how to process this. Everyone was very nice and apologetic, but it was clear that nobody was training on this situation nor had they been informed that the program is now open to everyone.
Long story short, the scanner was not able to pick up the fingerprints and we were told that they will ask their superior officer to override the requirement.
To me, this looks like a case where a change to a program was made without considering the most basic of ramifications. Clearly, a child this young would never travel on it's own until it is older, so why not link the child's global entry to both of it's parents until a certain age when that provision would automatically expire and require a separate account?
This was meant more as an informative post, if anyone plans to enroll a child in GOES under the age of 2-3 years (when I would expect fingerprints to be big enough for the scanner to read them), be forewarned that you will probably be met with some dumbfounded looks and be send home.
Should his enrollment not go through, I will try to recover the enrollment fee, but knowing the government, this will prove challenging.
I am not sure if this is the right forum for this, but I wanted to share my experience that I've had with the Global Entry (GOES) / Trusted Traveler Program with regards to enrolling children.
The program has recently lifted it's age restrictions to all ages (previously 14 years) and therefore everyone is eligible to apply to the program. My wife and I are already enrolled and we travel 6-8 times per year internationally, so this program has been great for us. We recently had a baby boy and we wanted to keep using the program going forward as we'll be traveling with him soon.
Our application was conditionally approved and we scheduled the interview at the Philadelphia Airport Customs location. Upon arriving yesterday, we were informed that they had never processed a child this young (9 weeks) and that they had no procedures in place for adding a baby to the system because of the digital fingerprinting requirement.
It was quite comical to have four uniformed, armed customs officers try to figure out how to process this. Everyone was very nice and apologetic, but it was clear that nobody was training on this situation nor had they been informed that the program is now open to everyone.
Long story short, the scanner was not able to pick up the fingerprints and we were told that they will ask their superior officer to override the requirement.
To me, this looks like a case where a change to a program was made without considering the most basic of ramifications. Clearly, a child this young would never travel on it's own until it is older, so why not link the child's global entry to both of it's parents until a certain age when that provision would automatically expire and require a separate account?
This was meant more as an informative post, if anyone plans to enroll a child in GOES under the age of 2-3 years (when I would expect fingerprints to be big enough for the scanner to read them), be forewarned that you will probably be met with some dumbfounded looks and be send home.
Should his enrollment not go through, I will try to recover the enrollment fee, but knowing the government, this will prove challenging.
Jun 30, 2012, 9:27 am
#54
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Programs: AC *E/PC Gold /BW Diamond/Hertz Gold Plus/SPG Gold/Marriot Silver/ TUMI Alpha
Posts: 1,470
interesting.
In Canada we apply for NEXUS and then automatically get enrolled in Global Entry
Our daughter is two now but she was enrolled when she was 18 months.
NEXUS is IRIS SCAN which they can't do on a 18 month old she has an exemption sticker.
For GE, no fingerprint required either, when we go thru immigration we simply present her NEXUS/GE card to the Special Services/Crew counter and voila.
Sounds like the US portion IN THE US needs some clarification. In Canada, when we get our Nexus and GE, both the Canada Border and US Border officers interview/process us at the same time so it is very much streamlined.
In Canada we apply for NEXUS and then automatically get enrolled in Global Entry
Our daughter is two now but she was enrolled when she was 18 months.
NEXUS is IRIS SCAN which they can't do on a 18 month old she has an exemption sticker.
For GE, no fingerprint required either, when we go thru immigration we simply present her NEXUS/GE card to the Special Services/Crew counter and voila.
Sounds like the US portion IN THE US needs some clarification. In Canada, when we get our Nexus and GE, both the Canada Border and US Border officers interview/process us at the same time so it is very much streamlined.
Jul 2, 2012, 2:55 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
What you want is called a 'biometric waiver' for Global Entry.
I know a 69-year-old who has one because her fingerprints could not be read-- they even called her in a month after the initial interview and did a standard FBI 10-card with ink to see if they could make that work. No dice. So now she uses the GE line, but cannot use the kiosk.
I assume a baby can also get a biometric waiver, at least for the first few years of life. They just didn't know (how) to do it.
I know a 69-year-old who has one because her fingerprints could not be read-- they even called her in a month after the initial interview and did a standard FBI 10-card with ink to see if they could make that work. No dice. So now she uses the GE line, but cannot use the kiosk.
I assume a baby can also get a biometric waiver, at least for the first few years of life. They just didn't know (how) to do it.
Last edited by Ari; Jul 2, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Oct 6, 2012, 6:33 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,392
Oct 7, 2012, 8:34 pm
#57
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,543
Oct 12, 2012, 8:04 pm
#59
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: EWR, USA, AA 1MM Gold, United Premier Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 1,476
Q: Are children able to enroll in Global Entry?
A: Yes. Children may enroll in Global Entry. Minor Children 18 years or younger are required to have parental or legal guardianship permission.
Q: Can my child/children enroll in Global Entry if I am not a member?
A: Minor children that do not have a parent or legal guardian enrolled in Global Entry may enroll. Parental or legal guardianship permission is required and must be present at the time of the interview.
Dec 21, 2012, 11:34 pm
#60
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: HA Plat, SPG Plat, AmEX Plat
Posts: 15
Just did this today
Flew from SJD to LAX, 3 adults with GE and one infant
Got the paper, went to lane 4
The officer took my GE form and wrote "two" on my old school customs form and off we went...
Btw we had nothing to declare
Basically you need to still fill out the old form as well
Oh, and he was not too pleased lol
But other customs officers said infants should just go through with whoever their ticket is under
Got the paper, went to lane 4
The officer took my GE form and wrote "two" on my old school customs form and off we went...
Btw we had nothing to declare
Basically you need to still fill out the old form as well
Oh, and he was not too pleased lol
But other customs officers said infants should just go through with whoever their ticket is under