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| Zip through customs at a Global Entry kiosk. |
I am constantly on the go, zooming all over the globe to report back on what’s new, cool and cutting edge. But I was tired of having to wait in line at customs when I would return to the United States. After a long trip halfway around the world, who wants to stand in an endless queue, stare at other travelers’ shoes and rearrange their schedule in their head?
Well, this Jet Setter certainly doesn’t. A few months back I decided to take action. I had seen a Global Entry program advertisement and decided to take the plunge and apply. The application process is easy and surprisingly straightforward.
Step One: Apply online and pay a non-refundable $100 application fee. The questions were easy and didn’t involve any of the mumbo-jumbo I associate with government forms—i.e. the IRS. I sailed through the questions.
Step Two: A few weeks later, after my application had been reviewed, I was alerted to schedule an interview at a local Global Entry Enrollment Center. I scheduled an appointment at JFK Airport for the following Tuesday. Again, setting this up was a piece of cake, and nothing is ever easy in New York City. (Just try dealing with the DMV).
Step Three: I drove out to JFK Airport and met with a representative from Global Entry. The interviewer could not have been any nicer or more helpful. She took my photo, scanned my fingerprints, reviewed my passport and that was that. I was “in!” Simple. I felt like I had been asked to join some exclusive club.
Now when I return home from abroad, I do not need to fill out the blue and white customs declaration form on the plane. Oh, no! I simply zip over to the Christian Dior gray Global Entry Kiosk. I scan my passport, place four fingers on the biometric scanner and input information about whether I am carrying an exorbitant amount of cash and whether I have a parrot, orange tree or farm animals stashed in my bag. Voila! The kiosk spits out a card, and I waltz over to collect my baggage. I grab my suitcase from the carrousel, present my Global Entry receipt to the agents at customs and go. Easy, breezy.
If you are a frequent traveler abroad, I cannot gush enough about how wonderful this program is. C’est chic!
Photo by Jason Oliver Nixon