Well, I was approved rather quickly, and I certainly have been to a couple of countries that the US would consider red cards. Make of this what you will, as your experience could well vary.

I browsed but couldn't find this answered...

I have GE, wife doesn't.
Is it appropriate for her to 'tag' along w/ me to the machine?? How does this work?

Official rules say it doesn't work. There are anecdotes that it sometimes works, but that is not my personal experience.

Greg

Here's the technique (thanks meisterau). I just got GE and haven't tried it yet, but I plan to.

nrg

Well I am still loving GE and use it often. Though I must say two weeks ago at the CBP baggege exit at IAH the agent had a minor fit when I handed him the GE Receipt and I only had soft-side, over-shoulder leather briefcase. He started asking questions about why I didn't have luggage and what I did for a living and it was overall an odd exchange (well lets see, short trip and the fact I have homes in Europe also, and I don't bring the kitchen sink on trips...etc etc) but still only took about 45 seconds. The article below has some good info and updates on GE.



Some Global Entry updates:

- Houston IAH has the most kiosks with 10, with 5 more to be installed (IAH was on of the first 3 airports for GE)

-Mexican nationals can now join GE (along with the Dutch)

Mexican nationals now eligible for U.S. Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network
Houston Airport System
January 6, 2011

As a result of a new United States-Mexico bilateral agreement, Mexican nationals are now eligible to apply for Trusted Traveler of North America biometric border pass cards for rapid entry into the United States through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network.

This expansion comes after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Mexican Ministry of the Interior Secretary Jose Francisco Blake Mora signed an agreement expressing their intent to develop a Global Entry International Trusted Traveler pilot program between the United States and Mexico.

As of December 29, 2010, CBP began accepting applications from Mexican nationals for the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network.

“We are proud to be a part of Global Entry and trust wholeheartedly the efforts of CBP to make international travel more convenient for our passengers,” said Mario C. Diaz, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System. “As a hub for the largest airline in the world, global travelers have a better experience when arriving or connecting through our great city by using Global Entry.”

Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.

Though intended for frequent international travelers, there is no minimum number of trips necessary to qualify for the program. Participants may enter the United States by using automated kiosks located at 20 participating airports, including George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Bush Intercontinental, in fact, currently offers the highest number of Global Entry kiosks in the nation with a total of 10 of them already in place at the airport’s 784,000 square foot Federal Inspection Services facility.

Five additional Global Entry kiosks will be installed on January 11, 2011 at IAH. Since the program’s inception in June 2008, Houston has maintained the highest number of Global Entry enrollments and kiosk usage in the nation. Before being pre-approved to participate in Global Entry, travelers must undergo an intense background check and interview process, as well as pay a $100 enrollment fee per person, which validates membership for five years, among various other requirements.

Individuals who have been charged of a criminal offense, charged with a customs or immigration offense, declared inadmissible to the United States under immigration legislation, provided false or incomplete information on their application, or who are subject to National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) requirements, among other factors, are not eligible to participate.

Previously, eligibility for Global Entry was limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents and citizens of the Netherlands via an agreement known as the Fast Low-risk Universal Crossing (FLUX) program that was announced in April 2010.




http://www.fly2houston.com/0/3889687/0/1906/

Ciao,
FH

As noted in this post, it took me less time to go through CBP at DFW yesterday than it did to clear TSA security. The only thing that I was surprised at was the number of Crew standing in line instead of having GE.

IMO, that's the one thing that's EVENTUALLY going to slow down the GE process. Crew will figure out soon enough that $100/5 years is a good deal to get through CBP on days when a large bank of fully loaded 744s lands. ;)

Dave

But part of that large bank will be foreign carriers and crews ... and thus it will limit the numbers of crew members able to use GE.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Arrived ORD, there was over a one hour wait to clear Customs and Immigration, took me less than 30 seconds and I was on my way, best investment I have ever made.

I just created a GOES account planning to sign up, and then read some of this thread.

Over the next year...

a) My non-US passport will expire and be renewed
b) I will likely gain US citizenship
c) My Permanent Resident card will become invalid (see (b))

Does anyone know if these kind of changes affect the validity of GE registration and / or if changing passports requires an additional appointment for a new sticker?

I'm wondering if I would save myself trouble by waiting to apply until after all of the above take place.

No new appts, swing by any office for new sticker when get new papers. You should remain set, otherwise

GE is tied in with your passport. You may be able to get them to add new stickers and recode your passport info into their systems when you get a new one. They never stated that a requirement was to have a passport that doesn't expire for 5 years.

Thank you both for the insight!

Can't answer a) because didn't do it. I did gain US citizenship and I had to go to an office but did not need an appointment. I gave them my new US passport, waited in the front room (ORD) and they did register it without asking any questions.

Love the GE program especially at IAD which was soooo slow via the traditional route.

Problem is now GE is so fast you have to hang around ages waiting for baggage claim.

Still, better than queuing!