When I got my passport updated in September, there was a little bookmark that came with my new passport. It said "sign up for Global Entry for expedited entry and shorter wait times." I saved the bookmark, but did not think about it again until months later when we decided we were going to Israel for sure.
I asked Mark about it and if it was important, he did not know, but then he was at a meeting the next week where the head of the Global Entry department for our city was speaking. She emphasized that it WAS important if you would like a hassle free airport/customs experience while travelling.
We went online ( https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes ) and signed up. This process takes about 20 minutes and then we waited for an email confirmation that our form had been processed. I believe the fee was $100. After the email confirmation, we called the local Global Entry office (which is at the International Airport here), and scheduled an appointment. Do not wait to do this as scheduling can be up to two months backlogged.
We parked at the airport and went to our appointment, where a police officer interviewed us, took our fingerprints, and asked a few more questions about whether we had a criminal record...etc. They take you photo and your Global Entry ID is good for five years, so doll yourself up a bit (or not).
About two weeks AFTER the appointment, we just received some official looking cards with the RFID card protective sleeve so that some thief with the RFID technology at the airport can't steal our new GE card. Once you get the card, you have to get online and verify that you received it, or it's worth nothing in 30 days, so open the envelope.
The reason I almost did not open the envelope is the police officer told us we would not need to carry the card with us unless we were coming back from Mexico or Canada. If you are travelling to another country, then you give your Global Entry NUMBER to the travel agent, or airline, and they put that number on all of your reservation information. You can be a card carrier, but if you do not have that number on your boarding passes, it means nothing, and the card does you no good.
Whew. This sounds like a LOT of work....but it also sounds like it really pays off. Basically, what one has done when purchasing the global entry number is one has purchased a FASTPASS for travelling. Not only will it be faster when you go abroad, but when you travel domestically, there is apparently a Global Entry TSA line that has three people in it and no line.
When travelling abroad, one is supposed to get to the aiport two hours in advance for the "extra" screening, but the Global Entry ensures no lines, no screening, just as if you were taking a domestic flight. Pretty Sweet.
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