Global Entry...Finally!

[wjslam]

Just got back from W Caribbean on Nieuw Amsterdam and wanted to share our shockingly pleasant experience with customs inspection in Key West and subsequent customs clearance at Port Everglades.

 

The paperwork distributed advising of the inspection onboard said to inform any HAL rep if you hold a NEXUS or FAST card. No mention of global entry. We took our cards anyway and mentioned that we had them to a HAL officer. We were immediately escorted to the front of the queue and were on our way in 2 minutes.

 

On arrival in Port Everglades we mentioned global entry and were shown to a global entry "line" on the far left of the hall. Bingo... front of queue and away we went!

 

The good news... we left the ship at 8:30, stood in the cab line for 10 minutes, checked our bags curbside at FLL, cleared security with TSA Precheck, and arrived at our gate at 9:00!! Yes, really.

 

The bad news... we were 3 hours early for our flight. :D

 

Remember, your mileage may vary. Just wanted to share some good news about global entry. Always ask!

[sail7seas]

Sounds great.

Congratulations. :)

[sppunk]

Great news, GE/Nexus has literally saved about a day of waiting for us the past 6 or so years.

[ger_77]

Good to know; we just received our Nexus cards this week. Will enjoy using them at Key West and Port Everglades. Did they have kiosks set up, or did you present to an official?

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

[jaspersmycat]

This is great news. Global Entry is great at the airports. Since I also cruise this is like the icing on the cake. I look forward to using it in 2 weeks. Just packed my card.

[Vict0riann]

We've been waiting for this. Great news! It really makes life easy in airports and driving across the border.

[wjslam]

Good to know; we just received our Nexus cards this week. Will enjoy using them at Key West and Port Everglades. Did they have kiosks set up, or did you present to an official?

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

 

No kiosks....yet

[DeeniEncinitas]

We had the same experience with The Nieuw last March on our b2b out of FLT.

So nice!

Denise:)

[muffin]

Went to nexus info. Nowhere I saw gave any guesstimate as to how long it takes to get the card. What has your time frame been? Realize getting the scan will mean a trip to the mainland for us, but is the scan immediately added to your file so you are good to go? Also wondering if scans an ever be done at an airport so you can use nexus the NEXT time you pass through? Thx

[ger_77]

It took approx 3 months from the date we submitted our info online. We then scheduled our interviews, but found out that location does not have an iris scanner. This week we are driving 5 hours to a city where we can get the scans done.

[Krazy Kruizers]

That is wonderful that your Global cards sped everything up for you.

When we cruised on US Airways, the last couple of years we always had TSA precheck.

But now they are gone and we had to fly on American when we came home from Ft Lauderdale -- no TSA precheck.

Thankfully since I have to use a wheelchair, we still went to the front of the line.

[cruz chic]

Went to nexus info. Nowhere I saw gave any guesstimate as to how long it takes to get the card. What has your time frame been? Realize getting the scan will mean a trip to the mainland for us, but is the scan immediately added to your file so you are good to go? Also wondering if scans an ever be done at an airport so you can use nexus the NEXT time you pass through? Thx

 

I've had my nexus card for about 2 years. I think it took a couple of months to get investigated. After that you had to make an appt to meet with them. I needed to do it on the weekend and the wait was about 6 months :rolleyes:. When I called they said to keep watching the website because I could likely move myself up. I did and that took about 2 months. I went and met with them to get finger printed and iris scans. After that it took at least a month to get the card. This is in Calgary. Can't speak for the wait elsewhere.

[cruz chic]

This is great news. Global Entry is great at the airports. Since I also cruise this is like the icing on the cake. I look forward to using it in 2 weeks. Just packed my card.

 

When you say you packed your card I hope you mean you'll have it handy because you will need to present it. I've actually talked to people that pack their passport in their suitcase. That's just dangerous.

[cruz chic]

Just got back from W Caribbean on Nieuw Amsterdam and wanted to share our shockingly pleasant experience with customs inspection in Key West and subsequent customs clearance at Port Everglades.

 

The paperwork distributed advising of the inspection onboard said to inform any HAL rep if you hold a NEXUS or FAST card. No mention of global entry. We took our cards anyway and mentioned that we had them to a HAL officer. We were immediately escorted to the front of the queue and were on our way in 2 minutes.

 

On arrival in Port Everglades we mentioned global entry and were shown to a global entry "line" on the far left of the hall. Bingo... front of queue and away we went!

 

The good news... we left the ship at 8:30, stood in the cab line for 10 minutes, checked our bags curbside at FLL, cleared security with TSA Precheck, and arrived at our gate at 9:00!! Yes, really.

 

The bad news... we were 3 hours early for our flight. :D

 

Remember, your mileage may vary. Just wanted to share some good news about global entry. Always ask!

 

Thx for the info on key west. I had no idea it would have helped there. That said, it was pretty quick for me in October.

[Fouremco]

Great news! About time that the cruise industry is given some consideration! :)

[Typhoon1]

Applied for GE two years ago. The best $100.00 I ever spent.

[cruisingxpert]

I wish I had seen this thread before I came back to Port Everglades last Sunday on the Nieuw Amsterdam. There were 2 customs officers for over 2000 people and 1 officer for wheelchairs and special needs.

 

I never saw any sign or notice that I could show my Nexus card and go in the wheelchair line. I found that out when I got to front of the line - took an hour to get there. I overheard the person in front of me ask about Global Entry and heard the guy say we could have used the other line.

[Jade13]

We have Global Entry. But it doesn't help with TSA pre check. I am not sure if it worth our time to apply for TSA pre check since not all airlines or airports use it. I was just in BWI over thanksgiving and the TSA pre check line was closed.

 

 

We also flew in from Hong Kong a few weeks ago and went to the wrong kiosk, not GE. It didn't matter since there was no wait.

 

It sounds like GE will be helpful in FT Lauderdale where we plan to book a 10:00am flight after a transatlantic. Maybe a better chance of making the flight.

Edited December 7, 2015 by Jade13

[sppunk]

We have Global Entry. But it doesn't help with TSA pre check. I am not sure if it worth our time to apply for TSA pre check since not all airlines or airports use it. I was just in BWI over thanksgiving and the TSA pre check line was closed.

 

 

We also flew in from Hong Kong a few weeks ago and went to the wrong kiosk, not GE. It didn't matter since there was no wait.

 

It sounds like GE will be helpful in FT Lauderdale where we plan to book a 10:00am flight after a transatlantic. Maybe a better chance of making the flight.

GE included PreCheck. Your Known Traveler Number is valid for both, nckude t n your airline bookings and you'll get Pre. Names must match identically of course.

 

BWI is my home airport and I've never seen the Pre line closed, usually fly out of the 2x/month.

[cruz chic]

I wish I had seen this thread before I came back to Port Everglades last Sunday on the Nieuw Amsterdam. There were 2 customs officers for over 2000 people and 1 officer for wheelchairs and special needs.

 

I never saw any sign or notice that I could show my Nexus card and go in the wheelchair line. I found that out when I got to front of the line - took an hour to get there. I overheard the person in front of me ask about Global Entry and heard the guy say we could have used the other line.

 

They certainly don't make it obvious or encourage people to use it. They seem quite happy to stand there doing nothing. Everybody that went through that line asked about it and you were not oermitted into the line until you showed them you had your card in hand. The line was blocked off when I used it on November 1.

[cruz chic]

GE included PreCheck. Your Known Traveler Number is valid for both, nckude t n your airline bookings and you'll get Pre. Names must match identically of course.

 

BWI is my home airport and I've never seen the Pre line closed, usually fly out of the 2x/month.

 

I had no idea about this until someone pointed out on cruise critic. Now I add it into all my bookings. I'm not used to this since the airports in Canada I use just let you show it and you have a special line.

[cruisingxpert]

They certainly don't make it obvious or encourage people to use it. They seem quite happy to stand there doing nothing. Everybody that went through that line asked about it and you were not oermitted into the line until you showed them you had your card in hand. The line was blocked off when I used it on November 1.

 

Is it standard to have so few custom agents for so many passengers or did I just get unlucky? I haven't been out or into Port Everglades for 4 yrs and don't remember it being this awful.

[RMLincoln]

I went to the GE website and learned a lot except for how long it's good for. So I pay $100 and go through the whole process.... and is it good as long as my passport or is it separate from my passport? I'll be renewing late 2016. Thanks, m--

[cruz chic]

Is it standard to have so few custom agents for so many passengers or did I just get unlucky? I haven't been out or into Port Everglades for 4 yrs and don't remember it being this awful.

 

It's been bad for a couple of years. Seems to me someone reported (maybe POA ? ) that it was supposed to be better this year. It doesn't sound like it to me.

[cruz chic]

I went to the GE website and learned a lot except for how long it's good for. So I pay $100 and go through the whole process.... and is it good as long as my passport or is it separate from my passport? I'll be renewing late 2016. Thanks, m--

 

The nexus card is good for 5 years. Not sure if global entry is the same.