US Global Entry Program for Australian citizens [from 2025]

[chitown_boy]

Just reporting my experience with my conditional approval last month and how global entry (and tsa pre-check) panned out. No queue on arrival to enrolment on arrival - a slight hiccup as the CBP agent questioned me twice on whether I’ve had any US customs infringements in the past. And I repeated said no as I was adamant I didn’t have any. She then said are you sure? i said no again and she said ok you have, for pork. And then it dawned on me that I ‘transited’ SFO back in 2016 and after going through secondary passport control they scanned by bags and found some pork jerky I had bought in singapore and confiscated it. I didn’t realise it was even recorded! Anyways, she said she would let this one go on this ocassion because it was so long ago but gave me a spiel about needing to declare things even with global entry. Was approved within the hour. But when flying out of JFK to MAD my KTN wasn’t registering as TSA PRE on my boarding pass. Re-entered JFK a few days later after a trip to Gran Canaria - used the app and breezed through CBP using global entry without needing to take out my passport. Subsequent flights TSA PRE worked, I suspect I needed to use Global Entry first before TSA PRE is activated?

 

[Katie]

It takes a few days for the system to register Pre Check after GE approval.
I flew a domestic flight the day after (~12 hrs after) approval and it wasn’t yet registered. Flew again 6 days later and TSA Pre was through.

 

[ithongy]

TSA Touchless is available to use. This can speed up the TSA security process by taking a selfie on your cell phone using the Airline app. So when you go to TSA line there is no need to stand in line to take a picture prior to security screening. You will need to add passport and known traveller numbers on app profile.

I haven't used it myself yet, but have downloaded AA app and can enter in PNR number and get live updates and digital bp (despite I do love to keep the paper bp) this makes it so much easier and it will also keep track of gates and boarding times. Do ensure you opt into TSA Touchless for your next flight via airline app. You can also credit your flights to your choice of FF programs, in my case all my AA flights were credited to QF FF program. Also with AA signing in with app you can get access to free ATT wifi onboard.

Airlines Partaking in TSA Touchless:
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta
Southwest
United

 

[blackcat20]

Our interview on arrival at HNL took forever, so long in fact that we missed our connecting flight...

 

[ithongy]

Our interview on arrival at HNL took forever, so long in fact that we missed our connecting flight...

Mine back in 2018 in LA office (not at airport) was less than 10mins, maybe even 5mins.

 

[MG1]

Our interview on arrival at HNL took forever, so long in fact that we missed our connecting flight...

Wow! That's horrible! Any form of compensation?

That's the opposite to my experience in HNL. I got through customs unusually quickly. I then was directed to the "waiting area". After waiting for maybe 10-15 minutes, they called me over to a booth, asked me a couple of questions and that was it.

I wish that the same had happened for you.

 

[blackcat20]

Wow! That's horrible! Any form of compensation?

That's the opposite to my experience in HNL. I got through customs unusually quickly. I then was directed to the "waiting area". After waiting for maybe 10-15 minutes, they called me over to a booth, asked me a couple of questions and that was it.

I wish that the same had happened for you.

Immigration was painfully slow anyway so it all just added up. QF rebooked us on the next AA flight fortunately. It didn't help that baggage transfer sent us to the wrong terminal too (after refusing our bags).

 

[aggie57]

They just want to do the fingerprints and check that photos etc. match. The interview is really just the final tick, all the verification has been done by then.