Global Entry Interview

Yesterday I had my Global Entry interview, and it was pretty straight-forward. The customs officer pretty much just verified my information from the forms I filled out online, looked at my documents, took my fingerprints, made a few jokes. I mean, I have a spotless record, basically, not even a parking ticket, so there wasn't a lot to talk about! He conditionally approved me, and I should be getting my final approval any time now. Oh, and he put a sticker in my passport to show that I was enrolled! That's pretty much it!

I also grabbed some literature on the do's and don't's of U.S. customs. Basically a listing of what you can and can't bring into the country in your luggage!

Trusted Traveler Program

At the suggestion of Mark and Mary, I filled out the application for the trusted traveler program Global Entry. It's basically a program that lets you go through special checkpoints on your entry to the US. It's a pretty new program, I think they are expanding it now. In some places I may get out of taking off my shoes and unfurling my electronics in screening points by getting this membership. TSA's expedited screening program, I think it's called. The deal, though, is that it costs money to register, and you have to do an interview, in person, at a security location. Luckily for me, the closest one to me is Logan Airport here in Boston. (Unluckily for Mark and Mary, who live near Hartford, the closest one to them is Logan Airport...) I don't anticipate getting turned down, since I have a TWIC, so I have already had the background check and fingerprinting stuff done once.

If you travel internationally a lot, check out the program: Global Entry