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How does Global Entry work for You?

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Old May 4, 2017, 12:01 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: drewguy
US Airports

Atlanta (ATL)

E concourse/transfer passengers
Global Entry kiosks are on the left wall as you enter the immigration area (the queues for the non-GE are to the right). After completing with the kiosk (facial recognition, no reset), continue to the far side of the room and turn right for the GE exit booths. Your face will be matched visually by the agent (against a line up of those recently through the kiosks) and you proceed to baggage claim. If you have no problems with your connecting flight (and no reason to open the bags) move them over to the drop off belt. There are two queues at security. Sometimes one is set up as TSA Precheck, sometimes they are both regular. Amusingly, when they have a Precheck line, there's usually nobody in the other one.

Boston (BOS)

All passengers follow a first hallway, then a bend, entering a second hallway; at that point you see the non-GE situation to your left through the glass. GE kiosks are at the far end to the left, with one (or two) immigration agents checking for slips with an X, then downstairs to baggage claim. GE customs exit, easy to miss, at far end (left side as you face luggage belts).

Charlotte (CLT)

No MPC. Customs exit has two booths. There is a dedicated GE customs lane with signage on the left. May have to walk past (and get dirty looks) general customs queue to see GE signage.

Chicago (ORD)

The kiosks are immediately apparent as you come down to the immigration/customs area, although sometimes long lines for "regular" immigration can slow access to the kiosks. After baggage claim there is a single exit to transfer/arrivals, with a specific desk for GE customers sometimes staffed.

Denver (DEN)
After the long walk from your gate, signs for global entry point you straight down the escalator (non-GE get forms checked and may queue). Kiosks to right using 2.0. If an X or to declare a sign points to agent. Otherwise proceed to baggage reclaim area. Give slip to agent at exit and proceed to airport main entrance.

Houston (IAH):

There is a single, roped off separate area on southern (terminal E) end of the arrivals hall with kiosks as you enter the hall, and an additional bank of kiosks near officers at a desk that check (and keep) GE receipts as one is entering the central immigration area. Proceed to the bag claim escalator past agents that may pull people for further questioning. After claiming bags downstairs, proceed directly to recheck. Agents in the area may pull you aside for bag inspection. There is no GE or standard exit queue.

Los Angeles (LAX):
International arrivals come into the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). After the walk to escalators, GE lines are well marked. LAX uses GE 2.0 facial recognition - just smile at the camera and it will tell you what to do next. You'll then go past an agent with whatever interaction they deem necessary. On to baggage claim and either taxis or a connecting flight.

Miami (MIA):

The kiosks are in the centre of the hall, between US and Tourists. Turn left when you have cleared and down the stairs/escalator to Customs. Turn left at the bottom and your GE Customs line is there.

New York (JFK):

T8
After receiving your "non-X" GE slip, you proceed to baggage area (if you have any), then head for the customs agent. There is a sign on a stand: "GLOBAL ENTRY EXIT", this lets you bypass any "others" waiting to see an agent.; There is a CPB agent who checks your pp (after collecting your slip). You then go to collect your luggage (if you have any), unless you are singled out for extra scrutiny, you are free to leave.
Once you are in baggage collection area, it seems all pax have "equal status" since GE no longer have their slips. [GE pax would still have their GE cards to show if needed.]

T7
Upon arrival in the Immigration area, the kiosks are on the back wall, facing the front of the inspectors booths. Turn left and you may have to walk right across the area to get to them. There is a special exit for Customs.

Philadelphia (PHL):

Global Entry kiosks are immediately on the right if arriving from an A-East gate (A2-A13). After successful facial recognition take your receipt to the Global Entry cubicle next to the kiosks. Hold up your receipt as your pass the GE officer in the cubicle and tell them if you have anything to declare. After claiming checked luggage, exit the FIS through the GE customs line, and give the officer your receipt.

San Francisco (SFO):

International arrivals G concourse - United/*A
Corridor from planes with floor and ceiling markings for different categories (GE, MPC, US, Foreign) that ultimately end up in lanes demarcated with tensa-barriers. GE is to the far left, where the kiosks are along the wall. Use kiosk, wait for agent, who will ask any questions, then pickup any bags and head past all carousels. Connecting flights to left; exit to right.

Seattle
Just before taking the escalator to the baggage hall the GE kiosks are on the right. New software so no receipts. After baggage collection join queue to the left for GE passengers. Agent asks questions as well as checks you for the GE kiosk record.

Washington (IAD):

Main Terminal
The kiosks are around the corner to the far right after you come down the escalator from the moon rover, behind a metal swinging gate marked for crew and GE. Starting Spring 2017 After using the kiosk, you'll enter a lane to for an agent to review your slip and to make any declarations (food, etc.), and then you proceed out a central door to the baggage claim area. There is no further check after this point. Post-2021: Using GE 2.0 and agents tend to take more time studying passport; door to baggage area a bit closer to GE checkpoint. Spring 2023: New facial scanners in place that are touchless - just look at screen, it images face, and directs you (in most cases) to proceed to the line. CBP agent confirms identity and checks passport, and asks if anything to declare.

Midfield (transfers) terminal (UA-UA only; limited hours)
The GE terminals are against the wall, on the left, immediately that you enter the arrivals immigration area. Do not join the barricaded area as you have gone too far. After you have your receipt you walk down the back of the inspectors booths to Customs. Note: No TSAPre available here.


Foreign Preclearance Airports

Montreal (YUL)

(All US bound flights)After CATSA security, the GE machines will be in your left. Facial recognition and no receipts will be issued just instructions to proceed to US or GE officer.

Vancouver (YVR)

(Most daytime US-bound flights. Not available for late-evening / night US-bound flights) GE/Nexus get expedited access to security, although it takes a bit of talking to convince the line guard to grant access because there is no reason to carry the GE card for air travel. Post security, the GE machines are in a dedicated area off to the left. After getting the receipt, you hand your receipt, passport and boarding pass to an available agent. Agent scans your boarding pass and if you have checked bags, a picture of your bag is displayed to the officer. American Citizens are waved past with ease. Non-American citizens are required to answer the standard "Where are you going / what are you doing" questions that apply to non-American citizen travellers. Non-American business travelers using GE at YVR can expect all the standard probing immigration-related questions regarding the nature of your business in the USA.

Dublin (DUB)

Preclearance:
After security, find 3 or 4 GE kiosks located on the left hand side. After getting the receipt, walk up to the CBP agent on the far left (from the passengers' point of view). Need to stop at CBP agent's desk and hand over passport + receipt + boarding pass. The BP is scanned to bring up picture(s) of bag(s) (in case bags were checked).
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Old Dec 23, 2017, 12:00 pm
  #181  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
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Originally Posted by drewguy
Anyway, the passport inspecting agent now is not as fast as the bag/slip inspecting agent at the baggage claim exit used to be. So net loss in speed.
loss in speed if you don't check bags

so far with GE, I've always been waiting for (any/my) bags to come out at the baggage claim
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Old Dec 26, 2017, 7:30 pm
  #182  
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GE (Global Entry) in JFK T8(AA)

When I return to the US from overseas I normally clear CBP (via my GE) at JFK T8. Up until this past November, after you got your GE slip you would proceed to the baggage claim area collect baggage (or if c/o only) proceed to a special GE lane and hand your ticket to the agent and exit.
A month ago they changed things: after I got my GE slip an agent (stationed near the GE terminals) collected my slip and I proceeded to the baggage area; in effect all pax GE (or "others") are on equal status at this point. This certainly speeds up exiting customs, unless you are specifically stopped (for inspection) you just exit.^
Is this the system at other airports?
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Old Feb 6, 2018, 12:25 pm
  #183  
 
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Originally Posted by drewguy
The last couple of times through GE at Washington IAD things have seemed slow because the CBP agent needs your passport and asks questions. There’s a new setup - the check is right after the kiosks and before you claim any checked luggage. Previously one could go straight to customs checker at exit from kiosk, with rarely a question asked (except about food). Now it’s more like the regular check for non-GE folks.

Any ideas why? Is this occurring in other airports too?
Most recent experience was much faster - more like the customs check where they just look at the slip and you tell them what kind of food (if any). That said, it may have been because there was a line of about 30 people for GE feeding to the same agent as the Mobile Passport line (which had to wait) and they didn't want to make it worse.
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Old Feb 27, 2018, 10:39 am
  #184  
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
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First off, Happy New year peeps(late, I know)
Returning from my recent overseas trip, I was worried if I was gonna make my connection. I was relieved knowing I can skip the longer lines with GE, but was still skeptical. My gate in ORD to the GE kiosks took me 15 mins. And that was my longest wait in the whole process. Happy GE camper here

So people still thinking about getting this, just do it!
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Old Feb 28, 2018, 1:53 pm
  #185  
 
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Have updated the wiki to better reflect the experience at YVR.
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Old Mar 12, 2018, 10:16 am
  #186  
 
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Originally Posted by drewguy
Yes - last three times through - December through early Feb. Cursory, but to confirm GE slip matches passport. (ONe was less than cursory - agent was questioning everyone for a bit)
Yup, just came through IAD and had to stand in a line of about 8-10 folks waiting to see an agent after leaving the kiosk. Agent asked us two or three quick questions. Whole thing did not take 10 minutes.

However, after collecting our luggage, there was no baggage check line like there used to be. Overall, we probably saved time over the last few trips through IAD.

Is this happening elsewhere, or unique to IAD?
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Old Mar 12, 2018, 11:29 am
  #187  
 
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^ Seems to be getting rolled out elsewhere. You're correct that after the CBP questions at passport control you're free to go (unless you're not)
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Old Apr 1, 2018, 3:40 am
  #188  
 
Join Date: May 2010
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Greetings from Melbourne!

Im so glad I got global entry cause the smart gate was easy to use. 15hr flight and I was out within 20 minutes.

They didn't check my luggage; only had their security dog sniff around.

I hope the experience is the same when I come back to the US.
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 2:29 am
  #189  
 
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Monday, April 16, 2 pm at DTW, going through immigration via Global Entry took more than an hour, including taking the Airport's recommended shortcut of exiting the line toward security check and re-entering the airport building to go through a TSA-Pre line rather than the regular security. I at least got through faster than a long line of ordinary passengers.
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 7:07 am
  #190  
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Originally Posted by Dave, grapefruitville
Monday, April 16, 2 pm at DTW, going through immigration via Global Entry took more than an hour, including taking the Airport's recommended shortcut of exiting the line toward security check and re-entering the airport building to go through a TSA-Pre line rather than the regular security. I at least got through faster than a long line of ordinary passengers.
It sounds like you're including both the Global Entry part and the security re-clearance to catch a connecting flight. How long did the Global Entry part take itself? Unless there was a queue for the kiosks or some kiosks weren't working it shouldn't have taken very long at all.
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Old Apr 22, 2018, 8:39 am
  #191  
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Originally Posted by Dave, grapefruitville
Monday, April 16, 2 pm at DTW, going through immigration via Global Entry took more than an hour, including taking the Airport's recommended shortcut of exiting the line toward security check and re-entering the airport building to go through a TSA-Pre line rather than the regular security. I at least got through faster than a long line of ordinary passengers.
This doesn't make sense. Either you're including the TSA wait time, which isn't part of the clearance process, or your bags were delayed getting to the bag claim belt. Either way, neither would have anything to do with immigration or GE.
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Old Apr 23, 2018, 4:46 am
  #192  
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Sfo international arrivals g

On 4/21 I arrived from LHR into SFO on United at approximately 1330. There is usually a queue for the kiosks but this time the Global Entry line seemed to be mixed up with the GE line. As I could see that a lot of the passengers all had blue customs forms in hand, I hugged the wall to the left and went down the GE line until I got to the front. The line was massive, and everyone looked confused and people were using the GE kiosks when they obviously had blue customs forms and then having to go back and join the queue. It really was mixed up and confusing a lot of people so I just blasted past everyone that I saw that had a blue form saying "this is the GE line not the regular kiosks" until I found other GE travellers and settled in with them. However, I am of course hoping it was a one-off but it seems to have changed for the worst and confusion reigned supreme on Saturday for the GE line. Has anyone noticed this of late (not been through for over a month) and is this normal now at SFO? I know it gets busy when some of the Asian and NZ flights land but this was definitely the worse I have experienced for GE and having difficulty getting to the kiosks.
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Old May 30, 2018, 6:23 pm
  #193  
 
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Originally Posted by drewguy
There's a new process at Dulles (IAD), and I've updated the wiki accordingly.

Now after using the kiosk you wait in line immediately to give your slip to the CBP agent, who will ask (or you tell) about any declarations. Once you're past that check, you proceed to baggage claim or the exits with no further checks.

A couple of observations, which I got to make because the agent was spending a lot of time with a single person, who may have been a foreign national who had to through an initial first time extra check:

1) the row of kiosks along the far wall (the original location for IAD regulars) now can get blocked by the line for the CBP agent if that line moves at all slowly. IAD may need to reevaluate

2) I'm not sure what happens if your checked luggage has goods that need to be reviewed
1) There was a similar issue last year at IAH. Not sure if it's been resolved.

2) At IAH, there was a gauntlet of CBP people just after the desk, and also down by the belts. Presumably if they wanted to look at your stuff, you'd get pulled aside.

Just feels weird to pick up bags and go. Much more Asian or European green lane though.
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Old May 30, 2018, 7:02 pm
  #194  
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Originally Posted by glbltvlr
1) There was a similar issue last year at IAH. Not sure if it's been resolved.

2) At IAH, there was a gauntlet of CBP people just after the desk, and also down by the belts. Presumably if they wanted to look at your stuff, you'd get pulled aside.

Just feels weird to pick up bags and go. Much more Asian or European green lane though.
Same process earlier this month in Boston.
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Old May 30, 2018, 7:21 pm
  #195  
 
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Originally Posted by drewguy
Most recent experience was much faster - more like the customs check where they just look at the slip and you tell them what kind of food (if any). That said, it may have been because there was a line of about 30 people for GE feeding to the same agent as the Mobile Passport line (which had to wait) and they didn't want to make it worse.
The one time I've used GE in January 2017, I flew from FRA to IAD and after I landed, used the GE kiosk, printed the paper ticket, went through the GE lane and didn't talk to any officer and went straight to baggage. I took my bag and showed the officer at the very end the ticket, and they didn't ask if I had anything to declare, and just immediately waved me into the U.S. Didn't talk to a single officer.

Of course, they might change the process and protocol a little bit every once in a while and maybe have an officer stand in, but I think I was the only one with GE going through that line as far as I remember. I thought the whole point of GE that you wouldn't have to talk to an officer unless it's a temporary protocol that happened every once in a while.
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