We decided to apply for the Global Entry program. It basically allows travelers expedited entry into the United States at ports of entry. Here is how the process worked for us.
Why do this? If you travel abroad much, you know how long immigration lines can be if you arrive at the same time as lots of international flights. It's not my idea of fun to stand in line for 30 minutes or more with a frustrated toddler who's been cooped up for hours on end in a plane. The program allows you to skip that line and handle re-entry and customs declarations at a kiosk using your passport and fingerprints. Bonus: it also gains you access to TSA's Pre-Check program. This is usually reserved for elite frequent fliers, and it allows you to skip the normal security line, and go to one where you don't have to remove shoes, liquids, computers, outer jackets. Much faster. We sometimes get selected for that anyway when traveling with the Little Lady, but Global Entry greatly enhances the probability of being selected on any given trip for pre-check, and that's true even for elite frequent flyers.
First, you go to their site and fill out an application and pay a fee of $100 per applicant. I applied for all three of us. The application took around 5 minutes to fill out for each person. You need to have some identifying documents handy to fill out the application completely. Once you start the application process you get a Global Entry Enrollment System (GOES) account. From here you manage your application, view messages related to your application, and manage your account.
About a week after applying, we all got conditional approval, meaning that we did not raise any flags in terms of criminal background and the like. At the point of conditional approval, each person has to schedule an interview at a screening facility. All three of us, including the baby, had to sign up for individual interviews (at least in theory). The reservation system is simple. Identify a location near you, find out when they can interview you (wait was usually at least 2 weeks at most locations when we applied). We decided to interview in downtown Chicago since we were going to be there for a conference anyway. Most of these places are at international airports. If you're near a big city it's easy. If not, try to schedule for a time while travelling through one of the airports.
The interview process was a breeze. We showed up a bit early and they got us in right away. Instead of interviewing us separately, they did the sensible thing of interviewing the whole family together. The adults had to answer a few questions about travel history and criminal history (repeats from the application form, so just be honest all the way through and no issues will arise). They do ask about travel to Mexico and Canada in the interview while the form excludes that in travel history FYI. The two adults were fingerprinted. They don't do that for kids. My fingerprints came back fine, Jana's could not be read. That was no problem. They requested an exception and it was granted within a couple days.
We then received our GE cards in the mail about a week later. Good to go. One thing. To get connected to TSA pre-check you have to apply with your GE number to every frequent flyer program you are a member of, and you need to join for any airline for which you want to use pre-check.
The membership lasts five years and is going to save us a ton of time given our travel schedule over that period.
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