Global Entry advantages
This item appears on page 54 of the September 2014 issue.
Why apply for the TSA Pre√TM (Pre-check) program, alone (May ’14, pg. 65)? For $15 more, you can also skip those long passport lines on reentry to the US.
The Global Entry program offers quick passport clearance with the help of automated kiosks. It includes TSA Pre√TM (allowing approved travelers expedited security screening for selected departures in US airports) plus eligibility for other expedited-entry programs: NEXUS (quicker entry on Canadian/American border crossings), SENTRI, (quicker entry on Mexican/American border crossings) and FAST (for commercial vehicles crossing borders by land).
The application costs $100. The only drawback is that payment is up front, so rejected applicants are still out the fee.
An in-person interview is required, with a wait of several months at many locations. But persistent checking online can usually help you reschedule a quicker interview.
Find the Global Entry application on this page of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
WALT BILOFSKY
Tiburon, CA