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Re: Global entry
[Re: Fletch]
#133415
06/22/2017 11:22 AM
06/22/2017 11:22 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,657 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,657
Brookfield, CT.
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I'm wondering myself if it was worth the effort but then I think back to our return trip from SXM in April 2016 and the miserable arrival experience at JFK and I say to myself, " Oh yes it was!" and in our case it was a bit more of an effort since we live an hour and a half from the nearest interview facility which just happens to be JFK. Need I say anymore?
We don't travel very much beyond SXM these days but remembering the almost two hour wait in the immigration arrival hall and standing in that seemingly never-ending line and wondering why, I have no regrets.
After doing the initial paperwork on line, we scheduled a convenient midday appointment time for both of us at JFK, avoiding all the rush hour chaos that often ensues in getting there. Upon arrival at the appointed time we were pleasantly surprised in that we FINALLY found something that actually works and works well there.
Just knowing we shouldn't ever have to do that annoying wait again makes it all worth the effort and the expense.
But on the other hand, someone I know very well and who doesnt have GE but instead uses an iphone passport app, clears and is generally in, out and in the car in less than a half hour when she does carry-on only. And to the best of my knowledge the iPhone app doesn't have any fees attached. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Global entry
[Re: pat]
#133416
06/22/2017 11:48 AM
06/22/2017 11:48 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 882 Arizona
marybeth
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 882
Arizona
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We use the passport app when we return via Atlanta. I believe it can only be used in a limited number of airports and one of them just happens to be ATL. Last year we made it thru immigration faster than the Global Entry folks did, but the arrival hall wasn't all that busy. Having said that, we do need to get Global Entry for when we drive to Mexico & enter back thru Nogales. That checkpoint is a zoo! I just applied & there are no appointments in PVD or BOS for months so I'll do it out in AZ when we return.
MB
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Re: Global entry
[Re: marybeth]
#133417
06/22/2017 12:04 PM
06/22/2017 12:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,657 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,657
Brookfield, CT.
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Funny thing about RI appointments - when we applied, I thought, since we knew the interviews would require a lengthy drive 'somewhere' it would be fun to schedule the appointment for RI in the summer and do a day trip to the beach as well when we were finished with our interviews. I called in late April or the very early part of May and the earliest appointments they could give me were in February. As in February of the following year. JFK sounded much better at that point.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Global entry
[Re: rembrand]
#133418
06/22/2017 12:36 PM
06/22/2017 12:36 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 913 N CENT COMMONWEALTH OF MA
SXMSAMMY
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 913
N CENT COMMONWEALTH OF MA
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The wife and I had scheduled our appointments in Boston about 8 months out, so we won't be able to it upon our return. We decided to take a trip to the uppermost parts of NH, and checked on openings at Derby Line VT. and wouldn't you know it, they had availability in VT while we were up in NH. Went into our accounts and made the change. We were at our appointment 30 minutes early, they took us right in and we were out in about 15 minutes, and able to use GE upon our return to the US via JFK back in November. Glad we changed time with our original GE appointment, as it was a zoo at JFK and we were thru the line in nothing flat.
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Re: Global entry
[Re: rembrand]
#133419
06/22/2017 12:40 PM
06/22/2017 12:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,241 North NJ, 1720 miles from Para...
Kathleen
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,241
North NJ, 1720 miles from Para...
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In general, I'd say it's worth it; however, on our last trip back from SXM through JFK, about half of the GE kiosks were not working. And now, more and more people are getting GE, so there was a back up. It was the first time we experienced that problem. I do think we got through much faster than those who didn't have it. I think 4 planes landed about the same time as ours so there were a lot of people going through Immigration at the same time.
The is also a dedicated exit for GE holders once you pick up your luggage too. It's not well marked, so you have to be on the lookout for it.
That's why I wander and follow La Vie Dansante, that's all I want, La Vie Dansante (JB)
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Re: Global entry
[Re: Jaybird]
#133427
06/23/2017 10:08 AM
06/23/2017 10:08 AM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658 Maine
SXMbeacher
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658
Maine
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Wow, i just looked into it, and my closest enrollment center is Boston's Logan Int. Airport. About 3hr. drive, but i guess it might be worth it.
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Re: Global entry
[Re: TWB]
#133429
06/23/2017 02:50 PM
06/23/2017 02:50 PM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658 Maine
SXMbeacher
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658
Maine
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We have an hour and 40 min. layover in Philly, but i don't think i could align those stars. Wow, your card reimbursed you your application fee? What card is that, maybe i have it?
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Re: Global entry
[Re: TWB]
#133434
06/23/2017 04:32 PM
06/23/2017 04:32 PM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658 Maine
SXMbeacher
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658
Maine
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Thanks, i'll have to ck on that with my card co. I thought the price was like a $100.00. I'll have to ck on that too!
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Re: Global entry
[Re: SXMbeacher]
#133435
06/23/2017 08:50 PM
06/23/2017 08:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,628 Southern Maryland suburbs of D...
Bill_S
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,628
Southern Maryland suburbs of D...
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Yes, Global Entry is worth it. We signed up online about 20 months ago. We had our interview at the Ronald Regan Building in Washington DC since we live in Southern Maryland about 6 months after applying.
The key to a smooth approval is to be totally truthful. We both have had multiple background checks over the decades since we worked in many Government jobs before retiring. The one key piece of advice that always applied throughout was that "disclosure is INFINITLY better than discovery!"
When you get to the interview, your background check has already been completed. If everything you submitted matches what the BC found, the process is quick and smooth. If there are grey areas, you will be asked to explain. Just always be totally honest.
One month after getting our approval we flew to Amsterdam continuing to Florence for a 10 day tour of Tuscany with 2 days in Rome. Since we were booked by our travel agent on KLM we did not get PreCheck at Dulles. No big deal.
On our way back home we again were booked on KLM through Amsterdam. For this trip our passsports were only stamped when we entered the EU at Amsterdam and again when left the EU there on the way home.
When we arrived back at IAD we rode the mobile lounge from our gate to Customs. When we entered the hall there was the expected zig zag maze leading to Imigration/Passport check...and a seperate path only for GE travellers that led to a bank of 50 Kiosk machines along a seperate path.
At the Kiosks we each had our pasports scanned, smiled at the camera, had our fingerprints electronicly scanned, and answered four questions concerning purchases. Then the machine spit out a long "cash register tape" with our data and we followed the "GE Only" lane to bagage claim.
At Baggage claim we recovered our checked luggage, and followed the GE Only lane on the floor with overhead signs to a single TSA agent, avoiding another zig zag corral, and handed her the paper tape, and she waived us to the exit.
Total time from stepping off the airplane to driving out of the parking garage was less than a half hour. At IAD!
Definitely well worth it!
Bill
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Re: Global entry
[Re: JeanneJOE]
#133437
06/28/2017 04:02 PM
06/28/2017 04:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 763 Chicago area & St-Martin
ChiTownHarry
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 763
Chicago area & St-Martin
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Your passport is coded so you do not have to do anything except go to the Global Entry kiosk and scan your passport and verify your identity. You do not have to bring anything like the card...
--ChiTownHarry
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Re: Global entry
[Re: JeanneJOE]
#133439
06/29/2017 11:02 AM
06/29/2017 11:02 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,241 North NJ, 1720 miles from Para...
Kathleen
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,241
North NJ, 1720 miles from Para...
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Make sure you give the airline your trusted traveler ID number. Add it to your profile and then make sure when you make a flight reservation that your Trusted Traveler number is in the reservation.
That's why I wander and follow La Vie Dansante, that's all I want, La Vie Dansante (JB)
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Re: Global entry
[Re: wendyk]
#133441
06/30/2017 07:33 AM
06/30/2017 07:33 AM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658 Maine
SXMbeacher
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658
Maine
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What airport did you travel through? That sounds really good, i'm thinking of signing up myself.
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Re: Global entry
[Re: Fletch]
#133443
06/30/2017 10:47 AM
06/30/2017 10:47 AM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658 Maine
SXMbeacher
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658
Maine
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Thanks. I was kind of curious if the airport they went through was one of the ones i'm traveling through, to get a gauge on time. We hit PHL and CLT. Do you have GE and find it worth it?
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Re: Global entry
[Re: BeachKitten]
#133445
06/30/2017 12:55 PM
06/30/2017 12:55 PM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658 Maine
SXMbeacher
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658
Maine
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Got it! That was so long ago. LOL <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Global entry
[Re: pat]
#133446
06/30/2017 05:13 PM
06/30/2017 05:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 882 Arizona
marybeth
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 882
Arizona
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Pat,
You convinced me! I just applied for Don & I - mainly in case we go to Mexico when in AZ. Now just waiting to hear back. I'm going to schedule the interview in AZ for when we return as the time frame for RI or Boston is totally nuts. I even called the PVD office & they recommended we go to Tucson. So hopefully we'll get an appointment before next March!
MB
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