I would like to share my experience with enrolling in the Global Entry program.
If you don't know what it is, see http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/global_entry/
Basically, the program allows you to bypass the passport control line when entering the U.S. and go directly to a self-service kiosk. There you scan your passport and fingerprints and your entry in the U.S. is recorded by CBP. At the end of the process the kiosk also prints out an approved customs card and there is no need to fill one out by hand beforehand. The procedure also saves a bit of space in the passport itself since you don't get a reentry stamp and everything is recorded electronically in the CBP computers.
The enrollment costs $100 and is valid for 5 years. That is a fairly good deal for people who travel abroad frequently (I travel 2-3 times a year).
I applied online in late July at the above referenced site. One has to first register as a user on their system (whose acromyn is GOES) and after that the application procedure is pretty straightforward although one does need to enter a great deal of info (about past travel, addresses, employment history etc). The application process is completely electronic and I did not have to mail anything. The next day after I submitted an application, I got an electronic notification that my application was conditionally approved and that I needed to schedule an interview to complete the process. The interview is also scheduled online using the same GOES system. That was also pretty easy and the system offered lots of available interview slots starting with the following day.
I had my interview in the CBP office at the O'Hare airport in Chicago (in international terminal 5, next to McDonalds) on July 31.
The interview was fairly fast and straightforward, mostly pro-forma. They did look up info related to my travel in the CBP computers. I was only required to bring a U.S. passport, a driver's licence and a utility bill as a proof of address (in fact they did not ask for the latter). The main thing they did there was to take my fingerprints again and run an instant FBI fingerprint check, which took maybe 5 minutes for the results to come back. Then they officially enrolled me in the system and gave me a demonstration on how to use a Global Entry kiosk. It took me about 1 minute to go through the steps although I think one can do it much faster once familiar with the system. They also put a sticker on my passport indicating my enrollment in the program.
Overall, it was a much faster and more painless experience that dealing with USCIS.
I am travelling to Europe for a few days in September and I'll try the system on my return.
If you don't know what it is, see http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/global_entry/
Basically, the program allows you to bypass the passport control line when entering the U.S. and go directly to a self-service kiosk. There you scan your passport and fingerprints and your entry in the U.S. is recorded by CBP. At the end of the process the kiosk also prints out an approved customs card and there is no need to fill one out by hand beforehand. The procedure also saves a bit of space in the passport itself since you don't get a reentry stamp and everything is recorded electronically in the CBP computers.
The enrollment costs $100 and is valid for 5 years. That is a fairly good deal for people who travel abroad frequently (I travel 2-3 times a year).
I applied online in late July at the above referenced site. One has to first register as a user on their system (whose acromyn is GOES) and after that the application procedure is pretty straightforward although one does need to enter a great deal of info (about past travel, addresses, employment history etc). The application process is completely electronic and I did not have to mail anything. The next day after I submitted an application, I got an electronic notification that my application was conditionally approved and that I needed to schedule an interview to complete the process. The interview is also scheduled online using the same GOES system. That was also pretty easy and the system offered lots of available interview slots starting with the following day.
I had my interview in the CBP office at the O'Hare airport in Chicago (in international terminal 5, next to McDonalds) on July 31.
The interview was fairly fast and straightforward, mostly pro-forma. They did look up info related to my travel in the CBP computers. I was only required to bring a U.S. passport, a driver's licence and a utility bill as a proof of address (in fact they did not ask for the latter). The main thing they did there was to take my fingerprints again and run an instant FBI fingerprint check, which took maybe 5 minutes for the results to come back. Then they officially enrolled me in the system and gave me a demonstration on how to use a Global Entry kiosk. It took me about 1 minute to go through the steps although I think one can do it much faster once familiar with the system. They also put a sticker on my passport indicating my enrollment in the program.
Overall, it was a much faster and more painless experience that dealing with USCIS.
I am travelling to Europe for a few days in September and I'll try the system on my return.