104 AmCham Germany Yearbook 2018 AmCham Germany Yearbook 2018 105

US Global Entry membership for German citizens:

Obtaining and maintaining a fast-track membership card

As one of only a few fast-track immigration

programs offered around the world, the

Global Entry program enables prescreened

members to enjoy significantly reduced

lines, paperwork and wait times. Upon

arrival in the US, members use dedicated

kiosks to quickly and efficiently complete

the entry process (although US immigra-

tion authorities always have the discretion

to further scrutinize Global Entry members

when they present themselves at a port of

entry and seek admission into the US).

In addition to US citizens and permanent

residents, citizens of Germany, Mexico, the

Netherlands, Panama, South Korea and the

UK can also apply to become Global Entry

members. The following outlines the high-

level steps that need to be taken to obtain

Global Entry membership.

step 1 obtain german federal police clearance German citizens interested in Global Entry

membership must apply through the Ger-

man Federal Police. The German Federal

Police vet each registrant and send back-

ground check results to the US Department

of Homeland Security (DHS).

To obtain police clearance, German citizens

must speak with the German Federal Police

at their local airport. German Federal Police

locations include:

l Berlin Tegel Airport (Terminal C)

l Düsseldorf Airport

(central building, departure level)

l Frankfurt Airport (Terminal 1, Hall A,

Level 2)

The Global Entry program is a US fast-track immigration program for people who would like to quickly move through sometimes stagnant US immigration and customs lines. It is especially useful for frequent business travelers.

l Hamburg Airport (Terminal 2, Level 1)

l Munich Airport (Terminal 2, Level 4,

Room 4479)

Other nationalities must also obtain a police

clearance to apply for membership in Global

Entry.

step 2 complete us global entry enrollment system (goes) applicationOnce background checks are successfully

completed by the German Federal Police, the

applicant creates an account in the US Cus-

toms and Border Patrol’s (CBP) online por-

tal. The applicant must complete a detailed

online application and enter credit card or

bank account information to pay the regis-

tration fee of $100. The $100 fee covers the

membership for five years, if approved. A

refund will not be made if the application

is rejected. (Some US credit cards, gener-

ally those designed for frequent fliers and

corporate travelers, may refund the Global

Entry fee.)

The US government has full discretion to

reject any Global Entry application. The US

DHS will reject anyone who has been con-

victed of a crime, has violated customs or

immigration regulations, or is under inves-

tigation by law enforcement. An applicant

might also be rejected if he or she provides

false information on his or her Global Entry

application, so it is extremely important to

clarify details and proofread the applica-

tion. US CBP officers may also reject anyone

who is not deemed a “low-risk” applicant.

step 3 attend an in-person interviewOnce the application is submitted through

GOES, the applicant will be notified by email

that the application is being processed. If

the application is successful, the applicant

will be invited to schedule an in-person

interview with US CBP officials at a desig-

by Kari Foss

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106 AmCham Germany Yearbook 2018 AmCham Germany Yearbook 2018 107

mended.

l Interviews at consulates must be sched-

uled, but not necessarily completed,

within 30 days.

l Wait times for interviews vary widely

depending on the enrollment center, so

the appointment should be scheduled

as soon as possible.

If the Global Entry interview is scheduled

just after arriving in the US, be sure to arrive

on time and bring the following:

l A hard copy or printout of your letter of

conditional approval

l Valid passport(s) or a permanent resi-

dent card

l Evidence of immigration status in the

US (copy of ESTA, US visa, US permanent

residency card, etc.)

Interviews typically last no more than 10

to 15 minutes and are sometimes much

shorter. The officer will ask questions based

on the submitted application. The applicant

will also be asked to give his or her finger-

prints prior to a final decision (fingerprints

are later used for identification at Global

Entry kiosks). Following the interview and

fingerprinting, the officer will tell the appli-

cant if he or she has been approved as a

Global Entry member.

If approved, the applicant should receive

notification of approval within seven to 10

business days. US citizens, lawful perma-

nent residents and Mexican nationals will

also receive a Global Entry card. Those who

receive a card must activate it in their GOES

online account within 30 days. Note, how-

ever, that the Global Entry card may only be

used for entry into the US at land and sea

ports of entry.

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membership

l Global Entry eligibility lasts for five

years.

l Global Entry members must renew

online and pay the $100 fee.

l If a Global Entry member obtains a new

passport or changes his or her immi-

gration status (e.g., L, E, ESTA, etc.), the

person must update his or her account

in the GOES system. If there has been a

change that is not updated in GOES, the

member will not be able to use Global

Entry.

l If a Global Entry member changes his

or her name, he or she must update the

GOES system account and participate in

another in-person interview at an enroll-

ment center to maintain eligibility. l

contact

Kari Foss J.D.US AttorneyFragomen Global LLPGlobal Immigration ServicesT +49 69 209749-0 E kfoss@fragomen.com W www.fragomen.com

nated enrollment center.

While most enrollment centers are located

at US airports, there are also enrollment cen-

ters at temporary locations designated for

Global Entry interviews at certain US con-

sulates abroad. Note the following:

l Enrollment center locations can be

found online in GOES.

l It is generally easier to find an enroll-

ment center in the US near a major city.

l While some airport locations may ac-

cept walk-ins from applicants who were

conditionally approved online, schedul-

ing an appointment is always recom-

step 4 benefits of global entry membership

l There are no paper customs forms to be

filled out after arriving in the US on an

international flight.

l Global Entry members arriving at air-

ports following international trips

are fast-tracked to Global Entry kiosks

where they insert their passport, place

their fingertips on the scanner for iden-

tity verification, and make a short online

customs declaration. The kiosk issues a

transaction receipt, which the traveler

will give to a US CBP officer after bag-

gage claim.

l If Global Entry kiosks are not function-

ing, Global Entry members can skip

long lines and speak directly to a US

CBP agent.

l Global Entry members can  — and

should — add their Global Entry mem-

bership number in the Known Traveler

Number (KTN) field in their frequent-

flyer profiles for easier airline bookings

and when booking flights.

l Using the KTN when booking reserva-

tions enables the US Transportation and

Security Administration (TSA) to verify

that the person is eligible for the expe-

dited traveler screening program known

as TSA Preü®, which allows use of fast-

tracked preboarding security lines.

questions about children or spousesChildren and spouses must apply separately

for Global Entry, and children under the age

of 18 must have a parent’s or guardian’s per-

mission to apply.

If the parent or guardian traveling with a

child under the age of 14 has TSA Preü® on

his or her boarding pass, the whole fam-

ily is typically permitted to use the Global

Entry line.

maintaining global entry

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