For those using IAH I learned something new today, even after socres of uses of GE at IAH for me. If you use the kiosks at the west end (the end closest to where the jet bridge tunnels bring you into the customs hall next to the crew APEC, int'l connection lanes) you actually have to present your passport and receipt to the agent right there after you leave the machines.

I normally use the machines on the other end, or used the center machines when they were still there on the north side. For these you'd walk downstairs, past the bag belts and then out not giving a receipt until downstairs. I used these even with no checked bags. Well today the airport "Red coat" said I should go to the other kiosks since I had no bags. THe CBP agent stopped me and said he needed to see my passport. I was not aware of that. He took my reciept right there and there are stairs right there that go down and snake through the secondary pits, and take you out behind the normal exit lines.

News to me, though even faster than using the others on the other end.

Sounds like the sticker is not particularly important. Nor do they place it always in the same place. My sticker was placed on the inner side of the back cover, and my wife's sticker was placed on the back cover adjacent to all those little security stickers accumulated over the years.

You don't peel off those security stickers? Oh wait. I haven't either. I have two. :)

My wife and I had a bad/good experience at IAH.

We used the 'far side' kiosks last week at IAH immigration.

As we walked on through the open turnstile after getting or receipts from the kiosk, the ICE guy working the diplomat line yelled at us to stop and show him our passports and receipts. He opened our passports and looked at them despite the CBP stickers on the front. :rolleyes:

To his credit, at least he made the diplomats wait while he did this.

He made up for this breach of procedure, however, by telling us about the GE-only customs line. We thought it odd because we've never had to wait much for customs at other airports, but getting downstairs, the customs line stretched the entire length of the bag belt hall. It was easily a half-hour to 45 minute line!

As we made our way up to the GE line (on the right hand side) about half way there an ICE ICE lady asked to see our GE receipt and when we showed them she said 'I bet you're happy to have those today!' and my wife said 'we LOVE Global Entry.' and the ICE lady said 'Well we love you guys too!' :)

We were able to walk directly up to an ICE guy and hand our receipts and barely even slow down. We overheard some folks to our left saying 'What the hell...that must be a VIP line or something...'

I WANTED to tell them that for a Benjamin or so they could be VIPs, too, but we were already out of the customs hall and on our way! :D

We'll be coming in to IAH again on Monday, and we'll try your 'close side' route. ^

I usually go down that route everytime, even without bags. The other side was for no bags only but it was quick. the CBP agent was adiment he always needed to "check and see the passports" to which I replied that had not happened in over 40 uses of it for me. He seemed vexed but check my bio page agianst the receipt and let me go. It seems GE rules get "tweeked" fairly often as i read this thread and use other airports.

Applied 5/29, conditionally approved 6/22, completed my interview during lunch today, 6/28 (although I could have easily have booked 6/23... plenty of spots).

Interview was at JFK Terminal 4 in arrivals (no need to go through security). I arrived about an hour early, since it's always a hedge how long it takes to get to JFK. Walked into the enrollment center and there were 5 CBP agents. They had no issues with taking me early. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes.

Folks were friendly and professional. I highly recommend JFK T4 as a place to do your interview if you're in the NYC area.

What is the bad part of your experience? If it is about your ego because you were challenged.... well.... deal with it.

It is always advisable to carry the receipt with your passport. Helps expedite the process. So what if some asks to see the bio page. what's the big deal? How do the CBP officers know you haven't swapped your receipt with someone else along the way....? It is possible....

Of course, you always have the chance to start an argument with one of the CBP officers about proper SOPs or just go along with the requests. I take the latter. If you want to be seen as special, fly a corporate jet ;)

cheers...

--J

When I went for my interview at JFK T4, finding GE station was the tricky part. It is right near the area where luggage re-check takes place--once you get there the GE sign is easily seen.
I also got there early, but had to wait until my assigned time; there was one GE agent and he eventually appeared.:) This was about 15 months ago, and GE was just getting started. (I received my "initial" clearance on a Friday, and scheduled my interview, for Monday, every time slot had availability.)

Yep, I entered at the other end of the arrivals terminal and wandered around a bit until I saw it.
http://www.leesoft.com/temp/flyertalk/globalentry.jpg

Your picture is different from the place I went to do my interview and when I had them put a sticker on the new pp I received. Is that still near the baggage re-check area?

Maybe it's different now? It's right near the meeting point in arrivals. If you walk into the terminal via the entrance near passenger pickup A, and you'll see it easily. If you enter near pickup D, you'll have to walk across the terminal to get to it and you won't spot it until you get all the way to the end of the terminal and turn around.

It's a very barebones office... maybe 6 desks in close proximity and a training machine in there as well.

The GE I went to was behind a wall, adjacent to it was the baggage re-check area, and next to GE was another room (with a separate door), for some other INS function. The area I interviewed in had an agent at the front desk, and another room with one or two desks beyond him.

When Mrs. & I had our Nexus/GE interview they told us that when our passports expire we can just register the new ones online, BUT when our drivers licenses expire we have to go to a Nexus/GE office to have the DL info updated. Is this correct?

I would assume this is correct, since the goes website does offer an option online to change my passport information, but not to change my drivers license! But if in doubt, call the enrollment center. Some people have had luck with faxing in copies of documents.

Yes when I added a Canadian DL, I had to go in person (no appointment req for me @YVR) Passport can be done online.