Trusted Traveler Programs

There are several Trusted Traveler programs (TTP’s) out there now that will help expedite the time you spend waiting in line for Security or Customs at participating airports or cruise terminals. And let’s be honest – I felt like a total baller when I received my Global Entry confirmation even though I was only going to New York at the time. My girlfriend has let it go to her head and forgets that it is just for entry into the U.S. and gets irritated when she has to wait in line for customs in foreign countries. It will definitely spoil you!

Don’t think it’s worth the fee? Or that you don’t travel enough to make it worth-while? Think again! If you’re serious about wanting to travel and sign up for a credit card that earns you extra miles, many of them give you a credit for the cost of the Trusted Travel programs so it’s basically free! There is also one program that actually IS free – So read on to see which one might best apply to you….

TSA Precheck is the most common of the TTP’s. TSA Precheck is only open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents. Applicants may be ineligible due to incomplete or false application information, violations of transportation security regulations, or certain disqualifying criminal offenses or factors. With TSA Pre✓ you get to use a line reserved for TSA Pre✓ ticket holders and do not have to remove the following items:

So basically, you’re lessening the time you have to wait in Security lines. TSA Pre✓ is only valid on domestic flights leaving from the U.S. at over 380 participating airports. Most airlines participate in TSA Pre✓, although currently Sprint does not. The TSA says on average, TSA Pre✓ members wait less than 5 minutes to pass through security. If you are granted TSA Pre✓ any minor under 12 years old traveling with you can receive TSA Pre✓ benefits as well.

COST: $78 for a 5-year membership as of February 2023

APPLICATION PROCESS: Apply on line at the following link

Then schedule an appointment at any of 380+ enrollment centers. Next, attend a 10 minute, in person appointment that includes a background check and fingerprinting. You will receive written notification regarding the status of your application within 2-3 weeks, but many people are approved within days of their in-person interview, so check the status via your online account.

Once you’re approved a TSA Pre✓ indicator will be printed on your boarding pass and embedded in the barcode if you are eligible for TSA Pre✓ on your flight. There are typically lanes marked TSA Pre✓ for you to use, but in the event a line is not open you can ask and will usually get expedited service.

Again, TSA Precheck is only for domestic flights – even if you are not planning on taking an international flight at the moment, I would seriously consider getting Global Entry instead as it is only $22 more and includes TSA Precheck ….. You never know, a few years from now you may see a great deal on an international flight, and you’ll be ready to go!

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports. At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit. So, the difference between TSA Precheck and Global Entry is that TSA Precheck saves you time in security lines to get on your flight, Global Entry saves you time when going through Customs in the United States.

Are You Eligible?

U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents and citizens of the following countries are eligible for Global Entry membership:

Note: There may be additional requirements you must meet depending on your country of citizenship.

Canadian citizens and residents are eligible for Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program.

If you are under the age of 18, you must have your parent or legal guardian’s consent to participate in the program.

Reasons for Ineligibility

You may not be eligible for participation in the Global Entry program if you:

Provide false or incomplete information on the application;
Have been convicted of any criminal offense or have pending criminal charges or outstanding warrants (to include driving under the influence);
Have been found in violation of any customs, immigration or agriculture regulations or laws in any country;
Are the subject of an ongoing investigation by any federal, state or local law enforcement agency;
Are inadmissible to the United States under immigration regulation, including applicants with approved waivers of inadmissibility or parole documentation; or
Cannot satisfy CBP of your low-risk status.

COST: $100 for a 5-year membership

APPLICATION PROCESS: Apply on line at the following link:

Once the online application is completed you will receive an email when your application is conditionally approved, allowing you to schedule an interview at one of the enrollment centers. Travelers have seen different processing times following the interview – mine took a week but I know people who say it took more than a month to get their clearance.

If there’s any chance you may take an international flight in the future, I would always pay the extra $15 to get Global Entry vs TSA Precheck.

Note: As of February 2023 Global Entry applications are back logged, people are receiving their conditional approval in a matter of days, but are having trouble making an interview appointment as they are booking about 4-5 months so plan accordingly.

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is another option available to U.S. Citizens and Canadian visitors that works great, does not require any pre-authorization and is FREE to use. When traveling to the U.S., travelers must fill out a Customs Declaration form, stating what you are bringing into the country and how long you are staying. When entering the country via plane, the airline typically gives you this form just before landing. With MPC instead of filling out the form users simply download the app from the Google Play or Apple Store (I would do this and get it set up prior to arriving at the airport) and create a profile via the app with your passport information. Upon landing in the United States, travelers will complete the “New Trip” section by selecting their arrival airport and airline, taking a self-photo, and answering a series of CBP inspection-related questions. Once the traveler submits their transaction through the app, the traveler will receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code. Travelers then bring their passport and mobile device with their digital bar-coded receipt to a CBP officer in a special line to finalize their inspection for entry into the United States. My girlfriend and I currently have Global Entry, but we took a trip to Paris with my 16-year-old daughter who does not. We sent my girlfriend through the Global Entry line while my daughter and I used the MPC line and we exited within minutes of each other, so this is a great program as well. It can also be used when going through Customs in the Miami and Port Everglades seaports when returning from cruises.

NOTE: MPC has recently added a Pro or “paid” version. The free app will still do all of the above, the only difference between the two is that in the free version you cannot save a profile and must re-enter your information. You also cannot scan your documents and must enter the information manually.

WHERE CAN ELIGIBLE TRAVELERS USE MPC?

MPC is available to U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors at the following 26 U.S. international airports and 3 sea ports of entry:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
William P. Hobby Houston International Airport (HOU)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Miami Seaport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Palm Beach Seaport (PBI)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Port Everglades (PEV)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

CLEAR is a private New York City-based company that has made an arrangement with each participating airport in the program. Similar to T.S.A. PreCheck, this program is designed to allow travelers to bypass the line at airport security — about five minutes or less, they say — and it can be used for both domestic and international departures.

CLEAR uses biometric technology — either scanning your fingerprints or the iris of your eye — to identify who you are. When you proceed to the security checkpoint (there are currently 25 participating airports in the U.S.), you’ll come to the CLEAR lane where an attendant will be available to guide you through the process. Then, you’ll head to a kiosk, scan your boarding pass, validate your identification, and continue to the T.S.A. screening. However, instead of going to the end of the security line, members make their way directly to an airport employee who checks their identification.

You must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. In addition, potential members must be able to present one of the following forms of ID: U.S. driver’s license, state-issued ID, U.S. military ID, U.S. passport, or a U.S.-issued permanent resident card. All forms of identification must be valid, unexpired, and have a photo. There are discounts for Delta SkyMiles members and credit card. In addition, Delta is partnering with CLEAR at Reagan Washington National Airport to use fingerprints instead of boarding passes in order to board Delta aircrafts and enter the Delta Sky Club lounge. In fact, CLEAR members can expect paperless boarding at more airports in the near future.

COST: $189 annually as of 2023 and you can add up to three family members for $50. Children under 18 can use CLEAR for free as long as they are accompanied by a member. Delta SkyMiles members can sign up for CLEAR for $99 per year. If you’re a SkyMiles Diamond Medallion member, you can enroll in CLEAR free of charge.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Apply online at clearme.com. Then, complete the process in person at an airport where CLEAR is offered — this includes verifying your identity, completing a retinal scan, and having your fingerprints digitally captured. No need to make an appointment in advance.

Who Is Eligible: You must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. In addition, potential members must be able to present one of the following forms of ID: U.S. driver’s license, state-issued ID, U.S. military ID, U.S. passport, or a U.S.-issued permanent resident card. All forms of identification must be valid, unexpired, and have a photo.

Clear has a smaller number of members than the other programs so the lines are shorter, but it is also offered at fewer airports. Due to the cost and my daughter’s unhealthy fear of conspiracy theories regarding biometrics, I would probably just opt for Global Entry over Clear.

NEXUS is like a North American version of Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI work with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to grant quicker entry in and out of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

The NEXUS program offers pre-screened travelers expedited processing when entering the U.S. and Canada. This is ideal for those who frequently travel between the two countries. Members use dedicated lanes at designated border ports of entry, NEXUS kiosks when entering Canada by air, and Global Entry kiosks when entering the U.S. via Canadian Preclearance airports. It costs $50 for a five-year membership. Note that you can use the NEXUS lane as a Global Entry member when entering the U.S. from Canada, but not the other way around. If you travel frequently between the two countries, you should consider getting NEXUS.

Meanwhile, SENTRI is ideal for those who frequently travel into the U.S. from Mexico. Members can use the expedited SENTRI lanes for quicker vehicle or pedestrian entry. Participants may enter the U.S. by using dedicated primary lanes at designated southern land border ports. This program is more expensive than NEXUS at $122.50 for a five-year membership, and all applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview.

Similar to Global Entry, if you join NEXUS or SENTRI, you can use your membership number as a “known traveler number” in airline reservations to receive T.S.A. PreCheck.

TRUSTED TRAVELER PROGRAM FAQ’S

A couple of things to remember about all these programs:

The name on your applications MUST match the name on your Passport or State ID EXACTLY, so be mindful of middle names, hyphens and other things and make sure they are the same on both sites.
When you reserve your airline or cruise tickets make sure your name is entered the same way it is on your ID/TTP application so there are no issues. Make sure your KTN is in your profile on the airlines website so it will be automatically added when purchasing tickets.
If you have a name change, address change or a passport/ID change you must change this with your TTP as well.
These programs expire (TSA Precheck and Global Entry after 5 years and CLEAR after 1 year) so make sure you get them renewed prior to traveling.
You can renew TSA Precheck beginning 6 months prior to the expiration date to make sure you don’t experience any downtime while travelling.
You become eligible to renew your Global Entry membership one year prior to program expiration. If you submit a renewal application before your membership expires, you will be able to continue to use benefits up to 6 months after your membership expiration date, if your renewal does not get processed in time.
When traveling with children those under 12 may use the TSA PreCheck lane with you, and those under 18 can use CLEAR. Children must have their own Global Entry number to utilize those lanes, so if you are traveling with kids who don’t have a number you will have to go with them to the normal Customs line.
TSA Pre✓is offered at no cost to members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense Federal Civilians.
Many airports have “Enrollment on Arrival” which allows Global Entry applications who are conditionally approved to complete their interview upon arrival in the U.S., eliminating the need to schedule an appointment.

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