Thank you. I appreciate the clarification.

A year ago, a collaboration on Global Entry between the USA and Germany was announced. Since then.. dead silence.

Does anybody know if there is anything more to happen regarding this?

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1271334386754.shtm

On the web page www.globalentry.gov/benefits.html it states that one benefit of GE is:

'Access to expedited entry benefits in other countries'

Does anyone know what that means?

Question.. I applied through GOES about 10 days ago and this morning I got an email telling me my status has changed and that I should login for more info. I logged in... there was no message in my Inbox but my application status had changed to Conditionally Approved and there was a link to set up the interview. I scheduled an appointment at SEA for this Friday.

But on the interview confirmation that I printed it tells me I must bring my passport and "A copy of your Conditional Approval Notification". I visited the step by step Powerpoint on the Global Entry website and I see that I should have received a message in my inbox called "Conditional Approval Notification". I've checked my account several times today and I still do not have this notice. Obviously I was approved otherwise I wouldn't have been able to set up an interview.. it's odd they would require me to bring their notice.

Am I going to have problems if I never get this message in my GOES inbox? I printed the interview confirmation that has my application ID printed on it.

Check your junk mail but the passport and ID are the key items you'll need

Maybe a javascript problem with your browser. In any case, wife and I signed up separately and neither one was asked for the letter. Just a waste of 5 pages to print each of them.

The inbox I was referring to is the GOES Inbox... not my email box. There is no junk folder

Good to know thanks.. I don't think it's a Java problem because when I login to GOES it tells me straight up that I have no messages.

I just went through the whole process within the last couple of weeks... got my approval letter about a week ago. Anyway, when I arrived at the interview *with* my conditional approval letter printout, the agent there seemed surprised, and said something to the effect of "wow, somebody who actually knows how to follow instructions". I don't remember exactly what it was he said, but it certainly suggested that the vast majority of applicants *don't* bring the letter.

I don't know about how their web system works, but I wonder if this is a case of the system genterating the email instantly, but for whatever reason the document generation is lagging slightly. I would just wait a day and check again. Especially if you looked for the document as soon as you received the email. And if it never shows up... you'll probably be alright anyway.

It's normal for the letter to show up in your inbox (on GEOS) three or four days after you get the email notification. Some people have their interview before it ever shows up.

joe

Claiming baggage
 

I just recently used Global Entry for the first time. I did not have to claim my baggage and recheck it. Was this a fluke, or did I just get lucky and the airline rechecked it for me. Talk about saving time!

Did someone at the airport tell you that you didn't have to claim your luggage? I didn't think that was a benefit of Global Entry...you just get to skip the passport line and use a special customs line, but you should still need to claim your bags. I say fluke, and you're lucky.

I checked my inbox this morning and the letter was there.. so I will bring it with me. Thanks!

So I applied on 4/11, and mine STILL says 'pending review', is it normal for it to be taking this long?

I don't know what "normal" is for their processing time, but it only took about 5 business days for my application to be "conditionally approved". Perhaps you have a more, ahem, "complicated" history?