drewguy

Did you authorize location services? (I've found a lot of apps give generic error messages like that if at some point you denied access to location).

Or it could be just crappy app'ing.

zig666

yes. Location permission is granted. So not sure what’s off. Also annoying is that for every try you have to retake the picture. Seems silly.

pprrff

I wonder if anyone else sees the possibility of an issue with handing out your device in an unlocked state to CBP.

YVR Cockroach

Well, maybe one has to get a burner just for this purpose.

TWA884

What makes the two of you think that you have to hand your phone over to a CBP officer? Once the submission is made, the phone is going to display a receipt, a five digits number and a photo, which is then shown to the CBP officer. The latter is no different than when using a Mobile Passport Control App and showing the CBP officer the QR code. My hunch is that your GE information will appear on the CBP officer's tablet at the exit from the GE kiosk area, just as it is displayed when a passenger uses a facial recognition kiosk.

Silver Fox

I can't think of anything that bothers me so long as they restrict themselves to the CBP app.

LCSinTexas

Being a security specialist and very prone to over-think security, I back up my phone, wipe it and only install what I need on it for my trip. After the trip I restore it.

I know, but that is how I roll.

LcS

PS. Or use an older phone for the trip, similarly backed up and wiped.

drewguy

It's the "so long as" part . . . if one is worried about these things, if the CBP officer is holding your phone there's nothing that would necessarily restrict them from checking out other things.

That said, I didn't have to hand over my phone - I showed the QR code IIRC, if I even had to do that (I was prepared to)

Silver Fox

I'd definitely say something to them if I suspected they were doing anything other than that. Could they legally do that without a warrant though? Or ask you to unlock it? I realise I have no clue of my rights entering the US, or any other country if it comes to that!

TWA884

We are drifting from the topic of this thread.

Please discuss this topic in the following thread in the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum:TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator

eng3

I tried the app today. It took my photo (I could see myself) but there was no photo on the screen, just black.
so they processed me manually.

Any idea what may have gone wrong?

tuquee

An update to the Global Entry mobile app was released this week. Version 1.2.0 now supports group submissions, with up to 11 additional people in one GE submission.

There's also a number of other minor improvements, including adding the city name to the port list.

corporate-wage-slave

My first experience using the App today, at the CBP's sleepiest backwater, namely Shannon (SNN), a pre-clearance location which at this time of year just a single flight to JFK and another to BOS. And they are both Aer Lingus A321 neo LR, so it's not going to be a huge number of users of any sort. Indeed even these flights were less than half full as far as I could tell. In this context I'm a UK citizen, GE for a very long time. But I travel on a visa rather than ESTA, which can confuse matters since there are 3 categories of entry: two types of business and one for leisure. However the App simply allows me to pick the right category in advance.

Having read this thread, I had previously downloaded the App and got it all working and on the update version before I got to Co. Clare. SNN now has CT scanners and scan wall, which are adapted to both USA and EU standards, so there is a single main security check point rather than a second security check just before CBP. Very quick, all liquids allowed, nothing out of bags, and no need to take off shoes. So I got to the Burren Lounge in good time and waited for the New York flight to get their passengers through pre-clearance, the BOS service departing 45 minutes later. Just as I was wrapping up my lounge visit, I went to the App and took my selfie photo, with the lounge wall as my background. The photo came up (there was an Android "allow in app" authorisation for camera access to the app - this may explain a problem mentioned above) and my photo came through on the screen. I decided I looked a bit too stern in that photo, so I discarded it for a second photo with a gentle smile. Submitted and given 60 minutes to go through pre-clearance.

I then went to the pre-clearance area, but via the water refiller, so arrived about 5 minutes after submitting the photo. Went via the Global Entry lane, the only user, and I walked past 3 unused new photo screens. The CBP agent tried to keep me walking straight through and there was no need to show the app or indeed a passport, let alone the visa : "Mr CWS, do you have any checked luggage?" (Nope, but there's a scan photo that agents can load for the customs side. And they knew who I was). Then "Do you have anything to declare?" (it's been years since I've asked that question). The agent had clearly clearly checked everything else before I arrived, and I was through within seconds, barely breaking my stride.

Overall the app was very easy to use and worked very efficiently, and gets around some of the problems of the photo-recognition machines, namely being set too low and not allowing entry category. In other words Aer Lingus' checks on my passport were more elaborate, at least on the paper side, than the CBP.

danib62

Used the app for me and Mrs arriving in MIA today. Worked as expected. There was a line by the one agent at the tablet. He called people who used the machine up by name but if you used the app you had to show it to him and get waved through.

Not sure it saved us much time as there wasn’t a line at the kiosks at all. Even if there was it was maybe a minute or two. Still a nice to have feature just in case there is a backup at the kiosk. I feel like the current GE setup is so efficient already that there are rarely backups at any phase.

Silver Fox

My first experience of trying to use it was unsuccessful at LAS. I forget the exact text of the error message but it was after the selfie stage and the submission. Tried several times and got the same error so thoughtI would use the kiosks but because I had a failure, you can;t use them there either. Chatting to the CBP agent at LAS her words were that the "app is useless" and mostly doesn't work. And she said that one you get the first error you are doomed to have to get manually processed by an agent. Given this I will just head for the kiosks next time and not bother with the app.