If you have traveled at all in the last few years, you have undoubtedly had the near-universal experience of enduring a TSA security line or an immigration line upon re-entry to the US.
What if you could bypass those lines…every time you fly?
You may have heard of Global Entry, a US Customs and Boarder Protection program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. You fill out a (pretty extensive) application, pay a $100 fee, and, if your application passes the initial screening, you will be invited to an in person interview at a participating airport. When you complete the screening, you are granted a Global Entry ID. This is your golden ticket!
At the airport, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.
People who are approved for Global Entry can also participate in TSA Pre-Check.
TSA Pre-Check allows people to skip regular TSA security lines at participating airports and go through an expedited line- without having to remove shoes, liquids, food, or electronics. For those who are not traveling internationally, or who want some expedited services in the US but do not want to go through the screening process of Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check is a great option.
Global Entry and the accompanying TSA Pre-Check is a good fit for you if:
- You plan to travel internationally any time in the next five years. The more you travel, of course, the more worthwhile it will be.
- You have a credit card that may reimburse you for the registration fee.
- You are within a reasonable distance of or use any airport listed here for the personal interview.
If you are staying within the US, opting for TSA Pre-Check will give you expedited service through TSA without the additional steps of screening needed for Global Entry.
If you are a Canadian resident, the news is even better. If you qualify for Canada's expedited traveler program called Nexus, you get Global Entry for free. And it is only $50.
As your travel advisor, we are full of helpful hints and connections to make your next trip an amazing one. We would be thrilled to help you with your next adventure.
