US Global Entry appointments available in London for a limited period

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• Daniel says:

  9 Oct9 October 04:10

  A free alternative (until it becomes more popular) is using Mobile Passport, install the app on your phone. A good way to bypass long lines also, especially at MIA.

  • Bob says:

    9 Oct9 October 05:31

    It says on the App Store description that ‘US and Canadian citizens’ are eligible to use it…

• Bryan Anglim says:

  9 Oct9 October 04:27

  I think I am missing something?
  I had an ESTA, nothing else.
  Travelled to Houston and ALL ESTA travellers were directed to an electronic booth for passport scanning etc. I was issued a receipt and sent straight through to collect my bags.
  No joining the queue, which was massive! This was back in May.

  • Bob says:

    9 Oct9 October 05:26

    Same for us at MCO…

    • Lady London says:

      9 Oct9 October 09:35

      Same in YYZ

      • @mkcol says:

        9 Oct9 October 22:59

        Same in MIA a fortnight ago….except both my husband & I failed and were directed to see a “human” (who was more interested in watching his soap streaming on his mobile than communicating coherently & clearly….) as were a large chunk of other arrivals from our flight.

        • Joe says:

          10 Oct10 October 00:38

          Same in ORD last summer.

        • Dave says:

          11 Oct11 October 12:18

          This is standard procedure for those without GE, for those with GE you do not even need to queue to go to the machine and simply walk straight through to CBP

  • the_real_a says:

    9 Oct9 October 06:17

    They first need to scan your fingerprints… Subsequent entries you can use the booths.

  • James A says:

    9 Oct9 October 07:10

    You are indeed missing something! These electronic stations are different to the global entry kiosks (although they essentially do the same thing and have reduced the value of GE). GE kiosks altypically have no line at all, whereas the self serve kiosks can still have significant queues at times.

    • Alan says:

      9 Oct9 October 09:58

      In addition – GE also gives you a separate Customs lane (which can save a significant amount of time) along with TSA Pre.

      These automated kiosks have certainly reduced the value of GE, however for 5 years (or almost 6 years if you time application for just after your birthday!) it’s fairly handy. Pre-clearance stations such as Dublin also have GE kiosks, although again the value isn’t as great as you still have to be through in plenty of time.

  • Alan young says:

    9 Oct9 October 09:45

    Same at IAD last month, I had a new visa & the lady wife a retuning ESTA. But watch for limited signage tell you that you can skip the long queues (lines).
    Also note that a visa is now required if you have visited any countries on their watch list in the last 4 years

    • Graham Rice says:

      10 Oct10 October 09:30

      Alan states that there is a ‘Watch List’ of countries which could cause problems if you have previously visited them. Any idea where this list can be found? A web link would be useful.

      I have searched US Customs & Border Protection site but could not find anything.

• Paul says:

  9 Oct9 October 07:03

  I must be very lucky, aside from a 90 minute wait at LAX 2 years ago. I have been able to get myself and family through in no more than 15 minutes at JFK, DFW and SEA.
  Inside my experience of US entry as a foreigner has been a great deal more positive than returning and dealing with the queues and chaos of the UK Border force and their useless machines

  • Leo says:

    9 Oct9 October 08:29

    Yes you are VERY lucky although I have had better experiences this year at JFK -particularly at terminal 4. Try MCO however….

  • Tony says:

    9 Oct9 October 09:20

    Arriving at BOS is a killer every time.

    • Fenny says:

      9 Oct9 October 18:05

      Boston last summer was a total breeze. Straight through the automatic gate and even a border droid with a sense of humour. The worst thing about the whole experience was realising how much like my mother I look – including being 30 years older – without my glasses.

• Dr P says:

  9 Oct9 October 07:30

  Last month II had a similar experience at LAX. I had to wait 90mins+, the officials started to call for passengers which came on our flight by the end – I guess they got fed up of all the bags in reclaim.

  We were allegedly unable to use the self serve kiosks as we had new passports. It seems that each time you renew your passport you have to line up again (renewals included). Some of our family used the kiosks unknowingly (with new passports and names changes thereon) and managed to get through.

• Stu R says:

  9 Oct9 October 08:12

  One more reason not to visit the paranoia stricken USA ….

  • Bob says:

    9 Oct9 October 21:22

    We can assume you live outside the UK. A Brit at the current time couldn’t say such a thing without a serious lack of self awareness.

• Stuart says:

  9 Oct9 October 08:18

  Attended my interview last week, I was informed that all the interview slots in the U.K. have now been booked so this now could be a waste of money unless you can travel to the US on specific dates.

  • Simon says:

    9 Oct9 October 13:20

    I got the GOES email yesterday saying I’d been approved and that I could book my slot. I selected the US embassy in London and there is indeed a bold notice saying that all slots now taken. So quite, I feel a waste of money in some respects as I have no immediate US plans.

• James Ward says:

  9 Oct9 October 09:01

  I joined GE a couple of years ago when they opened up a very short trial for U.K. citizens. As I travel to the US three times a year it wasn’t too much hassle to arrange the interview to take place on my next visit.

  It’s the best $100 I have ever spent. There is never a queue for the machines, so you’re at the baggage carousel in no time. Most airports seem to also offer a dedicated GE like for the customs check as you leave the airport, so much shorter waits there too.

  When you have GE you also become eligible for Pre Check, which is (supposed to be) and expedited security screening process. In reality, so many travellers have Pre Check now the lines are often just as long but they move faster because (a) you don’t have to remove coats, shoes, laptop, liquids, etc and (b) the travellers in this line are more experienced at airport sucuriry so don’t faff around.

  • Mikee says:

    9 Oct9 October 18:51

    Like James, I did the same thing and agree fully how much easier if made immigration in the US. I paid using my Amex Platinum at the time and called Customer Services to ask if they would cover the application fee. I asked because the US-issued Platinum card provided GE for free via a statement credit of $100. I argued that because GE had just opened up to UK citizens, it was a perk they should match. They agreed to cover $50 instead of the full amount which was still a bonus.

    Suggest calling Amex Platinum to ask if they will cover the fee (and update their benefits page as UK citizens have GE available to them, not just on trial as per my previous application).

    • Alan says:

      9 Oct9 October 19:30

      Haha nicely done that man! Great response from Plat CS too!

      If only UK Border had something similarly efficient 🙁

      • Genghis says:

        9 Oct9 October 19:40

        My wife sent me this article:

        http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3783641/A-fiver-come-home-UK-airport-charge-passengers-skip-lengthy-queues-passport-control.html

        • Alan says:

          9 Oct9 October 21:38

          Yeah, signs are up at Edinburgh but doesn’t seem to be operating yet. If they could offer it at around £80 for 5 years with the same speed of entry/lack of queue as GE I’d go for it, but I don’t fancy paying everytime. Of course if you’ve checked a bag for most UK airports you’ll need up waiting ages for the luggage to arrive anyway 😉

  • Richard says:

    10 Oct10 October 08:43

    Totally agree. I’ve had GE a few years now and love it, plus the TSA Pre is great too. It takes me longer to get back into the UK than it does into the US!!

• keith says:

  9 Oct9 October 10:04

  As a regular US traveller this is the best thing that has happened to entry into the States. Miami, traditionally one of the worst for lines, 2 weeks ago was less than 5 minutes in Global Entry. Looking at the lines that day my guess is that one trip alone my time saving was in excess of 1.5 hours. Naturally as it becomes more popular the time will get shorter but at the moment and with recent trips to Miami, Chicago, Orlando and Philly, GE has paid for itself already.

  Agree with James that you also get pre clearance as well which means you just scan your bags intact without having to remove anything. To my mind this is not only a time saving but I always get concerned that the potential for dropping my computer or something to be missing from my tray of belongings is always there and not having to unpack my pack is another benefit.

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