Global Entry Question

[Claire1994 0]

Hi there 

 

can I ask, I’m a uk citizen and me and my husband applied for the I-130 about a month ago so a long wait ahead! 
im visiting him in august and wondered if i Should apply for GE - 2 questions: 

 

1. can you apply while you have a pending immigration visa like I-130 does it cause any issues? 
 

2. if by the time I leave in August I don’t have my GE approval will

this cause issues? 
 

I have a valid ESTA just fyi 

 

thanks 

[OldUser 9,951]

12 minutes ago, Claire1994 said:

Hi there 

 

can I ask, I’m a uk citizen and me and my husband applied for the I-130 about a month ago so a long wait ahead! 
im visiting him in august and wondered if i Should apply for GE - 2 questions: 

 

1. can you apply while you have a pending immigration visa like I-130 does it cause any issues? 
 

2. if by the time I leave in August I don’t have my GE approval will

this cause issues? 
 

I have a valid ESTA just fyi 

 

thanks 

1. GE doesn't have direct connection to I-130.

UK citizens can apply for GE.

2. No

[Crazy Cat 44,511]

***Topic split from existing thread***

[appleblossom 4,443]

12 hours ago, Claire1994 said:

2. if by the time I leave in August I don’t have my GE approval will

this cause issues? 

 

You won't have your GE approval, as you can't be approved without an interview. But you can be interviewed on arrival in August and then hopefully be approved and it for future trips.

 

I'd recommend the MPC app if you don't have it already, lots of family and friends from the UK have used it when visiting us and breezed through immigration, you get to skip the huge line and it's just much easier. 

[spicynujac 70]

On 6/25/2025 at 7:51 AM, appleblossom said:

 

You won't have your GE approval, as you can't be approved without an interview. But you can be interviewed on arrival in August and then hopefully be approved and it for future trips.

 

I'd recommend the MPC app if you don't have it already, lots of family and friends from the UK have used it when visiting us and breezed through immigration, you get to skip the huge line and it's just much easier. 

Friend who is a million miler and gets Global Entry benefits at no charge says he NEVER uses it as the free US Govt Mobile Passport App is just as easy and always faster (mostly because no one uses it).

 

Global Entry is a nice idea in principle (and for a time made some sense) but in practice its benefits are pretty marginal.  I wouldn't bother...   Even TSA Precheck has become progressively less valuable (most recently as of July 2025 all travelers are allowed to wear shoes again, negating one of the biggest benefits of Precheck).

 

Personally I'm not too comfortable installing an Uncle Sam app on my phone but if you are, then that's the best route.  Also keep in mind that unless your final destination is a port of entry then you're still going to "wait" the same number of time --*hours*-- for your connecting flight, no matter how quickly you pass through US immigration... Waiting on this side of the line vs that side is the same to me:  this is the sole reason I never got Global Entry!

[appleblossom 4,443]

41 minutes ago, spicynujac said:

Friend who is a million miler and gets Global Entry benefits at no charge says he NEVER uses it as the free US Govt Mobile Passport App is just as easy and always faster (mostly because no one uses it).

 

Global Entry is a nice idea in principle (and for a time made some sense) but in practice its benefits are pretty marginal.  I wouldn't bother...   Even TSA Precheck has become progressively less valuable (most recently as of July 2025 all travelers are allowed to wear shoes again, negating one of the biggest benefits of Precheck).

 

Personally I'm not too comfortable installing an Uncle Sam app on my phone but if you are, then that's the best route.  Also keep in mind that unless your final destination is a port of entry then you're still going to "wait" the same number of time --*hours*-- for your connecting flight, no matter how quickly you pass through US immigration... Waiting on this side of the line vs that side is the same to me:  this is the sole reason I never got Global Entry!

 

I got my GE enrolment through my Amex card at no cost. MPC is never faster at my airport (Logan Boston), but it is much quicker than without anything at all. I don't use any app at all, just have GE enrolment and stroll right through usually. 

 

I fly 8-10 times a year, always between Boston and the UK, so direct and not bothered about connecting flights, and GE for me is invaluable. I am usually in the car and on the way home less than 10 minutes after stepping through the plane doors now, it took hours before I got GE. 

Edited Wednesday at 05:24 PM by appleblossom

[OldUser 9,951]

1 hour ago, spicynujac said:

Friend who is a million miler and gets Global Entry benefits at no charge says he NEVER uses it as the free US Govt Mobile Passport App is just as easy and always faster (mostly because no one uses it).

 

 

Does the friend use TSA Precheck? It's part of GE benefit.

 

Also, I never use US Govt Mobile Passport because:

1) I don't want to install any apps on my phone, that's a potential backdoor and breach of privacy

2) I rarely see dedicated line for mobile passport

3) I cross the border within 2-3 minutes max with GE, and never seen a big line

49 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

I got my GE enrolment through my Amex card at no cost.

Same here

[OldUser 9,951]

One thing to consider: MPC is available to anybody, GE is for trusted travellers. Theoretically, there's more potential scrutiny / checks for somebody using MPC vs using GE