apply for global entry with only passport card?
 

my venture card will pay for the global entry but i only have a passport card. i dont anticipate needing a passport book anytime soon but since its free i figure get global entry because i do a lot of flying in the USA. just wanted to make sure only having the passport card is ok to quailfy for the global entry because the site just said 'bring passport'

You need an actual passport to apple for GE. That's the first thing they ask for in the interview. You also have to put your passport number on your application. The number on your card and in your book are different.

since it was free i thought a good idea to get it but i guess has to be just precheck for now.

Do you use the passport card at MX/CA borders? GE would be helpful there on re-entry.

Or you could think of the $100 credit as a half-off-ish on a passport book / GE combo deal. IMO, it'd be worth it if you're going to travel outside the US at all in the next 5 years. At minimum, having a passport book means you can jump on any ridiculously cheap fare to Europe / Asia / etc right away (presuming it's a visa-free or visa-on-arrival country - there are something like 160 of those).

$145 passport (first time applicant includes $30 acceptance fee)
$100 GE
(100) Venture card credit
=====
$145 for 5 yr GE, 10 yr passport, pre-check

vs.

$85 pre-check 5 yr (No GE, no passport)

So $60 additional for a passport book and GE.


If you stretch it to 10 years, which would include 1 passport but 2 GE or pre-check apps, and presumably another credit card freebie 5 yrs down the road:

$260 passport (2x 110 passport + 30 acceptance)
$200 GE x 2
(200) Venture card credit x 2
=====
$260 for 10 yr GE, 10 yr passport, pre-check

vs.

$170 for 2x pre-check 5 yr (No GE, no passport)

So difference of $90 buys you passport book and 10 yr GE.

Oh, and GE card buys you Canada's version of pre-check if you end up flying there at all.