Global Entry « Hellobee Boards

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Global Entry

By DisneyBee Apr 6, 2018

I applied for a credit card, which includes coverage for global entry for the cardholder. Therefore, DH and I can get it for free. However, I understand that our 2 kids also need it. Do you think it's worth it? It's $100 each child, and lasts 4 or 5 years.

We'll be going on an international trip late next year, so I'm debating on whether to start the process now. Anyone else have experience with global entry? Recently, we took a trip to Hawaii, and we automatically got TSA Pre-Check (not sure why...assuming it was because we had 2 kids in our party), and it was nice not having to remove our shoes. So now, I'm wondering if every family with kids automatically gets TSA pre-check.

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Tags: travel

15 comments

bhbee
cantaloupe / 6086 posts

Apr 6, 2018

Definitely not auto pre check for kids. Sometimes you get it randomly. Kids never have to take shoes off though.

My brother and SIL have global entry for their kids, they think it’s worth it since she has family abroad. I guess it’s a question of whether you value time or money and how often you will use it.
Littlebit7
nectarine / 2243 posts

Apr 6, 2018

I personally think it’s worth it even if you don’t travel at often. And yes, you are correct that every member in your party. For me personally, we fly in/out of Newark and not only does passport control take forever without GE, customs can take three times as long (you skip customs line also). And getting TSA precheck is of course with it. And no I don’t think you auto get it with kids.
I have it for both of my kids (just got it for my 3 month old). We don’t travel a ton but we do travel several times a year domestically and probably once a year internationally.
And yes you are correct, all members of your party need GE regardless of age in order to use GE lines. Same is not true for TSA precheck, kids are granted access if adults have it.
MrsBucky
kiwi / 656 posts

Apr 6, 2018

If you have global entry, you have a known traveler number which gets you pre check also. If the adults have pre check, the kids in your party get it also. Global entry kids have to have their own BUT someone on here (can’t remember who) said kids under a certain age can’t use it even if they have it because their biometric data isn’t enough? I haven’t looked into it but hopefully they will chime in!
Littlebit7
nectarine / 2243 posts

Apr 6, 2018

@MrsBucky: so they can’t fingerprint the little ones. You get a paper ticket and still have to see an officer but you skip the line. You get to go through the diplomatic line or whatever is short. YMMV depending on airport I’d imagine.
MrsBucky
kiwi / 656 posts

Apr 6, 2018

@Littlebit7: thanks for the update! We are debating getting it for our son, so this is helpful detail.
bubbletrouble
pea / 13 posts

Apr 7, 2018

We got global entry last year for our almost 5 year old. They couldn't get his fingerprints so they told us we had to see an officer when the time came.

We got the chance to use it recently as a family and we had to get in line which was worse than the normal immigration lines! We were travelling with another party that did not have global entry and they got out faster than us. Maybe we were out of luck that day haha.. This was in Miami.
ReadItMama
coffee bean / 44 posts

Apr 7, 2018

Mrs. Starfish mentioned it in her recent post re: Mexico trip:

"Mr. Starfish and I have had Global Entry for years and we love the speediness of passing through immigration with the program. We signed the girls up for Global Entry a few months ago with this trip in mind, and it was a pretty big hassle and expense to set up, but we figured it would be worth it to get home quicker with two cranky tired toddlers. We were wrong. We were stopped at the Global Entry kiosk because children under age 5 do not have the biometric data on file to pass through without a check by an immigration officer. So in the end, we had to wait just as long as we would have without Global Entry because the girls are under 5. This was incredibly frustrating, especially because we had even brought the girls in for interviews with the program and no one ever mentioned this."
nana87
cantaloupe / 6171 posts

Apr 7, 2018

We have it and it’s great! We’ve never had a problem w lines since they have to manually check kid’s passports— it takes a few extra mins but there’s never been anyone else waiting. And having pre-check is SO much easier!!
DisneyBee
apricot / 340 posts

Apr 8, 2018

Thanks for the tips! Since it's free, I may just sign DH up....he can even go on his own with our carry-on luggage, and wait for us at baggage claim. Lol. We'll see. Our boys will be 5 and 8 by the next international trip, so we shouldn't have an issue with their biometric data (not really sure what that means).
youboots
honeydew / 7622 posts

Apr 9, 2018

If you are interested sign up for an interview ASAP our appointment is next week and I started the process about 6 months ago. DH has his now and I’m not sure when our next international trip will be but we just went for it.
psw27
pomelo / 5220 posts

Apr 9, 2018

@DisneyBee: Last time I traveled with DH (who has GE), they forced him to stay with us. They didn't' really explain why but they said our family needed to stay together. I have GE interviews on Wednesday for me and my 2 kids. I figure even if we use it 1x per year it's $20 a visit. Even without biometrics, I would imagine the lines are typically shorter than traditional immigration so it is worth it for me.
DisneyBee
apricot / 340 posts

Apr 9, 2018

@psw27: Eek! I wonder why your DH had to stay with all of you. That's a bummer!
DisneyBee
apricot / 340 posts

Apr 9, 2018

@youboots: @psw27: Not sure where all of you live, but I see the interview places are usually around airports. Is that your case? My closest interview places are about 45 minutes to an hour away.
psw27
pomelo / 5220 posts

Apr 9, 2018

@DisneyBee: The agent simply said "families traveling together have to stay together." We were in no position to argue hahaha....

We live in Boston and so we are being interviewed in Boston, luckily. One thing they are allowing now is to interview the next time you return from a trip - so if you're flying in from Mexico, the next time you're at the airport you can do your interview then and there!
Mrsbells
squash / 13199 posts

Apr 9, 2018

@DisneyBee: global reentry includes tsa pre Check. I have tsa precheck through my employer but i don't have global. I think it depends how often you travel internationally. If you don't travel internationally that much then i wouldnt bother

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