Is Global Entry worthwhile?
#2656
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
So I brought my 3 year old with me through global entry today and was then stopped by the card checker. He called a supervisor who told me I had violated the GE rules. I responded that the kiosk did not ask any questions about additional passengers. He then had my kid's passport scanned by an agent and directed me to fill out a customs card for her (apparently "one per family" doesn't apply when you are processed separately). Curious as to whether I will be flagged on my next solo entry...
Has anyone here been kicked out of GE?
Has anyone here been kicked out of GE?
Did you just walk your child through after you completed GE kiosk formalities for yourself? If so, then you indeed violated procedures, because your child would never have legally entered the United States (i.e. the child's passport was not scanned, until the officer caught you at the exit).
If you are traveling with somebody (even an infant) who is not eligible to use the kiosks, that person MUST go through regular passport control processing, including filling out a paper customs declaration. YES...even if it is your child and he or she is accompanying you. YES....even if that child is too young to fill out forms or travel without assistance. CBP needs to document the entry of every person into the United States, regardless of age.
Passport control is an individual processing. Customs is one paper form per family if using regular processing, but is individual processing for GE members using the kiosks.
You were in the wrong here. The CBP officers were correct, and you could have lost your GE membership then and there. And, frankly, it could have been a lot worse. In essence, you attempted to smuggle your child (could have been ANY child) into the United States without completing any entry formalities for the minor. There would have been no formal record of your child's return to the United States. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure that is a federal offense (violation of immigration regulations; even worse because a minor is involved).
You might be red-flagged in the future.
Last edited by ESpen36; Aug 13, 2012 at 8:36 pm
#2657
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,540
Did you just walk your child through after you completed GE kiosk formalities for yourself? If so, then you indeed violated procedures, because your child would never have legally entered the United States (i.e. the child's passport was not scanned, until the officer caught you at the exit).
If you are traveling with somebody (even an infant) who is not eligible to use the kiosks, that person MUST go through regular passport control processing, including filling out a paper customs declaration. YES...even if it is your child and he or she is accompanying you. YES....even if that child is too young to fill out forms or travel without assistance. CBP needs to document the entry of every person into the United States, regardless of age.
Passport control is an individual processing. Customs is one paper form per family if using regular processing, but is individual processing for GE members using the kiosks.
You were in the wrong here. The CBP officers were correct, and you could have lost your GE membership then and there. And, frankly, it could have been a lot worse. In essence, you attempted to smuggle your child (could have been ANY child) into the United States without completing any entry formalities for the minor. There would have been no formal record of your child's return to the United States. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure that is a federal offense (violation of immigration regulations; even worse because a minor is involved).
You might be red-flagged in the future.
If you are traveling with somebody (even an infant) who is not eligible to use the kiosks, that person MUST go through regular passport control processing, including filling out a paper customs declaration. YES...even if it is your child and he or she is accompanying you. YES....even if that child is too young to fill out forms or travel without assistance. CBP needs to document the entry of every person into the United States, regardless of age.
Passport control is an individual processing. Customs is one paper form per family if using regular processing, but is individual processing for GE members using the kiosks.
You were in the wrong here. The CBP officers were correct, and you could have lost your GE membership then and there. And, frankly, it could have been a lot worse. In essence, you attempted to smuggle your child (could have been ANY child) into the United States without completing any entry formalities for the minor. There would have been no formal record of your child's return to the United States. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure that is a federal offense (violation of immigration regulations; even worse because a minor is involved).
You might be red-flagged in the future.
But I do concur now it is supposed to be strictly forbidden.
Did the agent scan your passport in anyway? If not you are probably not red flagged.
#2658
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
Before they allowed kids younger than 14 in the program I took my infants through GE several times and got head of the line on others when travelling with adult family and the kids. Now, it is expressly prohibited but before they added the under 14rule while you were not supposed to bring your kids many agents did allow it and there are many stories written on this site of it happening. I actually had an agent in Newark see my GE sticker from 30 feet away and pull us all out of line to the front. YMMV.
Front of line, perhaps. But they still had to be processed.
OT: Makes me wonder how it works if you fly to Canada or Mexico and then drive back over the border (where the agent usually just glances at you and waves you through, without swiping your passport into the system). How would the CBP computer system know you had returned Stateside? Could foul things up the next time you try to leave the country by air and and the airline swipes your passport for APIS purposes prior to boarding pass issuance.
(Or are all U.S. land border stations swiping individual passports/WHTI-complaint documents for each and every traveler nowadays?)
#2659
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,907
Front of line, perhaps. But they still had to be processed.
OT: Makes me wonder how it works if you fly to Canada or Mexico and then drive back over the border (where the agent usually just glances at you and waves you through, without swiping your passport into the system). How would the CBP computer system know you had returned Stateside? Could foul things up the next time you try to leave the country by air and and the airline swipes your passport for APIS purposes prior to boarding pass issuance.
(Or are all U.S. land border stations swiping individual passports/WHTI-complaint documents for each and every traveler nowadays?)
OT: Makes me wonder how it works if you fly to Canada or Mexico and then drive back over the border (where the agent usually just glances at you and waves you through, without swiping your passport into the system). How would the CBP computer system know you had returned Stateside? Could foul things up the next time you try to leave the country by air and and the airline swipes your passport for APIS purposes prior to boarding pass issuance.
(Or are all U.S. land border stations swiping individual passports/WHTI-complaint documents for each and every traveler nowadays?)
#2660
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
The U.S. government does not track whether its citizens are outside or inside the country. It only matches arrivals through manifests of ships and planes, and requires airlines to report U.S. citizens' departures, and whatever itinerary information associated with their arrivals.
So the government would not care if you left by air, then returned by land or sea without a passport scan, and then tried to board another international flight to leave again? Or would the system be flagged because there was no record of you returning before departing again? (assuming a US Citizen/LPR)
#2661
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,907
So the government would not care if you left by air, then returned by land or sea without a passport scan, and then tried to board another international flight to leave again? Or would the system be flagged because there was no record of you returning before departing again? (assuming a US Citizen/LPR)
The U.S. Government requires airlines to collect immigration stubs from foreigners flying out of the country and collect information of citizens boarding an international flight. These data are not part of APIS and most likely are processed at a slower pace--at least for the paper stubs.
#2662
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,540
Front of line, perhaps. But they still had to be processed.
OT: Makes me wonder how it works if you fly to Canada or Mexico and then drive back over the border (where the agent usually just glances at you and waves you through, without swiping your passport into the system). How would the CBP computer system know you had returned Stateside? Could foul things up the next time you try to leave the country by air and and the airline swipes your passport for APIS purposes prior to boarding pass issuance.
(Or are all U.S. land border stations swiping individual passports/WHTI-complaint documents for each and every traveler nowadays?)
OT: Makes me wonder how it works if you fly to Canada or Mexico and then drive back over the border (where the agent usually just glances at you and waves you through, without swiping your passport into the system). How would the CBP computer system know you had returned Stateside? Could foul things up the next time you try to leave the country by air and and the airline swipes your passport for APIS purposes prior to boarding pass issuance.
(Or are all U.S. land border stations swiping individual passports/WHTI-complaint documents for each and every traveler nowadays?)
When I had another non GE adult with me we were processed
#2663
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,540
So the government would not care if you left by air, then returned by land or sea without a passport scan, and then tried to board another international flight to leave again? Or would the system be flagged because there was no record of you returning before departing again? (assuming a US Citizen/LPR)
I've used one way tickets, official passports and tourist passports and dual citizen passports to travel and it is not all linked or tracked. Yes there are systems in place where countries share certain passport information, but that does not normally constiture any exit swipes (for the few places that actually swipe). Also, the US is not good at tracking exit controls via air (especially with airline reporting systems varying amongst carriers), and does not via land in most cases.
Even passport stamps are not a good indication for reasons too many to note here.
#2664
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
The U.S. Government requires airlines to collect immigration stubs from foreigners flying out of the country and collect information of citizens boarding an international flight. These data are not part of APIS and most likely are processed at a slower pace--at least for the paper stubs.
Actually, "information of citizens boarding an international flight" is definitely part of APIS. Look here for the complete details (PDF from the Federal Register).
Note that it says that APIS "requires that electronic manifest information for passengers onboard commercial aircraft arriving in and departing from the United States...be vetted by DHS against a government-established and maintained terrorist watch list prior to departure of the aircraft"
(bold emphasis mine)
#2665
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,900
GE saved my butt at EWR a few days ago.
Late arriving flight from MAN (thanks, UA!!). Lines were massive. Walked right up to a Kiosk and after fighting with the "improved" fingerprint scanners that DON'T WORK (CBP, is anyone working on this problem you introduced??) I whizzed through. Got to the customs station and lines were again massive. Don't know if I was supposed to, but saw "GLOBAL ENTRY EXIT" sign with an arrow, cut in line and got right through.
Made my connection to ORD with literally one minute to spare, lacking GE I'd never have made it.
Late arriving flight from MAN (thanks, UA!!). Lines were massive. Walked right up to a Kiosk and after fighting with the "improved" fingerprint scanners that DON'T WORK (CBP, is anyone working on this problem you introduced??) I whizzed through. Got to the customs station and lines were again massive. Don't know if I was supposed to, but saw "GLOBAL ENTRY EXIT" sign with an arrow, cut in line and got right through.
Made my connection to ORD with literally one minute to spare, lacking GE I'd never have made it.
#2666
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
#2667
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,900
#2668
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,540
Actually, "information of citizens boarding an international flight" is definitely part of APIS. Look here for the complete details (PDF from the Federal Register).
Note that it says that APIS "requires that electronic manifest information for passengers onboard commercial aircraft arriving in and departing from the United States...be vetted by DHS against a government-established and maintained terrorist watch list prior to departure of the aircraft"
(bold emphasis mine)
Note that it says that APIS "requires that electronic manifest information for passengers onboard commercial aircraft arriving in and departing from the United States...be vetted by DHS against a government-established and maintained terrorist watch list prior to departure of the aircraft"
(bold emphasis mine)
Also, one does not need to fill out APIS info for all transit avenues out of the United States.
#2669
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
GE saved my butt at EWR a few days ago.
Late arriving flight from MAN (thanks, UA!!). Lines were massive. Walked right up to a Kiosk and after fighting with the "improved" fingerprint scanners that DON'T WORK (CBP, is anyone working on this problem you introduced??) I whizzed through. Got to the customs station and lines were again massive. Don't know if I was supposed to, but saw "GLOBAL ENTRY EXIT" sign with an arrow, cut in line and got right through.
Made my connection to ORD with literally one minute to spare, lacking GE I'd never have made it.
Late arriving flight from MAN (thanks, UA!!). Lines were massive. Walked right up to a Kiosk and after fighting with the "improved" fingerprint scanners that DON'T WORK (CBP, is anyone working on this problem you introduced??) I whizzed through. Got to the customs station and lines were again massive. Don't know if I was supposed to, but saw "GLOBAL ENTRY EXIT" sign with an arrow, cut in line and got right through.
Made my connection to ORD with literally one minute to spare, lacking GE I'd never have made it.
Just a suggestion with the fingerprint scanners: PRESS HARD on the reader. Since the "improved" scanners were introduced, I have to press with almost my full wrist strength in order to get an "Excellent" reading on all four fingers. YMMV.
#2670
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,715
Did you just walk your child through after you completed GE kiosk formalities for yourself? If so, then you indeed violated procedures, because your child would never have legally entered the United States (i.e. the child's passport was not scanned, until the officer caught you at the exit).
If you are traveling with somebody (even an infant) who is not eligible to use the kiosks, that person MUST go through regular passport control processing, including filling out a paper customs declaration. YES...even if it is your child and he or she is accompanying you. YES....even if that child is too young to fill out forms or travel without assistance. CBP needs to document the entry of every person into the United States, regardless of age.
Passport control is an individual processing. Customs is one paper form per family if using regular processing, but is individual processing for GE members using the kiosks.
You were in the wrong here. The CBP officers were correct, and you could have lost your GE membership then and there. And, frankly, it could have been a lot worse. In essence, you attempted to smuggle your child (could have been ANY child) into the United States without completing any entry formalities for the minor. There would have been no formal record of your child's return to the United States. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure that is a federal offense (violation of immigration regulations; even worse because a minor is involved).
You might be red-flagged in the future.
If you are traveling with somebody (even an infant) who is not eligible to use the kiosks, that person MUST go through regular passport control processing, including filling out a paper customs declaration. YES...even if it is your child and he or she is accompanying you. YES....even if that child is too young to fill out forms or travel without assistance. CBP needs to document the entry of every person into the United States, regardless of age.
Passport control is an individual processing. Customs is one paper form per family if using regular processing, but is individual processing for GE members using the kiosks.
You were in the wrong here. The CBP officers were correct, and you could have lost your GE membership then and there. And, frankly, it could have been a lot worse. In essence, you attempted to smuggle your child (could have been ANY child) into the United States without completing any entry formalities for the minor. There would have been no formal record of your child's return to the United States. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure that is a federal offense (violation of immigration regulations; even worse because a minor is involved).
You might be red-flagged in the future.
I take issue your bold assertion that I somehow tried to "smuggle my child into the US". First of all she is a US citizen and constitutionally entitled to enter the US as she wishes. Second as others have noted she would not even be asked to show ID at a land border. Third her entry was open and notorious, not hidden from anyone and I specifically mentioned it to the CBP officer who took my form.
I will certainly do my best to follow the rules but CBP needs to update its website and kiosk so that everyone knows the rules.