Global Entry

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Program which allows you to skip the long lines and makes it much easier going through screening when reentering the United States. Being in the Global Entry Program also gives you TSA precheck benefits as well. You can go through TSA Precheck security lines, and do not need to: take off your shoes, remove your laptop from the case, take out liquids from your carry-on, and take off your belt or light outer wear.

This morning I went in for my global entry interview at the DFW airport. I arrived early and was done with the interview before my scheduled appointment time. It was really just an appointment where they looked at my passport and took my fingerprints. I received an email in the afternoon, which said there had been a change to my application status. When I logged in I saw that I was approved and I am now waiting for my card to arrive by mail.

The first part of the application was all online, and fairly simple. You have to create an account and enter your information and pay the fee. You then have to wait a week or two for your application to be processed and approved. If it is approved you are able to schedule an appointment, which is the last step. I had to schedule mine for when I would be in Dallas, as the Indianapolis airport did not have a Global Entry office. This may be problematic if you are not in a major city. If you only want TSA Precheck you can apply for that instead, which costs $85 and is good for 5 years, same as Global Entry. This would be fine, if you do not leave the U.S. often.

One reason I applied for Global Entry was that the Chase Saphire Reserve card reimburses the application fee of $100 when using the card to pay. You could also get reimbursed for TSA Precheck. If you apply for this card by clicking the link above you can get a sign-up bonus of 50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. This is worth either $500 in cash back, or $750 in travel through the Chase Rewards Site. The card also includes Priority Pass Select, which will let you and a guest enter over 1000 airport lounges worldwide, where you can rest comfortably while waiting for your flight. My wife and I found using a travel lounge to sleep while in Singapore made our longhaul trip much more tolerable. Many lounges also include complimentary showers, food and drinks. With 3% back on travel and dining purchases and a $300 credit on travel, this makes the $450 annual fee more than worth it if you travel frequently. The travel credit and Global Entry credit benefits have effectively reduced the annual fee to $50.

I hope this is helpful to anyone considering getting Global Entry or TSA Pre-check. You can check available enrollment center and apply using the link below.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/enrollment-centers

Happy Travels,

Mike