From an email I got from aa and in a thread over in the aa forum, the test program will be for dfw and atl.
Correction: I misread, dfw and mia.

The CNN article indicates MIA and DTW will be part of the program as well. The email I got from DL mentions both ATL and DTW, but there's nothing about the AA hub cities, which isn't surprising. I usually only transit through ATL so really there's not much in it for me in the short-term. My hope is that when and if the program expands, those with GE/Sentri/Nexus will have a short-cut for admission to a trusted traveler program since we all went through a semi-rigorous background checks already. The details of the pilot lead me to believe that this is a possibility.

Glad I applied before this PR :).

Good news if this pilot program is a success and expanded!

Getting Global Entry?
 

In another thread about the TSA's "trusted traveler" program, I noted that, if it piggybacked on one of CBP's TT programs, I'd make a quick trip to MCO to get Global Entry. I have some questions for those of you who have been there, done that, and I ask forgiveness now for sounding like a total newbie:

I'm a natural-born US citizen with no criminal record, and my fingerprints are already "in the system" from having been fingerprinted to work for a public school district. I've taken a handful of "drug tests" for employment, and I've passed every single one.

According to globalentry.gov, you can be denied if you "Cannot satisfy CBP of their low-risk status (e.g. CBP has intelligence that indicates that the applicant is not low risk; CBP cannot determine an applicant's criminal, residence or employment history)"

Here are my big questions:

- Is the face-to-face interview performed by a courteous, reasonable professional who wants to qualify you? Or by mall-security reject with a big ego and an itchy trigger finger who wants to deport you? How does one dress for the interview? Business casual? Suit and tie?

- My leaving-the-country history is quite small; in fact, my 2008 passport doesn't even have any stamps yet. Will this be held against me? Or do I have to give a reason for wanting Global Entry? A reason wouldn't be too hard: "I have several relatives who live abroad, and now that I have enough money and vacation time to travel abroad, I hope to start doing it. This wasn't the case until just about now, thus, the sparse travel history."

- The only beef they'll find on me, if they're willing to do some Googling and general Internet sleuthing, is that I'm on the record as having far-left political views (by US standards) and being strongly critical of such sacred institutions as the TSA/CBP/ICE/DHS/DEA/FBI/CIA/NSA, US foreign policy, and US health care policy.

So...would they have any reasons to disqualify me?

Thanks!

At YYZ Nexus members don't wait to see an immigration officer (as they do at YUL); rather, they go directly to the customs officer after the kiosk. What "Nexus line" did you take?

Sorry I wasn't clear, it was an international connection direct to the US flight. Once you are through the glass doors, there is a break in the cord, and a little sign with nexus on it pointing to the right. There are two machines, but the agents nearby regularly check for someone on line there and takes them before anyone off the regular line.

If I pay the fifteen USD for the card, then the line dragons outside the glassed in area will more readily let me skip that line entirely and walk right into the right side lines for nexus. The line outside can get long when bags come off for the flight, or a new flight arrives.

You'll be fine.

There's another thread that answers all your questions and then some.

But the interview takes place after you've already been essentially approved. And it's a CBP agent who's working the desk that day (or week) instead of stamping passports. I wouldn't dress like a slob, but it's not a job interview.

You don't really need a reason, but yours sounds good.

I had one stamp in my passport when I applied (Canada), but had no problems with the CBP agent. He was very friendly, and explained all of the rules, and then how to use the kiosk, etc.. I just went in wearing jeans and a t-shirt. No problems there :)

My CBP interview for Global Entry was perhaps the best interaction I've ever had with a government official. He was professional but friendly, and the few questions he did ask me all had obvious and reasonable connections to an effort to determine my eligibility for the program. I'm anything but CBP's biggest fan, but from my experience (and that of others who have posted here, it seems), they're getting the Global Entry screening process right thus far.

Thank you one and all for your answers!

I've filled out most of the application online; I just need to go home and dig out my passport. I won't pull the real trigger until I see solid evidence that the TSA is actually using CBP Trusted Traveler cards to allow you to clear "security" without a shoe carnival, NoS, or Freedom Grope.

I have yet another question. If my wife and I both want Global Entry, is it possible to schedule interviews for the same day so we can make only one trip to Orlando?

For that matter, my parents live in the same city as me. If they want in, could we get four interviews the same day and make it a four-person trip?

I just applied for the new GE RFID card today. It's not as simple as logging on and requesting the card. It takes you through all the screens of the original application and although some fields are pre-filled, you still have to re-enter some info such as countries visited in the last 5 years. I just figured that if they are issuing the card for all new members, eventually CBP will require the early members to get the card. Besides, I will be able to use the Nexus machines.

Yep, just went through this process as well... surprised me to have to go through this process again, but happy to do it if it means I'm getting broader benefits with the card!

My girlfriend's GE application was conditionally approved on 7/11, and she's going in next week for her interview. She'll be right on the borderline of when the new RFID card program started. Will report back if she got the new RFID card.

My reading of the July 12 announcement is that your girlfriend WILL be eligible for the RFID card, as her 'approval' will be post-July 12 (you are not approved until passing the interview). I am in the same boat; conditionally approved (for NEXUS) May, interview July 20 in Toronto.

Sorry if this has been covered but I'm a little confused about whether the GE card can be used for entering Canada by land. The website says it can be used for entry into the US from Canada by air (thus I assume GE card is fine for Canada->USA land crossing)... but what about the other way around?