Global Entry Codes For UK Citizens

Silver Fox, I'm very jealous!

The most frustrating for me has been the garbled responses I got from Virgin, it wouldn't be as bad if they said they didn't have any codes to give out but they clearly didn't know what Global Entry was.

Maybe the UNIQ's in here would have better luck.

I went for my interview on Friday and now have Global Entry status. Even though you fill in a lot of the information beforehand they seem to have to type a lot of it all in again from what I could tell from sitting the other side of his monitor. The questions are of a general nature about your work, how often you travel, what other countries you go to, how long you spend away at each trip, but certainly nothing to try and trip you up and certainly not an interrogation.

When I got my conditional approval in early December, the earliest appointment was end of March - as I am in the USA at the moment I kept looking for cancellations and persistence paid off. I actually think that given the right sort of CBP agents, that I could have just walked in, although officially there are no walk-ins but on a Friday a lot of people do not turn up according to them, and I was seen about 90 minutes before my allotted time.

The only thing that I found odd was that I had to supply a US address for them to send a membership card to me as they cannot ship internationally (their exact words at SFO). But I now have two passports all GE'd up and cannot wait to use them.

The odd thing is that the only indication for your passoprt is a little sticker on the inside cover that says CBP - I was expecting something a lot more "exotic" !

The odd thing is that the only indication for your passoprt is a little sticker on the inside cover that says CBP - I was expecting something a lot more "exotic" !

Perhaps if you ask nicely Pete will do you some special luggage tags.

'Do I look like I have to queue for the CBP?'for example !

The odd thing is that the only indication for your passoprt is a little sticker on the inside cover that says CBP - I was expecting something a lot more "exotic" !

Perhaps if you ask nicely Pete will do you some special luggage tags.

'Do I look like I have to queue for the CBP?'for example !

Now that is a very good idea !

Global Entry is very cool.

Global Entry is very cool.

It is beyond cool !

Just used it for the first time and managed to avoid very long queues on both sides of the arrivals hall in SFO yesterday. I can't go back to being ordinary.

And not having to fill in the blue customs form by hand seems a major victory for some strange reason.

Well done Silver Fox -- I am jealous! Out of interest, how much flying do you need with UA to be eligible for a code?

Hopefully this is a trial which precedes full UK eligibility for the scheme...

I am a 1K with United so over 100,000 per calendar year BIS miles. The problem, if this is true, is that I was told that Virgin, BA, United were all given codes as part of a trial and were expected by CBP in the USA to give them to elite flyers as "the trial" to see the take-up. The problem is that the airlines seem to not be handing them out and you have to fight hard to find the person in the respective airline company that knows about it and can help. I think BA might have been different and did offer it. United certainly didn't and I had to scurry around until I found someone. I do not know what this means for it being rolled out in general. Personally I would hammer away at your preferred airline and ask for a "promotional code" - that is what they are called for UK citizens and you have to be patient and make a lot of calls/emails. Well worth it though.

So, so glad I read this thread otherwise I wouldn't have known about it.

The problem is that the airlines seem to not be handing them out and you have to fight hard to find the person in the respective airline company that knows about it and can help. I think BA might have been different and did offer it. United certainly didn't and I had to scurry around until I found someone. I do not know what this means for it being rolled out in general.

I know several people who did from VS :w

UPDATE on this process.

I've just obtained a PROMO CODE from Flying Club. A very simple process of calling and asking for one. I'm surprised VS haven't put thin into the public domain, or certainly for those of us that travel back and forth the US on a regular basis.

Application takes around 30mins if you've everything to hand, and then you'll nee a Police Report reference number, £80.

I don't think I've ever been so excited to fly back to the US. Goodbye JFK immigration nonsense!

Also got a code from VS and applied on 4th Sept. Application still shows Pending review....

Do people still think this is worth it? I fly enough to make it possible, but am struggling to summon up the energy to do it.

Do people still think this is worth it? I fly enough to make it possible, but am struggling to summon up the energy to do it.

Absolutely yes. Unless you're on the VS3 or anything landing after 9pm - forget it, and especially if you're flying into JFK. EWR is easy with immigration but costly if you're getting ground transport to Manhattan or beyond. I guess it's a case of weight up it all up. It's £80 for a police report, $100 to apply (No guarantees of acceptance)...

If all goes well - you could save hours upon hours. I myself have been caught in queues at JFK for 3 hours, Miami 2 hours, LAX - 2 hours... it's not pleasant, and especially if you land after a flight from a country that US immigration might deem as 'worthy of spending a few more minutes' talking to its passengers. I've done the UK-US route for ten years, Global Entry is an absolute must for those that fly often.

£45 for the Police Certificate, unless you fast track it. You do get an email back acknowledging it with the reference number on it, so you can apply as soon as you get that.

It's taking a long time for approval now, so not sure the premium service is worth it. It could take a month to get the conditional approval anyway.

Just got the conditionally approved notice from GOES
I applied for Global entry on 4th Sept, conditionally approved on 23rd


Ironically I travelled to the US today and brought my ACRO certificate, however first interviews seem to be available from Sunday and I'll be back in the UK. I think I will try a walk in interview at Newark as I have read others have tried and been successful

Keep checking for cancellations on the website. And definitely go and try a walk in. At SFO they did not mind at all.

I've just obtained a PROMO CODE from Flying Club. A very simple process of calling and asking for one. I'm surprised VS haven't put thin into the public domain, or certainly for those of us that travel back and forth the US on a regular basis.

Interesting. I rang FC up today, and nobody had heard anything about it. I did admittedly ring in the evening, so I'll try again tomorrow during office hours. I'm not the heaviest flier around, but I am AU and set to renew. This is perhaps a case as Silver Fox said of pestering them until I find the right person.

I got my promotional code by emailing FC.

It took 2 days to get a response, not the 'standard' 28 or whatever it is these days.

They did say they would give me a code, but only after I had obtained my police certificate.

Try calling back or email them. I'd suggest get confirmation they will give you a code before you apply for the ACRO police certificate even if they will not actually give it to you until you have that certificate.

I managed to get a Global Entry interview at JFK on Friday 90 mins before due to leave on VS046.

It was very straightforward - under 10 minutes, just a few questions to verify information and fingerprints and photo taken and then I got to try out a Demo Global Entry kiosk they had there and I was told I was fully approved and would get the email confirmation later that day or the next. By the time I got to the JFK Clubhouse the approval email was there.

Given that I was seen a good hour before my appointment time and there was a column on the sign-in sheet for walk-in appointments I would say people stand a good chance at JFK of being accepted without an appointment.