Wirelessly posted (goingaway\'s phone: BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.231 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

You are the first to post that since I started reading this thread. Do you think your travel patterns are unusual? Visit places that may be flagged? Ever have an issue with paying/not paying custom for something upon arrival back to the us? I think they have the process on the GE site, but I would consider the why before pursuing the investigation so you are better prepared to position your argument. Good luck with it

Thanks GoingAway. Only thing I can think of is my citizenship - I am PK but PRC holder and have been in US for 5 yrs now (all with same company that brought me here in the first place). No unusal travel patterns either unless they think going back to visit my parents in PK once in 2 years is 'unusual'...

Thinking of first approaching CBP with FOIA request to see what 'declined' me.

If anyone else has suggestions, ideas or experiences, feel free to PM me. Thanks!

I applied on June 23rd but the application is still in "Pending". Inspired by the quick turn around some of the others experienced I thought I would ask DHS for an update. I received a reply today:

"You have failed to wait at least eight weeks before inquiring about your
application status. Please continue to monitor your GOES account. "

Oh well, guess it was wishful thinking that I would receive something other than a terse government response....... :(

I'm a US Citizen who was previously approved for Clear.

In the past 5 years I've traveled and/or worked in:
HONG KONG
CHINA
THAILAND
NEPAL
FRANCE
UNITED KINGDOM

I guess I'll continue to wait.

Regards,

wdflyer

Don't take this as a slight against your nationality but I doubt that Pakistan is a country that CBP believes is one that has a number of trusted travelers, even if you have permanent resident status.

As for FOIA--I would not take that approach but rather inquire more directly. FOIA is likely to get you a non-response that costs a lot, not an answer that might allow you to understand, and perhaps "appeal" your rejection.

Thx drewguy. PMed you with a question...

I was curious to see if other nationalities (the 'challenging' ones lets say) could also get GE or is it more US driven?

I'm not sure this info is on the global entry site, but I did see it here regarding appeals:

http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm...t-traveler.htm

As for the program, I sure don't know everything but since it's a USG program it would not surprise me if it is designed more for US travelers than anyone else. Not that that is right, but just how it is.

Don't take this personally, but I doubt there is any way that as a Pakistani, you are going to get cleared for GE. PRC aside. There's no question in my mind that your citizenship/origin alone got you dinged. Period. Full Stop. Exclamation Point.

I'm going to venture into terribly politically incorrect territory here, but given all the well-publicized problems coming from individuals and factions in that country, as well as from Pakistani individuals that have been resident in the USA....can you really not see why you are not going to make it on the "trusted traveler" list? Can you put yourself in the shoes of the CBP official(s) on the application receipt end who would have to go out on that limb to "approve"? And the repercussions if they approved someone who later turned out to be a credible threat? Can you imagine the news media field day when it was revealed that individuals from high-risk countries were being approved as trusted travelers?

While the CBP might make exceptions for world-famous somebodies with special talents who happen to be from high-risk countries and need to travel to/from USA a lot, for most other compatriots, not going to happen. I doubt if you have any grounds for appeal. Especially if the information provided already was accurate. In fact, with your application, you may have just red-flagged yourself for future additional scrutiny. I can see where a CBP officer might wonder "WHY is this Pakistani citizen so keen to get expedited entry to the USA?"

I agree that the GE program seems to be primarily intended right now for US citizens, whether US-based or expats. (I am in the latter category and was approved last month.) I haven't heard enough data points to know if foreign citizens even from low-risk countries (either US PR's or outside USA) are receiving GE clearance, and how lofty that application bar might be set.

I am not surprised at all about being declined. Given its a USG program and all the problems coming from my citizenship etc... I was surprised when it took them >1 month to send the decline in. That was what made me think if it was something more than just plain citizenship....

I would be fine if their explanation was somewhere along these lines. But right now, its no explanation so I can only guess (pretty good one but still a guess...) It would be nice to be clear.

Hi jiejie,

Yes, Dutch citizens, even non-US residents (and even not residing in the Netherlands) can get GE clearance (I know, since I have it). Germany and the UK seem to be the next countries that could sign reciprocal agreements with the US to allow their citizens to join GE.

So yes, citizens from low-risk countries are being cleared for GE.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Wirelessly posted (goingaway\'s phone: BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.231 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Dutch is different (same with canada) due to the border crossing programs in place for the reverse direction. I would agree that it is unlikely the paranoid govt would extend a pass to you given your citizenship esp if your travel is to return to pakistan regularly, and I seriously doubt you will ever see a response with specific reasons of denial. Good luck whatever you do next (even if you just let it go)

The above discussion about non-US citizens notwithstanding, it would be good if Global Entry made clear what countries of citizenship it generally deems acceptable. Even if it's only US + others with reciprocal programs, that should be clear so folks don't waste their time/money. If Pakistan is an automatic reject, they should say that.

Of course, perhaps it is not an automatic reject, but rather there is a much higher hurdle to jump if that's your citizenship.

Well, GE seems to be something the Government got right.

Applied 7/15 - Conditional Approval 7/20 - Interview 7/22 - Approved!
Interview took 10 minutes and the CBP officer was even nice.:)

Too bad TSA doesn't have something like this, so they don't have to treat EVERYBODY like a terrorist.:mad:

Just a follow up to my NEXUS/GE experience.

I had my interview this past Monday (July 19) at YVR. Spoke briefly with the American official and then with the Canadian official and waited about 2 minutes before having my irises scanned. Was in and out of the whole procedure in less than 15 minutes. (Oddly, they were all more interested in my rings on my fingers than anything else.)

Got back to the hotel and received an email about four hours later that my GOES status had changed. Logged in and I had been approved.

Got home yesterday from Seattle and found my NEXUS card waiting for me at home. Looks like it arrived in less than four days.

Applied about 15 minutes ago for GE and got an email about 5 minutes later saying my GOES status had changed again and - voila - had GE approval.

NEXUS and GE for $50.00. A bargain.

Do you think a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan would have a significantly easier time?

FWIW, I am a green card holder, and Canadian citizen, and was approved, though it wasn't a smooth process.

Any new information about Global Entry as an german citizen?

And is it right that you have to pay 100$ registration fee + 240€ if you register as a dutch citizen?