Aer Lingus probably won't need them for long more because it'll just put everyone through preclearance.

In most states pleading "no contest" is functionally equivalent to pleading guilty.

Would be fun if Europe could have something like that for EU/EEA citizens as well. I know CDG and LHR have something every EU/EEA citizens can sign up for, but it is like you have to be there to sign up for it and it is not any EU wide program in place.

Is it really needed? I rarely have to wait in line that long at intra-EU checkpoints, and when I get to the top it is rarely more than a minute. Most countries just look at my Irish passport and wave me through, and even the few countries that scan it in don't generally keep me very long.

The slowest by far is the UK, and for this purpose I am an IRIS member.

Just another data point for reference:
Applied 4/14 and am "pending review" as of this morning.

Will update when I finish the process.

At my interview, I specifically asked the agent what the criteria for acceptance was with regard to past convictions... he stated that a misdemeanor within the past 10 years or a felony at any time in the past would disqualify an applicant.

Our First Use of GE
 

Was at BOS Logan yesterday afternoon. There wasn't much of a line in any event, but my wife and I used the kiosks... very quick process. The machine knew which flight we had arrived on... how so? Is this simply due to the advanced passenger reporting?

In any event, we simply waited longer at the luggage carousel, but if this had been a carry-on only flight, it would have been very rapid.

Data Point
 

Hello,

I applied on GOES on 8 APR and got my notification to schedule an interview on 12 FEB.

I live in Macon, GA so the ATL interview office made sense. I was given the option of an office just outside of the airport (off cargo loop rd exit of I-75) since I wouldn't be flying in. However, I had left over vouchers for the Macon to ATL airport shuttle and hate driving to Atlanta so I opted for Concourse E office at ATL on 14 APR. I took the 11am shuttle up and arrived at 12:10. the TSA had my name on a list to get through security. They took a few minutes because my GE invite letter didn't have a number on it that they thought it should. I went through the TSA security and took the underground train to Concourse E arriving at 12:36pm. My interview was at 2pm so I grabbed a bite to eat and a beer or two at Sojourner's, they have free wi-fi for customers.

I went to the customs information desk just inside the TSA checkpoint for inbound international flights at 1:40pm. The lady at the desk told me to come back in 20 minutes because they were backed up trying to work in some unscheduled walk ins. I came back and was given a security pass and directed around the TSA and shown to the office. The interview was very relaxed. I began listing my traffic tickets from way back and the interviewer told me he was only interested in things that involve getting arrested and that if they were older than 10 years they might be able to work it out (I had no arrests, but I know some here have asked about it so I let him talk). The lady who was in the same room as I got held back by the customs agents because of "a problem with her fingerprints". They looked very serious and I think her day ended up being worse than mine. I finished with the demo about 2:30 and wanted to make the 3pm shuttle back to Macon. I wasn't counting on having to pass through the TSA at Concourse E since I had been escorted the whole time, but I was able to get through quickly and made it back out to ground transportation by 2:58pm.

Mission accomplished

When one flies internationally the airlines provide a passenger manifest to CBP.

More than just being "like" it -- it is it! At least for the LHR program (IRIS) you have to apply in person.

Indeed, entering the U.K. is usually pretty bad, especially if you arrive past noon and hence can't use FasTrak.

Within the E.U. it's usually quick, depending on how early off the plane you are/how many people from your or other flights are in line ahead of you.

Oddly, entering BUD took a few seconds, but leaving took most of an hour. Entering, the agent just scanned and glanced, but leaving, the agent studied every page of everyone's passport.

They know all sorts of stuff. Reports (including some FoIA requests) indicate they know all your past travels; how much you paid for your tickets; if you used cash or a credit card; when you bought the ticket; etc.

The other things I can understand, but FoIA requests? If the consequence of excersicing you rights under the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) is a denial to GE, then the information is not free anymore.

His point was not (I think) that prior FoIA requests are relevant to GE (I doubt they care) but rather that some people have made FoIA requests on the files that the TSA/Customs/etc keep on them, and that those show just how extensive the information that the government already has (and will then be using it to evaluate you for GE.)

Exactly. Thank you.

Well, if that is so, then doesn't it mean that people who have made FoIA requests regarding what information the TSA/Customs/etc. has on them, effects CBP decision (perhaps negatively) on wheather to grant GE membership to an applicant or not? Otherwise, why would the CBP have such "reports" on FoIA requests, if they do not care anyway?

Isn't this inherently against the sprit of the FoIA to begin with? Here is a link to a government website that has a video on it, where a lady describes FoIA like this: "The Congress, the President and the Supreme Court have all recognized that FoIA is a vital part of our democracy". http://www.foia.gov/about.html

I think you're misunderstanding the previous poster's response. The point he was making was that if you do an FoIA request for your own CBP/TSA/etc records, you will be able to see all the information that CBP will have available to them when you do a GE application. No one here has implied that CBP will know or care that you've done such a request.

joe