Trusted Traveler and TSA-pre

[jwwj]

I imagine most of you seasoned travelers already know about this but thought I'd post it in case some aren't aware of it. You can apply for the Global Entry Trusted Traveler program online and it's pretty simple. You need to have a passport and it takes about 10-15 minutes to fill out the online application. It costs $100 per person and is good for 5 years. In a couple days you will receive an email telling you if you have been conditionally approved and if so you need to go to one of the airports listed for an interview that takes about 10 minutes. In a couple more days you will receive notification if you have received final approval and you can then start using the benefits.
The benefit of global entry is to bypass the long custom lines when returning to the US the other plus is that it also approves you for TSA precheck which allows you to go thru a much shorter security line in many US airports and also not have to take off shoes, belts, jackets or need to remove laptop and liquids from carryons.
I'm pretty excited not to have to take my shoes off till i want to, like maybe Hawksnest or Francis. . . .

Here is the link, it took us about 2 weeks total to get approved.
http://www.globalentry.gov/about.html

[michigancouple]

Thanks for posting this. I'm going to check it out for my corporate travelers in my dept. at work.

[loria]

my husband has used this for a long time as he travels frequently for work-- and it totally rocks. he gets thru the border in no time.....it really is great.