US Global Entry Program for Australian citizens [from 2025]

[DFWorldtraveller]

For anyone keeping up:

Phase One applications are now closed.​

Mentioned on https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/global-entry-program

Wonderful - something tells me that my son who is about to have a physical interview to confirm ID is now not going to be cleared - even though I started the process back on 10th.. All because they stupidly will not process someone under 18 online despite having a MyID….

 

[desafinado74]

Anyone here getting a touch nervous about visiting the US now, especially with these stories about travellers from Europe getting detained by CBP and ICE ? And travel advisories from Germany, UK etc ?

I will still go next year, but will admit that i am a bit nervous Hopefully the Global Entry status will eliminate any direct contact with a CBP officer.

 

[Mal P]

Was fully approved last month I work in the US. Entered at LAX the other day and the visitor line was an hour long. I went to the global entry line where a CBP officer had a tablet reviewing entries and then camera system recognized my face. I was sent to a CBP officer to do one final check with my passport. It took one minute to clear immigration - global entry is incredible.

 

[lurker]

Short version: If your ticket has your title on it (e.g. MS, MR, etc), it might mess with pre-check (at least on AS).

Had my GE on arrival interview the other day. Took about an hour of waiting to be seen, and then the interview took 5 mins (basically went over the questions in my application to see if anything had changed between applying and the interview).

Interview was completed around 1200hrs, received the full approval via email the next day around 0800hrs (~20 hours later).

Went to use my new Known Traveller Number (KTN) with online check-in for an AS flight (booked by QF on a QF ticket) and didn't get pre-check. Went to the counter to figure out if there was something funny with my booking, and turns out AS had the "MR" as part of my actual name on my ticket (e.g. LASTNAME FIRSTNAME MR). I've noticed MR being added to my ticket before, but this was the first time it caused an issue.

At the check-in counter, they played with my booking, removed the MR at the end... and voila — pre-check on the boarding pass!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Not all checkpoints have space for a dedicated precheck lane. Some larger airports have dedicated precheck checkpoints, others have a dedicated lane at the checkpoint. Others have no precheck lane, causing slight differences in the processing of people with precheck.
From what I've seen at these checkpoints, the person checking ID/boarding pass calls back to the person gate keeping the metal detector that they have a precheck. They keep shoes on and go through the metal detector, but the screening for the baggage xray is different depending on whoever is the manager on duty at the time.

I have flown through a lot of small US airports that don’t have pre-check lines.
They give me a laminated plastic card I hold and that allows me to go through with shoes on etc.

 

[DirectConnect]

Just a general note for all people who are following onto the US CEP Phase 2 implementation:

The prerequisite of which being legislative changes to allow the continuous annual background check of AU GEP members and to allow "cost recovery" going forward.

We are getting close to the final implementation of the bill and potentially even the acquiescence of the bill before the Federal Election. With it formally passing the House of Representatives last week and it moving through the Senate this week.

AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) Bill 2025

Helpful information Text of bill First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house. As passed by

www.aph.gov.au

 

[desafinado74]

Just a general note for all people who are following onto the US CEP Phase 2 implementation:

The prerequisite of which being legislative changes to allow the continuous annual background check of AU GEP members and to allow "cost recovery" going forward.

We are getting close to the final implementation of the bill and potentially even the acquiescence of the bill before the Federal Election. With it formally passing the House of Representatives last week and it moving through the Senate this week.

AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) Bill 2025

Helpful information Text of bill First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house. As passed by

www.aph.gov.au

Thanks for the info. It can't come soon enough !

 

[desafinado74]

Just a general note for all people who are following onto the US CEP Phase 2 implementation:

The prerequisite of which being legislative changes to allow the continuous annual background check of AU GEP members and to allow "cost recovery" going forward.

We are getting close to the final implementation of the bill and potentially even the acquiescence of the bill before the Federal Election. With it formally passing the House of Representatives last week and it moving through the Senate this week.

AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) Bill 2025

Helpful information Text of bill First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house. As passed by

www.aph.gov.au

Looks like it has passed both Houses

 

[DirectConnect]

Anyone here getting a touch nervous about visiting the US now, especially with these stories about travellers from Europe getting detained by CBP and ICE ? And travel advisories from Germany, UK etc ?

I will still go next year, but will admit that i am a bit nervous Hopefully the Global Entry status will eliminate any direct contact with a CBP officer.

Its not quite completely "zero contact" you still need to present your ticket or submission to a CBP agent who may ask further questions, if you get the dreaded "X" ticket - a full secondary review which includes surrendering your phone for inspection or just check your details and process you through.

 

[Be.au]

Media release from the ministers are here - Australians to benefit from streamlined travel arrangements to the US

A limited number of Australian citizens have been able to apply for Global Entry Program from January this year under phase one, which is now closed. The passage of this Bill will pave the way for the expansion of the program to all eligible Australians with phase two expected to commence in the second half of the year.

9 News suggests phase two will begin from July - Australians are now able to travel to the US faster and easier

New legislation passed by the federal government has expanded the program to all Australians with phase two to begin from July.

 

[desafinado74]

Media release from the ministers are here - Australians to benefit from streamlined travel arrangements to the US



9 News suggests phase two will begin from July - Australians are now able to travel to the US faster and easier

Nice! Only have to wait for a few more months.

 

[justinbrett]

I just did my GE enrolment on arrival. Was supposed to be LAX but got rerouted through SFO as my flight from OOL was delayed.

They have implemented it really well. You are allowed to use the global entry line for enrolement - many others have said other airports make you use the normal line first.

So straight up, did the standard arrival questions, then asked to put my name on a list and sit down. I was #2 of names not crossed out. Within 5 minutes I was called up (to a standard immigration booth, not a back office), simple questions plus checking drivers licence and scanning fingerprints.

All up it was 20 minutes from aircraft door to being outside the terminal. The rest of the non-Americans on the flight would have waited an hour at least, the hall was chockers.

Just waiting on the final email with my KTN.

Edit - got my KTN just under 3 hours later.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

Annoyingly my son’s online interview for identity confirmation was cancelled day before due to phase 1 closure. Very annoying that he missed out simply because of manual process as opposed to my wife who went through. Also annoyed as since the cancelled the interview it means we will still have to do that once phase 2 opens. Would have been good to have done it now so his application would be essentially done and just waiting for phase 2 auto push.

Let’s hope phase 2 comes by July or even before. The Bill needs royal assent by the GG which usually takes around 7 business days before it becomes law. Good news is the Bill is only 3 pages and very simple and doesn’t look like it needs any further regulatory changes or support. So hopefully it should just be a case of the agency gearing up and getting itself ready for influx of new applications.

 

[DirectConnect]

Annoyingly my son’s online interview for identity confirmation was cancelled day before due to phase 1 closure. Very annoying that he missed out simply because of manual process as opposed to my wife who went through. Also annoyed as since the cancelled the interview it means we will still have to do that once phase 2 opens. Would have been good to have done it now so his application would be essentially done and just waiting for phase 2 auto push.

Let’s hope phase 2 comes by July or even before. The Bill needs royal assent by the GG which usually takes around 7 business days before it becomes law. Good news is the Bill is only 3 pages and very simple and doesn’t look like it needs any further regulatory changes or support. So hopefully it should just be a case of the agency gearing up and getting itself ready for influx of new applications.

They do need to implement a few more systems including the final cost recovery process which is rumoured to be around $300-$400, fixing any issues/increasing efficiency as per demonstrated in Stage 1 and then the gates will be opened up.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

I just did my GE enrolment on arrival. Was supposed to be LAX but got rerouted through SFO as my flight from OOL was delayed.

They have implemented it really well. You are allowed to use the global entry line for enrolement - many others have said other airports make you use the normal line first.

So straight up, did the standard arrival questions, then asked to put my name on a list and sit down. I was #2 of names not crossed out. Within 5 minutes I was called up (to a standard immigration booth, not a back office), simple questions plus checking drivers licence and scanning fingerprints.

All up it was 20 minutes from aircraft door to being outside the terminal. The rest of the non-Americans on the flight would have waited an hour at least, the hall was chockers.

Just waiting on the final email with my KTN.

Edit - got my KTN just under 3 hours later.

Yep SFO a great place to do it. My wife is about to do it at Terminal 4 JFK which unfortunately means lining up in the usual long foreigner immigration line (cannot use the mobile app since we are on a visa) and then once clear, then hope someone is attending the EOA office and the queue is not too long. I actually booked an appointment at the landslide office for 90 minutes after we are due to land, in case we can clear immigration fast enough but the EOA isn’t available or lines are too long. Hopefully one option will work and then both of us have it and then just wait for phase 2 for our son. Until he has it, we cannot really use it if we are traveling with him. Although at least since I have had it they always grant my son TSA Precheck when traveling with me.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

They do need to implement a few more systems including the final cost recovery process which is rumoured to be around $300-$400, fixing any issues/increasing efficiency as per demonstrated in Stage 1 and then the gates will be opened up.

Indeed - and in typical Australian fashion the price for the check will be stupidly high - as you note. I think it was around 100 pounds when I did the UK check and of course the US is 100USD. So 300-400 AUD is stupid but no matter the cost I will certainly get it for my kid. The disaster of US immigration and living in the US on a visa for many years has driven me mad and I am so happy to now have GE . Especially since I lived in Dubai before the US where you are out of immigration through a smart gate in less than 5 minutes every time.

 

[desafinado74]

They do need to implement a few more systems including the final cost recovery process which is rumoured to be around $300-$400, fixing any issues/increasing efficiency as per demonstrated in Stage 1 and then the gates will be opened up.

Bloody hell, that is steep! And considering the fact that we also have the most expensive passport in the world! The government sure knows how to milk us dry.

 

[DC3]

Bloody hell, that is steep!

Rumoured, apparently.

Patience, Grasshopper.

 

[DC3]

An article, here:

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/us-global-entry-australia-how-to-apply

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

The article also helpfully points out the MPC App - frankly for most Aussies this is perfect and helps people fly through immigration. I stood in line for 90 mins at JFK the other month while watching people sale through MPC in less than 10 minutes.

The only real draw backs - you cannot use if a visa holder, you have to have entered the USA on your ESTA at least once before and you don’t get TSA precheck.

But for those who visit the US only once in a while it is not a bad option.