About Expedited Entry and Security Screening

If you travel frequently within the U.S., you may want to consider enrolling in a program that speeds up immigration or airport security. After signing up, you may be able to skip the long immigration lines and head straight to baggage claim, or breeze through security screening more smoothly. There are several services that offer this kind of expedited processing, with slightly different features:

All of the above are part of the Trusted Traveler Programs, but the eligibility requirements and fees differ, and some benefits overlap. For example, once you get GE, you automatically get TSA Pre. Nexus is more relevant if you travel to and from Canada. Sentri and FAST are less relevant for most ordinary travelers, so we won’t go into detail here.

In addition to the programs above, Clear can also make the airport experience more convenient by skipping the ID check step. We have a separate article with a detailed introduction:

Clear

Overview

We’re starting with Clear because it’s the first step in making the airport experience easier.

As everyone knows, after check-in at the airport, you usually first wait in line for ID Check, and then proceed to security screening. Clear members can use the dedicated Clear lane before the ID Check queue, and it usually has little to no line, so this saves time right there.

Second, Clear verifies your identity using fingerprint and iris scans, replacing the need to show your ID. That means you don’t need to take out your ID separately for inspection. After the machine scans your fingerprints and iris, a Clear staff member will escort you past ID Check and into the security line.

Because fingerprints and iris data are highly sensitive biometric information, many people do have privacy concerns about this.

Also, at some airports (such as SEA), only certain checkpoints have Clear, so you may need to walk a bit farther.

In summary: skip the line and skip pulling out your ID. Downsides: privacy concerns, needing help from a staff member, and possibly having to find the right checkpoint. Kids under 18 do not need their own membership and can go through with an adult.

For where Clear is available, see the official page:

Eligibility

Clear officially states that the service is only available to U.S. citizens and green card holders age 18 and older, and you must have a valid Photo ID.

CLEAR is currently only available to US citizens and legal permanent residents 18 and older with a valid photo ID

After applying online, if approved, you will see a conditional approved status. Once you complete the interview at a check-in location and pass, your application is complete.

Enrollment Promotions

Clear often runs various promotions, such as Uber Credit or Travel Bank offers. For details, see our dedicated article:

Related Credit Cards

Currently, AMEX Green and Platinum (including other varieties of Platinum cards) offer reimbursement for Clear. Each calendar year, they provide up to $189 in CLEAR Plus Credit. You only need to pay with one of these two cards when you sign up or renew. Since the annual reimbursement cap is $189, if you can sign up for Clear at a lower price, then in theory one card could cover multiple memberships.

TSA Pre

Overview

Before I had TSA Pre, I thought it was only about reducing time in line at the airport. After getting it, I realized the convenience goes far beyond that.

First, similar to Clear, it reduces the time spent waiting for ID Check, but ID Check still happens, so you still need to take out your ID. Of course, if you have both Clear and TSA Pre, then you don’t need to take out your ID. More importantly, during security screening, you can keep on your jacket (though heavy outerwear may still need to come off), keep your shoes on, leave your belt on, and keep electronics inside your bag. You also do not need to go through the cylindrical full-body scanner; you usually only need to walk through the regular metal detector. These conveniences make the security process much calmer and less hectic.

However, at some airports (such as SEA), only certain checkpoints have TSA Pre, so you may need to walk a bit farther.

In summary: shorter lines, less need to remove gear, and no full-body scanner. Downside: you may need to find the right checkpoint. Kids under 12 do not need their own enrollment and can go through with an adult.

Since Global Entry members automatically get TSA Pre, we generally recommend applying for GE directly. It only costs a little more, and many credit cards also reimburse GE.

Eligibility

You need to be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder), or a Canadian citizen with NEXUS.

U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents enrolled in Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI are eligible to participate in TSA PreCheck®, as well as Canadian citizens who are members of NEXUS.

After applying online, if approved, you will see a conditional approved status. Then, after completing and passing an interview at the airport or another designated CBP location, the application is complete.

Related Credit Cards

Most credit cards that offer reimbursement cover both Global Entry and TSA Pre, typically once every five years. Common cards include:

Global Entry

Overview

Global Entry is used for entering the United States, whether by land, sea, or air. I’ve only used it by land and air, so I’ll focus on those two.

If you enter the U.S. from Canada by land, you can use the Nexus Lane and skip the regular line. You’ll need to carry your Global Entry card. Otherwise, it’s pretty similar to a normal lane.

When flying back to the U.S., you can use the dedicated Global Entry lane at immigration—which usually means little to no line at all. Then you use the Global Entry kiosk for facial recognition—yes, facial recognition. It’s similar to face-scan payment systems. For kids, you may need to pick them up so the camera can scan their face. After the scan, the machine prints a receipt, and you can take that receipt to baggage claim. If the scan doesn’t work—and that’s fairly common for little kids—that’s fine too. The machine will still print a slip, and you just show it to the staff member.

And that’s not all. After you pick up your luggage, there’s another ID check area. There is also a Global Entry lane there. The regular line at that point can be short or long, but the Global Entry lane is usually still empty.

A brief personal note: before I got my green card, I spent a long time traveling on OPT, and I still vividly remember the anxiety of coming back to the U.S. and dealing with CBP. I was also a frequent visitor to secondary inspection. Before landing, I would already be mentally preparing myself, worried that if I walked too slowly off the plane, the line would get 30 minutes longer. As soon as I got my green card, I applied for GE right away. Since then, I’ve been able to stroll off the plane at my own pace and breeze through immigration.

Bottom line: no waiting in line when entering the U.S.—and possibly skipping more than one line. By air, you’re also less likely to be questioned or sent to secondary inspection. The downside? If you get off the plane too quickly, your checked bag may not be out yet. Young children need their own membership too, and the fee is the same as for adults.

Eligibility

U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents (green card holders), and citizens of the following countries and regions are eligible to apply for GE:

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

After applying online, if you are approved, your status will show as conditional approved. You then complete an interview with CBP at an airport or another designated location, and once you pass, the application is complete.

Related credit cards

Most credit cards that offer reimbursement for Global Entry also reimburse TSA Pre, generally once every five years. For common options, see the TSA Pre section above.

Nexus

Overview

Nexus is basically GE + TSA Pre + faster entry into Canada.

Again, I only know the land-border experience; I haven’t used it by air or sea. By land, the main difference is that when entering Canada, you can use the Nexus Lane, and you need a Nexus Card. For air travel, entry into Canada is also handled through self-service kiosks.

Another point is that Nexus is the cheapest of all the programs mentioned above, but it cannot be reimbursed by credit cards.

Bottom line: Nexus is roughly equivalent to Global Entry + TSA Pre + expedited entry into Canada, plus less questioning when entering by air, and it’s inexpensive. The downside is that credit cards do not reimburse it. Everyone needs their own membership, but children under 18 are free.

Eligibility

Nexus is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. green card holders, Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents, and Mexican nationals who are members of the relevant trusted traveler program. It requires approval from both the U.S. and Canada.

U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian citizens, Canadian lawful permanent residents and Mexican nationals who are members of Mexico’s trusted traveller program, Viajero Confiable are eligible to apply for membership in the U.S./Canada 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.

References

Most of the main content and information in this article comes from the official CBP website. Part of the descriptive section comes from a reader, Weekend Zhaizaijia 33, via this WeChat article.