Global Entry

[Luvmypetz]

But don't you get that with TSA precheck anyway?

Yes. TSA precheck gives you KTN and that (hopefully) shorter line. But the cost between the 2 is only $15. So IMO, why not just do GE, getting precheck and the perks of customs benefits when returning internationally? Right now you may not have plans to travel overseas, but more port terminals could add the kiosks, then you're set.
My suggestion is for those who have neither and contemplating TSA precheck only.

 

[luxlvr]

Yes. TSA precheck gives you KTN and that (hopefully) shorter line. But the cost between the 2 is only $15. So IMO, why not just do GE, getting precheck and the perks of customs benefits when returning internationally? Right now you may not have plans to travel overseas, but more port terminals could add the kiosks, then you're set.
My suggestion is for those who have neither and contemplating TSA precheck only.

I absolutely agree. We just did the TSA recheck when it came out and now will be switching to the global entry. Just wanted to now if I should switch early. Looks like I'll be riding the TSA recheck out for a little bit

 

[SuperDry]

My suggestion is for those who have neither and contemplating TSA precheck only.

There are several reasons someone might want to get TSA PreCheck but not Global Entry, beyond the $15 additional cost:

- You have to go in for an interview to get GE, which has others have said can sometimes take awhile and are at much more limited locations than the PreCheck enrollment centers
- You have to have a passport to get GE, but not so for PreCheck
- GE has much more stringent eligibility requirements. To get PreCheck, they just determine that you're not a danger to aviation security. For GE, you have to be of good character, as judged by a lack of criminal record and any history of Customs violations. If you got caught with a banana in your purse 10 years ago when entering the US, or have two DUIs from even decades ago, you can't get GE, but can probably get PreCheck.

 

[belac]

I had wanted to know this for my upcoming cruise. I applied last month but I can't get my interview till April 2017!!! So, not happy but at least I don't have to worry about the cruise. Would have been nice for the airports though.

Yipes! Don't know where you are but, New York is about 1.5 months out (for a Saturday, weekdays could be with in 2-3 weeks) of initial pre-approval for the interview.
Edited: that is at JFK

 

[wombat_5606]

Yipes! Don't know where you are but, New York is about 1.5 months out (for a Saturday, weekdays could be with in 2-3 weeks) of initial pre-approval for the interview.
Edited: that is at JFK

Unfortunately, not close and I'm traveling for the next 2 months. I did call Boise and they take walk ins. Since I will be there for 2 weeks, I'm sure I will be able to get it done, but it's at the end of my travel.

Just had no idea when I applied that it would take so long to get the interview.

I will be prepared for the future, though.

 

[anniepoppins]

I travel internationally for work and have GE. It's embarrassing to admit this but I normally travel Delta and they have my known traveler number. Last year we purchased Southwest tickets for our cruise to Orlando and I was not aware that you had to go manually into every airline to enter your number in order to get the TSA pre check benefits. It was quite the shock to not be able to use the benefits on that trip, after having gone to all the trouble and expense to get the GE. I had just assumed GE informed the airlines or my number was on a list, but no, you have to add it to your reservation. I won't make that mistake again!

 

[belac]

Well anniepoppins, you just helped me, thanks I didnt know we had to enter a GE number when making reservations. We have our interview early next month so hopefully they will let us know what to do when scheduling flights.

 

[anna08]

Has anyone with GE had to update them after receiving a renewed passport? My customs agent at interview said to come show up again with the new passport as it would need to be scanned, but it looks like you can enter the info into the website. TIA

 

[soniam]

Thanks, Bumbershoot, but I did try. In the next 8 weeks, I will be in San Diego, Cincinnati, Nashville, Orlando, and Boise. I also looked within a 5 hour drive of my home. No luck anywhere. Some places said you could do a walk-in and I will try those if it's convenient.

It's so frustrating that they have assigned you a traveler number that you can't use till after the interview. I'm wondering if the airlines will take that into consideration.

DH and I had a similar experience for Austin. It was so bad that they didn't even list available appointments. San Antonio was the same way. We applied in May. We were thinking of driving 3-4 hours to Houston or Dallas, but it would have to be on a weekday and we have a kid and both work full-time jobs. We had set up appointments for Orlando, since we were there last month. DH managed to get a walk-in in Austin. I ended up waiting over 2 hours for nothing. They said they were adding some people in Austin the following week. When I looked online, more appointments showed up, so it didn't take long at all. TSA knows that some of these places are just so back-logged. It's ridiculous. When I went in for my appointment, there was a couple who had booked theirs in September, and this was May Then there was some guy who had already missed 2 appointments and was on his 3rd. He said he had just forgotten them Just keep trying whatever you can. Good luck. The appointment is really easy and fast.

As for using the number, I don't think it will work until it's official/after the interview. You can add it to flights that you have already booked though, once you have been officially approved.

 

[SuperDry]

Has anyone with GE had to update them after receiving a renewed passport? My customs agent at interview said to come show up again with the new passport as it would need to be scanned, but it looks like you can enter the info into the website. TIA

When it happened to me, I stopped by their office the next time I had to fly. I didn't know there was an option to do it online. One benefit of doing it in person is that they will put the sticker on your new passport, which is what will allow you to skip to the front of the line if you ever are in a situation where you're at a GE port of entry but the machines are down. It will NOT let you skip the line at non-GE ports, such as the Port Canaveral cruise port.

As for using the number, I don't think it will work until it's official/after the interview. You can add it to flights that you have already booked though, once you have been officially approved.

Although of course GE benefits aren't activated until after your interview and final approval, I've heard rumors that your KTN will work with PreCheck as soon as you receive your notice of provisional approval for GE. This presumably is because if you don't qualify for PreCheck, you're definitely not going to get GE, so if you get provisional approval for GE, you've already met all of the background requirements for PreCheck. But, that would potentially put you in a situation where you haven't been fingerprinted yet, so that would seem to be a potential issue. I guess that once you know your KTN, it wouldn't hurt to put in your airline profiles and see what happens.

 

[wombat_5606]

Although of course GE benefits aren't activated until after your interview and final approval, I've heard rumors that your KTN will work with PreCheck as soon as you receive your notice of provisional approval for GE. This presumably is because if you don't qualify for PreCheck, you're definitely not going to get GE, so if you get provisional approval for GE, you've already met all of the background requirements for PreCheck. But, that would potentially put you in a situation where you haven't been fingerprinted yet, so that would seem to be a potential issue. I guess that once you know your KTN, it wouldn't hurt to put in your airline profiles and see what happens.

I was wondering this also. Do they fingerprint for TSA PreCheck? Is an interview required for PreCheck?

 

[tinkerone]

Has anyone with GE had to update them after receiving a renewed passport? My customs agent at interview said to come show up again with the new passport as it would need to be scanned, but it looks like you can enter the info into the website. TIA

At our interview we were told the same thing, show up and they will update the information for passports. He told us to do our own DL information when that came due. I just had to update our drivers license in our profiles and I did not see any place to input pp information; granted I wasn't looking specifically for that but I did do a bit of roaming while I had the web site open.
Are you sure it is there? Our customs agent wasn't the type to want to do anything he didn't have to, he was a bit grumpy, so I would be surprised if we could do it but he suggested to come in and have the office do it.

 

[soniam]

Although of course GE benefits aren't activated until after your interview and final approval, I've heard rumors that your KTN will work with PreCheck as soon as you receive your notice of provisional approval for GE. This presumably is because if you don't qualify for PreCheck, you're definitely not going to get GE, so if you get provisional approval for GE, you've already met all of the background requirements for PreCheck. But, that would potentially put you in a situation where you haven't been fingerprinted yet, so that would seem to be a potential issue. I guess that once you know your KTN, it wouldn't hurt to put in your airline profiles and see what happens.

I believe you can enter the number. I think the night of my interview DH entered my number into one of our flights without a problem. This was before I had received official notification. However, I don't know if you could fly this way or not. I would think before flying, maybe they do another check of the number, but who knows.

 

[Dug720]

I was wondering this also. Do they fingerprint for TSA PreCheck? Is an interview required for PreCheck?

Yes. They fingerprint for Pre-Check. You have to make an appointment, so I'd assume that yes, an interview even if brief is required.

 

[wombat_5606]

Yes. They fingerprint for Pre-Check. You have to make an appointment, so I'd assume that yes, an interview even if brief is required.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[anna08]

When it happened to me, I stopped by their office the next time I had to fly. I didn't know there was an option to do it online. One benefit of doing it in person is that they will put the sticker on your new passport, which is what will allow you to skip to the front of the line if you ever are in a situation where you're at a GE port of entry but the machines are down. It will NOT let you skip the line at non-GE ports, such as the Port Canaveral cruise port.
Although of course GE benefits aren't activated until after your interview and final approval, I've heard rumors that your KTN will work with PreCheck as soon as you receive your notice of provisional approval for GE. This presumably is because if you don't qualify for PreCheck, you're definitely not going to get GE, so if you get provisional approval for GE, you've already met all of the background requirements for PreCheck. But, that would potentially put you in a situation where you haven't been fingerprinted yet, so that would seem to be a potential issue. I guess that once you know your KTN, it wouldn't hurt to put in your airline profiles and see what happens.

I'm not sure I'd try... they seemed pretty strict about it being a privilege that can be revoked, ie. if you cross a border in a car with non-GE people in the appropriate lane (the example they gave was our kids) then ours would be revoked permanently. The sticker would be worth the trip for a new passport. DH said his last border entry was probably an hour shorter with GE.

At our interview we were told the same thing, show up and they will update the information for passports. He told us to do our own DL information when that came due. I just had to update our drivers license in our profiles and I did not see any place to input pp information; granted I wasn't looking specifically for that but I did do a bit of roaming while I had the web site open.
Are you sure it is there? Our customs agent wasn't the type to want to do anything he didn't have to, he was a bit grumpy, so I would be surprised if we could do it but he suggested to come in and have the office do it.

Makes sense. We're lucky as our office didn't seem to be too busy. At least not at 7am on a Sunday morning...we'll just head back around that time when it comes up.

I believe you can enter the number. I think the night of my interview DH entered my number into one of our flights without a problem. This was before I had received official notification. However, I don't know if you could fly this way or not. I would think before flying, maybe they do another check of the number, but who knows.

FYI if you have tickets booked with Southwest bought before you have it entered in your Rapid Rewards account, you've got to call back and have it added to each individual ticket.