US Global Entry Program for Australian citizens

[Sabbasolo]

Part of the problem is that without GE, the time to get through CBP is unpredictable, making it hard to plan connections. That is part of the reason that I tend to prefer flights arriving internationally at my USA destination, avoiding a domestic connection. (also safer Covid-19 wise). Plus I detest standing in lines.

 

[QF029]

I’m a dual citizen, British passport and Australian so I was able to apply for the program against my British one and then have the Aussie passport added.

How do you do this? I have Global Entry on my UK passport and literally applied for an ESTA today under that one rather than Australian.

 

[simong]

How do you do this? I have Global Entry on my UK passport and literally applied for an ESTA today under that one rather than Australian.

You just do it, when I did my global entry interview they were clear I could enter under either passport, so I always use my Australian one and my ESTA is on there.

 

[heycam]

As another Australia/UK dual passport holder, I'm looking forward to trying this trick out once my work travel resumes in a couple of months. (Looking at my email, I got a UK Access Code for the Global Entry application 2½ years ago and I've been waiting to use it ever since.)

One question: when you go to the interview, does it matter which passport you entered the US on that time? If I can avoid applying for an ESTA on both passports (first entry on UK, all subsequent on Australian) then I will.

 

[Princess Fiona]

As another Australia/UK dual passport holder, I'm looking forward to trying this trick out once my work travel resumes in a couple of months. (Looking at my email, I got a UK Access Code for the Global Entry application 2½ years ago and I've been waiting to use it ever since.)

One question: when you go to the interview, does it matter which passport you entered the US on that time? If I can avoid applying for an ESTA on both passports (first entry on UK, all subsequent on Australian) then I will.

It didn’t when I had my interview at LAX

 

[sqrt()]

You just do it, when I did my global entry interview they were clear I could enter under either passport, so I always use my Australian one and my ESTA is on there.

Does anyone know whether one can add an AU passport with a US visa (not ESTA) if they have enrolled with an eligible passport (i.e. UK), then use GE to enter the US using the visa in the AU passport?

 

[AbsolutelyAnything]

Does anyone know whether one can add an AU passport with a US visa (not ESTA) if they have enrolled with an eligible passport (i.e. UK), then use GE to enter the US using the visa in the AU passport?

Yes, works for me.

 

[sansnom]

I tested my Global Entry today at LAX, had to put my Australian passport in the reader, and then just asked me to talk to an agent, she just scanned the passport again, asked why and how long and I was on my way, 30 seconds in total, no fingerprints etc and my ESTA was against my Australian passport. Passport scanning was the only option open today, didn’t see the simpler photo method mentioned above open.

Probably my fastest offload, immigration and baggage collection ever at LAX. 10 minutes later I was dropping my bag for the next flight and off to the AA FS Lounge

It sounds a bit unusual. Normally one doesn't need talking to an agent at LAX. GE kiosk verified my passport then printed me a piece of paper. I then handed it to an agent who didn't even want to look at me, let alone scanning my passport. Though I never enter with my Australian passport though; I always enter with my Canadian one.

 

[DC3]

I’m a dual citizen, British passport and Australian so I was able to apply for the program against my British one and then have the Aussie passport added.

Oh, that would explain it then. Dual citicizen.

 

[AbsolutelyAnything]

How do you do this? I have Global Entry on my UK passport and literally applied for an ESTA today under that one rather than Australian.

If you log in to the portal you should be able to add it yourself.

 

[sansnom]

If you log in to the portal you should be able to add it yourself.

Shouldn’t you have declared all of your passports when applying for Global Entry?

 

[AbsolutelyAnything]

Shouldn’t you have declared all of your passports when applying for Global Entry?

I guess that would depend if you were an Australian Citizen at the time you finalised your application. When I originally applied I was a resident but due to Covid by the time I got to finalise mine I was a citizen, so both mine were added at finalisation.

 

[Reddevil]

Can confirm GEP enrolment for AUS/UK dual citizens does still work. I was able to start and complete the whole process in ~3 days earlier this month, completed the Interview on arrival at LAX the following day. Both passports were enrolled for GEP and my Aus passport did work for a TSA pre-check when I used it on a subsequent domestic flight.

Submitted the security screening request with UK government on a Friday night in Australia, had the code back the following day, applied with CBP a few hours later and had conditional approval while I was sitting at the gate waiting to board he US flight on the Sunday. Touched down in LAX that night, did the GEP interview with CBP at LAX arrivals and had my approved PASSID by the time I arrived at my hotel an hour or so later. Was reasonably painless and quick other than the long wait (1-1.5hrs) in the queue for the interview.

TSA pre-check didn’t come through on my US domestic trip the next day but did on a following domestic trip ~2 weeks later so everything seems to be working.

 

[sqrt()]

Can confirm GEP enrolment for AUS/UK dual citizens does still work. I was able to start and complete the whole process in ~3 days earlier this month, completed the Interview on arrival at LAX the following day. Both passports were enrolled for GEP and my Aus passport did work for a TSA pre-check when I used it on a subsequent domestic flight.

Submitted the security screening request with UK government on a Friday night in Australia, had the code back the following day, applied with CBP a few hours later and had conditional approval while I was sitting at the gate waiting to board he US flight on the Sunday. Touched down in LAX that night, did the GEP interview with CBP at LAX arrivals and had my approved PASSID by the time I arrived at my hotel an hour or so later. Was reasonably painless and quick other than the long wait (1-1.5hrs) in the queue for the interview.

TSA pre-check didn’t come through on my US domestic trip the next day but did on a following domestic trip ~2 weeks later so everything seems to be working.

That conditional approval was mighty quick! I have read many posts on FT complaining of months long waits - but sometimes things seem to be expedited if you have upcoming travel booked. I am waiting to get a US credit card to get the $100 refunded, but already have a UK access code.

 

[simong]

It's now a full breeze, with just the face scan, no need to do insert passport and just walk through. Did it at LAX last week, I will say in a way it's interesting it doesn't even print anything anymore as technically that piece of paper had how long you could stay in the country, but the reality is I am never going to hit that anyway.

 

[AbsolutelyAnything]

It's now a full breeze, with just the face scan, no need to do insert passport and just walk through. Did it at LAX last week, I will say in a way it's interesting it doesn't even print anything anymore as technically that piece of paper had how long you could stay in the country, but the reality is I am never going to hit that anyway.

Sure makes it easier. I’m heading out to Austin via LAX again on Friday, looking forward to zero queues!

 

[Sabbasolo]

Kindly stop teasing those of us without the required dual citizenship, and instead help us get GE for Aussies !

 

[Reddevil]

That conditional approval was mighty quick! I have read many posts on FT complaining of months long waits - but sometimes things seem to be expedited if you have upcoming travel booked. I am waiting to get a US credit card to get the $100 refunded, but already have a UK access code.

Maybe it was just because I didn’t have a complicated history for the two Governments to have to comb through. The GEP page does warn that the process can take months however that’s probably the worst case scenario or possibly when they had a big backlog of applications when the world started travelling again. I was pleasantly surprised when it was completed so quickly, I’d packed all of my supporting documentation and passports just in case it came through by the time I arrived in LA but honestly wasn’t expecting it would.

The interview was probably the hardest part and my fingerprints on one hand didn’t want to scan properly during the interview however they had scanned without any issues during the initial CBP arrival admission processing. (You still have to go through a CBP officer for admission on arrival and then go back and queue up at another dedicated gate for the GEP interview).

Post automatically merged: Aug 3, 2022

Kindly stop teasing those of us without the required dual citizenship, and instead help us get GE for Aussies !

Hopefully the more Aussies they see using the Dual National loophole will make us all more visible to the US govt!

A nation of passport holders potentially willing to fork out $100USD each.. yes please!

 

[Reddevil]

It's now a full breeze, with just the face scan, no need to do insert passport and just walk through. Did it at LAX last week, I will say in a way it's interesting it doesn't even print anything anymore as technically that piece of paper had how long you could stay in the country, but the reality is I am never going to hit that anyway.

All seems to be electronic these days anyway, I couldn’t quite see from the GEP interview queue but were the CBP officers at the end of the machines still stamping passports on the way past or they just completely wave you through as long as the machine doesn’t throw up an error with the facial recognition?

I was worried my fingerprints might keep giving me the X on paper due to the coughpy scans during my interview but hopefully it won’t be an issue if it’s all face scan now.

I noticed leaving LA last week that CBP check your passport and scan your face with a hand held at the gate as you board so probably just another step in moving to a completely digital passport world eventually without stamps. I’ve also had the mobile smart gate style system used at the gate during boarding in LA so CBP might be trialing a bunch of different technologies over the last couple of years.

TSA also didn’t ask to see my boarding pass at one airport, I just showed them my passport and it must have registered that I had TSApre via GEP so they directed me into the queue.

 

[heycam]

Arrived this morning at SFO with the intention of doing enrolment on arrival only to be told that they're no longer doing it on the weekend.