Global Entry… for those of us flying a lot in country or out of country, this has been a hot topic for a bit. Shorter lines and not having to remove your clothes definately has its benefits – but at the risk of your personal information. That choice is up to each individual. Here is a rundown of pros and cons, with application links at the bottom.
Cost: $100 for 5 years
Who’s eligible: US citizens and permanent residents, and citizens of Germany, the Netherlands, Panama, South Korea, and Mexico. But only Americans can get the PreCheck benefits.
Benefits
- No queuing for passport control checks
- No paper customs declaration form
- Potential to use your Global Entry pass in other countries
- No minimum number of international trips to qualify
- Includes TSA PreCheck, Nexus, and Sentri
- TSA Precheck – $85 for 5 years, no need to remove: Shoes, Laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, Belts & Light jackets, in many airports there is a separate line for TSA Precheck
- Nexus – $50 for 5 years, expedites border crossings in and out of Canada
- Sentri – $123 for 5 years, expedites border crossings in and out of Mexico
Downfalls
- Fingerprinting required
- Social security required
- Biometric information required
- Residence and employment history for 5 years required
- Background check required
- In-person interview required
- All personal data held in database for 75 years and can be accessed by FBI, state and local law enforcement
- Possibility of random checks still exists
- As more and more people enroll and are approved; the speedy system will slow down
- No refund if denied
- In most cases, no answers as to why you were denied
Apply here:
- Global Entry (GOES) – $100 for 5 years, expedites border crossing in and out of USA, includes TSA Precheck, Nexus and Sentri
- TSA Precheck – $85 for 5 years, no need to remove: Shoes, Laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, Belts & Light jackets, in many airports there is a separate line for TSA Precheck
- Nexus – $50 for 5 years, expedites border crossings in and out of Canada
- Sentri – $123 for 5 years, expedites border crossings in and out of Mexico
- Flux – €121 for 1 year , expedites border crossing in and out of the Netherlands
