www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I've spoken with several CRTers who've joined the Global Entry Program of the US Customs Service. If you are a member, you don't have to fill out the customs slip each time you enter the US; you are able to bypass the regular passport line, and; you are expedited through customs. I joined this program last year and have never spent more than 3 minutes getting through the passport line. Of course, I have to wait for my luggage and recheck it, just like anyone else, but even that process is somewhat expedited. If you travel out of the country a lot and like to get through immigration quickly, this is a good way to do it. Up till now, the program was restricted to just a few airports. As of August 24, it is expanding.

This is the email I received from them today:

Global Entry Members,

Great news! Global Entry is expanding to an additional 13 locations. On August 24, 2009 Global Entry Kiosks will be available at the following 20 airports:

Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS)

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW)

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston (IAH)

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Honolulu International Airport (HNL)

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas (LAS)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Miami International Airport (MIA)

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Juan-Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)

Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB)

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport-SeaTac (SEA)

Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Go to www.globalentry.gov for more information.


Ciaociao

Thanks, Ciao good plan,
Regards,911 Driver

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Great tip, Brother CCzipcode, especially as they have joined with similar programs in other countries (The Netherlands' Privium, for example). This lets us be a known quantity and them to focus on who they need to focus on.

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There is one at IAH (Houston).. It is not only faster, but less scrutiny as well. However, globalentry participants are still subject to random searches.

Ciaociao

Just filled out my online form and paid the fee... Ciaociao how long does it take for them to approve you for an interview and where and what does that entail?

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Srilm

There is one at Houston for CUSTOMS, and that is what I was referring to above. It is the same line that the flight staff uses. It is not only faster, but there is less scrutiny as well. Although you are correct, they hardly need one there.

And Gamblinman, like Srilm, I applied some time ago and the lag time to allow me to interview was under a week. I don't know what the time lag is nowadays. My approval was not immediate upon the interview, rather I received provisional approval. A few days later I received an email informing me that I had been approved.

Ciaociao

Thanks for the replies, as I should have no problem with the online approval at least I don't think the TSA/ FBI or any GOVT agency is looking for me

My question is what does the personal Interview Entail? Is it easy to set up the appointment? How long is it? what type of questions etc? I need to budget time an hour? 1/2 Day etc. Thanks.

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I think they schedule you for 20 minutes to half an hour. When you schedule, you do it on line and take one of the available slots. It was very easy to do. My experience was they were late to start and went over the scheduled time. Keep that in mind when you schedule yours, as I was a little nervous getting to my flight.

They mostly asked me about my job, criminal history and reviewed all the questions I'd answered on line. They spend a fair amount of time looking at the computer, and filling in information. They fingerprint you and I believe, do a retinal scan, though I don't recall for certain. They spend some amount of time telling you how the program works and what you can expect. They didn't ask me any questions about why I was traveling out of the country, which I thought was odd.

Ciaociao

FLL and MIA works for me...thanks for the headz up!

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