Global Entry has been around for more than a decade and I’ve had it for nearly 10 years. In fact, I just re-applied for my second renewal. Currently, Global Entry allows trusted travelers to use a kiosk to quickly move through the passport control portion of arrivals into the United States. DHS has rolled out new Paperless Global Entry Kiosks at most airports, they are a huge timesaver.
Bottom Line: The new Paperless Global Entry Kiosks are awesome. You don’t need to touch them, answer any questions, or even take your passport out of your pocket. Simply look at the camera then walk to the border agent.
Background on Global Entry
Global Entry is a expedited traveler program for clearing passport control when entering the United States. It is administered by the Department of Homeland Security as they are responsible for border crossings. To gain access to Global Entry, a person must apply with DHS, be approved, interviewed, and finger printed. Then they have access to the program for 5 years before needing renewal. Global entry is available to US citizens and permeant residents, also those from about 2 dozen other countries. If you want to apply for global entry, check out the US Customs and Boarder Patrol website: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/how-apply
Global Entry Kiosks
Since the introduction of Global Entry, the process has been about the same. You’d arrive at the Global Entry Kiosk, insert your passport, answer a few questions, take some biometrics(fingerprints or photo of your face), and then receive a paper receipt. You’d then take that receipt to the boarder guard. They would usually just wave you through at that point. Occasionally they’d ask a question or two, usually just “do you have anything to declare?” or “how much money are you carrying?”
There is a separate line for Global Entry at passport control. Most airports would have somewhere around 6 to a dozen Global Entry kiosks. This process was usually very fast, entry to the US would take less than 5 minutes in total. I wouldn’t recommend it, but Global entry allowed Val and I to make a 1 hour connection between JFK and LGA.
Paperless Global Entry Process
In 2022, DHS introduced Paperless Global Entry Kiosks. They started with a few of them at major airports and they were mixed into the regular kiosks. These new paperless kiosks look different than the older ones, they are much smaller, have no passport scanner, or printer. They are just a screen and a camera, that’s it.
The Paperless Global Entry process is a little different, so here’s my little how too guide after passing through it a couple times this year:
To use the new Paperless Global Entry, you approach the kiosk, it takes your photo, then tells you to walk towards the exit. That’s the whole kiosk process. No passport, no on screen questions, nothing. Just take a photo and walk towards the border agent.
The process takes less than 20 seconds. In fact, the last time I used it, I didn’t even really stop walking. I was walking towards the kiosk and about 6 feet away, it displayed “walk towards the exit.”
Once you receive the direction to walk towards the exit, you simply approach the boarder agent booth. The agent will confirm your name, ask if you have anything to declare, and you’re on your way. No paperwork, you don’t even need your passport. The whole process takes less than one minute.
Paperless Global Entry Final Thoughts
I love the new Paperless Global Entry. It’s a nice improvement over the older Global Entry Kiosks. I really like that I don’t even need to get my passport out, I know Val really loves that, means her purse can stay inside her backpack and keeps her hands free.
There have been a few people(like Ben over at One Mile at a Time) who find the process a little slow due to other travelers who are confused, but I really have not experienced that. There are enough kiosks that the line moves pretty quickly, even at large airports like JFK.
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