Mine is decent enough.

But on a related note, is anyone bothered by how "date of birth" and "expiration date" are listed on the card? It seems to imply that expiration date is the date the person will die :eek:

Can you still get to the Kiosks for global entry in YYZ without the physical card?

They weren't checking cards at transfer preclearance (there was a person at the door asking for passport type, I just stated GE). No idea bout normal preclearance.

However you (probably) won't be able to use expedited security without the card. I'm still waiting on CATSA to respond to my email enquiring about what those of us without cards are supposed to do to get an advertised benefit.

Can't speak for the government, of course, but I have a hunch the answer will be "pay up and order cards through GOES." :(

Except that I'm not eligible for the card, which the CBP website explains quite clearly.

Ha no. It's even worse than my passport photo which makes my driver's license photo look like a professional portrait.

While CBP says that you are not required to present your GE card to gain access to the GE kiosks some airport contractors (MIA comes to mind) seem to have made their own rule requiring people to show them before letting them access them. While I personally carry my card while traveling it would really tick me off if I ran into a situation like that.

The overall design of the card is kind of silly. It's supposed to be a form of government issued ID but looks like a High School ID or something. They should at least add "US Customs & Border Protection" at the top or something. My friend tried to use it to get into a bar once, as he'd lost his wallet, but they said no chance.

The GE card has proven very useful for my 18-year-old daughter, who does not have a driver's license. Of course, TSA accepts the card at security checkpoints, and so far it's worked elsewhere. I'm not sure bars will accept it when she's 21, but that's a matter for another day.

BTW, she forgot to bring the card on a recent trip. She got the no-ID TSA experience: about 40 minutes of questions, answers and waiting. I doubt she'll make that mistake again.

Same here. I've even had poorly trained TSA agents (:td:) point me to PRE when it haden't be printed on my BP (^) but I was using that ID.

Arrived in DFW today from FRA with the family, and there was a contractor-type person blocking access to the GE kiosks, demanding to see GE cards before letting people in. Fortunately as we approached he was in a discussion with someone who apparently didn't know what GE is, so we were able to walk past him and start using the kiosk before he could stop us.

I carry mine to show TSA instead of drivers license/passport.

I have had GE since 2009 and never had to show a GE card. I have arrived at IAD, EWR, ORD, LAX, SFO. It does look that people are having issues at ATL, MIA, DFW, etc. It's worth complaining to CBP because those airport contractors make up their own rules.

At YYZ the CBP officers themselves asked for my card at immigration (got an X, but all GE members had to speak to someone either way). I ended up showing my confirmation letter (I can't get a card), but I'm surprised the CBP themselves don't know their own rules.

Like others I've been denied access to the preclearance Nexus security lane (which Catsa officially advertise as being for GE members too on their website). In my case I'm not eligible for a card so telling me to bring the card isn't exactly a viable solution. Catsa haven't bothered replying to my email requesting further information on this.

I now always carry my GE card when traveling. It doesn't weigh a lot. :D

I suspect CATSA asks for NEXUS and GE cards because they otherwise have no way of determining who is a member of those programs, since they have no Precheck-equivalent system.

US CBP and DHS tell us nothing about CATSA's requirements because CATSA is a completely independent agency who is not under any obligation to even let GE members use their expedited lines. They could easily limit it to NEXUS only, but they don't.

It would be nice if everything was better communicated, and there were provisions for foreign GE members, but it's also nice that they have a reasonably common sense system set up now.

This has been reported before and is totally unacceptable. I would demand to speak to a CBP officer and ignore what this contractor is telling you.