Global Entry is a must have

Global Entry is an incredible service that not only expedites your International arrival, but grants you a known traveler id that works for TSA Pre as well. Currently Global Entry costs $120 which is only $35 more than TSA Pre and will make your life infinitely better if you do travel internationally.

Effective October 1st the fee went up to $120 for those over 18

• NEXUS fee $120
• Global Entry fee $120
• SENTRI $120

Global Entry is something that those who are travel enthusiasts know all about, but I also talk to A LOT of people that have no idea what it is so I thought I’d do a deeper dive.  I couldn’t stress how valuable it has been to me, and since many credit cards reimburse fees for Global Entry, there isn’t really any reason to not get it.

Wikipedia:

Global Entry is a program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance through automatic kiosks at select airports upon arrival into the United States. As of May 4, 2018, Global Entry was available at 53 US airports and 15 preclearance locations. By April 2018 more than 5 million people were enrolled in Global Entry and approximately 50,000 new applications for the program were being filed monthly

As I mentioned, many credit cards give a FULL $120 refund on your Global Entry fee

Yes, there is a long list of credit cards that will actually reimburse the fee when you charge it. If you carry more than one of the cards down below, and you’re looking to get family members Global Entry, you could spread them on various cards. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe that the person getting Global Entry has to be the cardholder in order to receive the credit.

• Multiple card issuers have already said that come October 1st they will reimburse the $120 new fee

I’d like to charge it to a card that will reimburse the $120 fee. Here’s a list that will

American Express

• The Platinum Card® from American Express – any version
• The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® from American Express® Card

Barclay

• Barclay Aviator Silver
• Mastercard® Black Card™
• Mastercard® Gold Card™

Bank of American

• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Card

Capital one

• Capital One Venture X
• Capital One Venture Rewards
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Chase

• Aeroplan® Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance for Business
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Ritz Card from Chase
• IHG One Rewards Premier Card from Chase
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
• United(SM) Explorer Card
• United Club(SM) Infinite Card
• United Quest (SM) Card

Citi

• Citi Prestige
• Citi Executive ( Black one)

City National

• Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card

UBS

• UBS Visa Infinite® Credit Card

US Bank

• SkyPass Select Visa Signature® Card
• U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
• U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express®

Suntrust

• Suntrust Travel Rewards Credit Card

Truist

• Enjoy Capital Credit Card

My favorite cards that provide the Global Entry Reimbursement

1. Capital One Venture X
2. Capital One Venture Rewards
3. The Platinum Card® from American Express – any version
4. The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
5. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
6. Ritz Card from Chase
7. IHG One Rewards Premier Card from Chase
8. IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Who is eligible to get Global Entry?

Provided by Wikipedia, Lawful permanent residents and aliens from the following countries

• Argentina

•            Brazil

•  Colombia

•  Germany

•  India

•  Mexico

•  Panama

•  Singapore

•  South Korea (members of Smart Entry Service)

•   Switzerland

•  Taiwan

•  United Kingdom (British citizens only)

•  United States (nationals and permanent residents)

You may be ineligible if you:

1. Provide false or incomplete information on the application;
2. Have been convicted of any criminal offense or have pending criminal charges or outstanding warrants (to include driving under the influence);
3. Have been found in violation of any customs, immigration or agriculture regulations or laws in any country;
4. Are the subject of an ongoing investigation by any federal, state or local law enforcement agency;
5. Are inadmissible to the United States under immigration regulation, including applicants with approved waivers of inadmissibility or parole documentation; or
6. Cannot satisfy CBP of your low-risk status.

OK great, you’re eligible! Here’s what you do to apply:

The application process is quite simple and straight forward, but it could take a couple of months to get enrolled with the back up interviews.  If you have a trip coming up sooner than later and would like to take advantage of Global Entry, it may be worth calling your local interview center and see if they accept walk ins…many have been known to permit them.

Step 1: Create an account with Trusted Traveler

You’ll see this on the screen and you want to select Global Entry. It may prompt you to get TSA Pre instead, but you actually have access to TSA Pre when you’re a Global Entry cardholder, and it’s only $15 more.

Step 2: Log in to your Account and fill out an application and pay the $120 fee – credit cards listed below will reimburse the Global Entry fee

Remember, if you have one of these cards, you’ll get that fee back as a statement credit. Each card has different rules, but typically, it’s a credit once very 4 or 5 years. Global Entry lasts 5 years.

American Express

• The Platinum Card® from American Express – any version
• The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® from American Express® Card

Barclay

• Barclay Aviator Silver
• Mastercard® Black Card™
• Mastercard® Gold Card™

Bank of America

• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Card

Capital one

• Capital One Venture X
• Capital One Venture Rewards
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Chase

• Aeroplan® Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance for Business
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Ritz Card from Chase
• IHG One Rewards Premier Card from Chase
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
• United(SM) Explorer Card
• United Club(SM) Infinite Card
• United Quest (SM) Card

Citi

• Citi Prestige
• Citi Executive ( Black one)

City National

• Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card

UBS

• UBS Visa Infinite® Credit Card

US Bank

• SkyPass Select Visa Signature® Card
• U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
• U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express®

Suntrust

• Suntrust Travel Rewards Credit Card

Truist

• Enjoy Capital Credit Card

Here’s a look at the fee credit when I charged it to my Amex Platinum

Step 3: Once you are approved, you will be asked to schedule an appointment

• Make sure to bring your passport and another form of ID to your appointment.
• There is an enormous list of interview locations in the United States and Canada as well as Qatar and Singapore

Currently the wait time is 4 to 6 months

What’s the Global Entry appointment like?

I’ve done it a couple of different ways and there is nothing to it. They will take a digital pic of you and scan your fingerprints. Mine took about 5-10 minutes and the officer asked me various questions about my identity and wanted to make sure that Miles I hadn’t committed any crimes, etc. It’s a quick and easy process that I HIGHLY recommend going through to make travel soooooo much faster.

Get Global Entry faster with Enrollment on Arrival

Yes, you absolutely can and it’s a great cheat code to skipping the wait time. It’s formally called Global Entry “Enrollment on Arrival.”

The last time I renewed my Global Entry I was processed upon arrival via this process. I It was super easy and actually bypassed the sometimes arduous process of scheduling an appointment. Despite what you officially read online, it’s worth trying to do a walk-up appointment. It’s amazing what a smile and being nice will accomplish and anecdotally

• Go here to see where Global Entry upon Arrival is offered

What do I need to bring?

• A valid passport. If you travel using more than one passport, please bring them all to the interview so that the information can be added to your file.
• Documents providing evidence of residency. Examples are: driver’s license (if the address is current), mortgage statement, rental payment statement, utility bill, etc. This is not required for minors.
• A permanent resident card (if applicable

This video explains the process well

How long does Global Entry Last?

5 years

Should I get TSA PRE as well?

You don’t need to do that because Global Entry gives you TSA PRE via your trusted traveller ID number. Simply input that number into your reservation and TSA PRE will be added to your reservation.

When can you renew your Global Entry Membership?

Global Entry only lasts for 5 years, and you can renew up to ONE YEAR PRIOR TO EXPIRATION, and you will continue to enjoy benefits for up to 24 months after renewal. You don’t have to have another interview in order to renew; however, when I renewed mine in 2022 it required one. Ordinarily you have to have that interview within 6 months.

Go Here for more details:

As you can see…I had been given extra time to get that interview done. I’m fully renewed now.

Renew with a remote interview

This is a fairly new feature that you may qualify for when looking to renew your Global Entry membership. Remember, you can’t renew until you’re within 12 months of expiration. Full details are found here but you need to be conditionally approved. My understanding is the vast majority of renewals, including everyone in my family, was able to circumvent another interview. I travel so much, and often to places that may raise eyebrows, that I must have triggered the need for a further review.

Who qualifies?

• Be conditionally approved for a TTP renewal;
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Have a photo on file with CBP that was taken (1) within the past 10 years, and (2) after the applicant was 14 years of age; and
• Have previously submitted fingerprints to CBP

If you qualify you’ll be instructed to follow a link In your TTP dashboard via “Scheduling Your Remote Interview.” prompt and all interviews are conducted via Zoom. You’ll be able to access all of the information you need either via the TTP dashboard or a new app called CBP One.  Here you’d find a virtual waiting room, etc.

What is the Immigration and Customs experience like using Global Entry?

Sooooooooo much better. There are now two Global Entry options you can opt to use when arriving into the United States from a foreign country

• Use the Kiosk
• Use the App

Kiosk

First you use a kiosk where you scan your passport and fingerprints.  I’ve never waited more than a couple of minutes to use a kiosk or have my global entry ticket examined. Both your passport and fingerprints are linked to your Global Entry account, and collectively it’s saved me hours at the airport.

While it’s good to have your passport ready to be scanned, typically you won’t need it. You will just walk up to a line on the ground, the machine will scan your face, and you’ll be told to proceed to an agent. That’s it.

You do not need your customs and immigration declaration since those questions are asked on this screen.

Global Entry App

Global Entry just debuted a new app

The app allows you to participate at several different airports and all you do is declare you have arrived and take a photo of yourself

Airports that accept Global Entry App

And then you’ll be asked to take a photo

US Customs

In either situation you’ll then see a US Immigration Officer who will clear you to get your bags. After you’ve gotten your bags, you’ll then proceed again to a Global Entry line where you receive expedited customs processing by a US Federal Agent.

After this…you’re good to go! Just make sure you wave at everyone who didn’t get Global Entry as you whiz by them 😉

Hope this helps!