I think ORF. Probably a new agent, it added maybe 5 seconds so I didn't much care.

My wife received her GE in 2021, did not activate her card. It let her today log-in and activate her card that was issued back then. This is well beyond 30 days, but the card is now active. Any issues with using the card land borders in this scenario?

Shouldn't be.

New Card with Global Entry Renewal??
 

Was just notified that my Global Entry was renewed. Will I still be getting a new updated actual card?? Or is it all just online now??

Please advise.

Thank you

You shall receive your new Global Entry card in three weeks or sooner.

Thank you

Did you receive the Global Entry Physical Card via mail upon renewal while you were in Green Card? Apparently in the portal after approval, it gives me an option to activate the card.

Yes you should receive in mail, post which you can approve it.

Any idea how many days it would take to get the card? My renewal was approved on 01/16. Thank you!

Some dozen years later, I'll resurrect this thread...

Have an international trip upcoming, so I decided to double-check my GE expiration date via the CBP website. It's not for a year yet so no issue there.

But I did see something I am fairly sure I'd never seen before: an option to activate my GE card.

When I was approved for GE, the agent very clearly told me I would be receiving a card, but I didn't need it for anything. That's been true, I've used GE perhaps a dozen times when returning on flights and everything has been perfect.

Sorry, didn't notice this was in travelbuzz.
So my assumption is that for air-based re-entry, card is indeed not needed. But if I were to cross over from Canada or Mexico, the card would come into play, and for the card to work, it would need to be activated.

Is this correct? I don't plan on any land crossings so this isn't urgent, but I also suspect that if I were to try to activate the card now after 4 years it could be problematic.

I'm also thinking the agent should have been more specific and said you don't need it for air-based re-entry, but would for land-based.

"Activation" for a GE card confirms you've actually received it (and it was not stolen by someone else from the mail). Until you confirm you have received your physical Global Entry card, you cannot use it at a land border.

You should try to activate your card. If successful, great. If not successful, then you can resolve by ordering a replacement card (and activating it as soon as you receive it). Do not try to cross a land border with an un-activated Global Entry card - that would be a bad idea.

I'm curious what would happen . . . at least if you have a passport as well. I would think if informed it wasn't activated you would say "oh my gosh I must have forgotten to do that" or "I thought I had" and then show a passport.

I get it if that's your only form of ID . . .

I vaguely recall reading—not sure if it was on FlyerTalk or another site—someone’s account of attempting to cross with an unactivated card and getting sent to secondary.

No option to get a physical GE card
 

This is related to my mom's GE. She carries Indian passport and was approved for GE back in Dec 2021. Later on in Nov 2022, she received her US Permanent residency. We physically went to GE office near LAX and got her LPR information added to her GE account. We thought she would now automatically get the GE card by mail but it never arrived. During past 3 years I did email them but got the standard please request REPLACEMENT CARD from her online account.. But she doesn't have any of those options at all. Unlike mine (US citizen), she doesn't see any option to order card from her account.

I understand when she got GE, she was not a US citizen or LPR and did not get physical card..But after she became LPR, she should be getting one. Anyone gone through similar case?

Not the answer you want to hear but does she need a GE card? Crossing from Canada or Mexico by land frequently? Guess it is a REAL ID as well.