Newbie NEXUS/GE/IRIS person here with some thoughts
 

Signed up for IRIS last year. Did the whole NEXUS to GE transition at the begining of the year. Haven't used NEXUS yet but have use GE twice and IRIS a few times. As previous people have caught on, the kiosk process for NEXUS asks 'hard' food questions versus GE's specific ingredients based question. Based on my experiences and my chat with the NEXUS office, NEXUS is on paper (or screen) tougher about food than GE.

The first time I used GE, I said yes to the dairy/eggs question as I had a belgian waffle with me (not processed but packaged). After the paper came out with the big X on it, gave it to the CBP agent behind the kiosk and asked what I had. He said, "That's it?" and stamped my paper and I left for customs. The CBP person at customs didn't notice the stamp at first and started scratching his head. Once I pointed to it, he gave me the singal to head on out.

I agree with the theme - better to be safe than sorry. Even with the X or the NEXUS equivalent, sounds like you have an easy out if you explain what caused it.

Nothing better than seeing the US line 5 rows deep and 2 empty kisoks calling your name. Happy trails!

Using the GE kiosk at ORD on Monday, I had problems with the correct pressure of my fingers on the scanner and before I could do the adjustments, the machine went on to the next screen and at the end, I received my receipt with the big "X". So I had to see the CBP officer at the regular line but fortunately he let me cut in line. Today, I received an email from [email protected] noting that I have difficulties with one of their kiosk and wanted my comments on how to improve the machine. I think they are serious about getting the program to work correctly.

Alas as Geneva Flyer knew, I was not able to do my GE interview in AMS on Saturday as the Privium lounge is closed on the weekends.
I have my interview set for this Tuesday the 2nd in ATL.
Can't wait to use it on my return from LIR!

I have just been through this process, so let me clear up a few mistakes or outdated info in this thread:

Privium is open to EU citizens and now also to US citizens who have already been accepted to the GOES program.

There WAS a CBP officer in AMS until 24.2 and he will not be back until end April or May.

Normal process for US Citizens: Sign up for GOES (checking that you want FLUX, i.e. Privium also), perform GOES interview, recieve GOES sticker in passport, perform Privium interview and iris scan.

WHEN a CBP officer is "in residence" in AMS, this may all be completed there, if you ask for the FLUX interview. They will NOT let you have the Privium interview and scan until you have the CBP sticker from GOES in your passport. So for US passport holders, this means that you have to have a trip to the US before completing the process in AMS.

Just a warning. Membership in the GOES program means that if CBP ever catches you out on something, they will throw the book at you. They were very explicit with this. They call it a "trusted program" and if you cheat, they will nail you to the wall.

Thanks for the clarifications.

I am unsure about this last paragraph in your post. What are you implying?

That its very unlikely they'd go easy on you if you "forget" something when responding to the questions on the machine as you re-enter the country.

I was also warned in the interview that it is a one-strike policy - the first time you falsify information, even if inadvertent, results in removal from the GE program. The CBP officer also said that, due to the intent of the program, anyone caught breaking the rules would be prosecuted to the fullest extent permitted, specifically stating there would be criminal consequences, not just a simple fine.

Per the food/chocolate discussion upthread, I got the X today because of chocolate in DTW. I figured it was dairy, and may have nuts, so I clicked yes. They were great about rushing me through, and told me I got X'd 'cause of that answer. They weren't really sure that chocolate counted as food, but I guess I'll check that every time just to stay within the rules.

I always bring chocolate back from Europe, so I guess I'll be seeing a lot of X's.

They weren't sure. . . :rolleyes:

Chocolate is the ONLY food. Everything else is just supplements.

Just to be clear (at the risk of sounding like a broken record, but I think it's essential that we be clear for those who read this thread seeking accurate info):

- there is no such thing as a "GOES program" (at least not from the traveler perspective)
- there is no such thing as a "GOES interview" (at least not from the traveler perspective)
- there is no such thing as a "GOES sticker"


GOES is not a trusted traveler program. GOES is nothing more than a web application/portal used for applying for various trusted traveler programs, including GlobalEntry, the topic of this thread.

- there IS a GlobalEntry program
- there IS a GlobalEntry interview
- there IS a "CBP" sticker issued to GlobalEntry members

Please, everyone, let's get our terminology clear!

^^ +1

Customs actually had a booth at the New York Times Travel Show promoting the Global Entry Program (and other stuff). When I passed by they had a couple people willing to write the application fee checks right there, they were so interested in the program. :D

another sticker report: At DTW, white CBP sticker was placed on inside back cover of my passport.

also, another nice thing about NEXUS, which I hadn't really known about, was that it works for entry into Canada from ANY country, not just the US. So it's like Global Entry for Canada, I guess. It makes transiting through much easier now.

First time GE at ORD: A little NEXUS to GE glitch?
 

Hi Collective Wisdom:

On Saturday, 20 February, 2010, NRT-ORD about 4:30PM. Tried out GE for the first time using my greencard. System told me that I was not a GE member. CBP agent was right there and did my entry by "hand" (I had filled out my blue card on the plane as a back up). Had some time to kill so I went to the CBP office in T5 after rechecking my bags. Very nice officer on duty. He told me that the GE folks do not work on Saturdays but he was willing to see what he could do. He handed my greencard and Canadian passport over to another nice officer. I had printouts of both my NEXUS and GE acceptance letters and my NEXUS card with me but they didn't want/need to deal with them. Waited about ten minutes and the second officer came back with my greencard (with a spiffy little sticker attached) and my passport.

Turns out that during my NEXUS YYZ interview (before I applied via GOES for my GE), that the YYZ CBP officer did not "register" my greencard into the system. Got my NEXUS card in early Jan and then did the online "upgrade" to GE with almost instant acceptance. Nice ORD officer said she had registered my greencard and that I should be good to go in the future.

Have a FRA trip in early March. Will report back on how the "fixed" greencard works when I get back.

Haven't used my NEXUS yet (trip to YUL in March). Will also report if things break again after my YUL trip.

Cheers and safe travels all,
DocD

Something similar happend to be at YYZ as well. A week or so after my NEXUS interview, my GOES status for NEXUS still listed me as pending. I called back the YYZ NEXUS office and kept getting transferred to the US line as it is the US that finishes the process. 3 days straight of a full mailbox. The next time I called, I explained to the Canadian officer who placed me on hold as she was going to investigate herself. 4 minutes later, she came back on and said the US side forgot to approve the final step on their end. An hour later my GOES status was updated. Strange that there is so much manual processes here. For the record, I am an American without a greencard or landed immigrant status.

Mine is on the outside back cover. Mods, curious if we can run a poll here for inside/outside of the back cover.