US Global Entry Program for Australian citizens [from 2025]

[DirectConnect]

Bloody hell, that is steep! And considering the fact that we also have the most expensive passport in the world! The government sure knows how to milk us dry.

The primary reason that I can think of is the continuous annual background checks for 5 years. All built into the cost.

 

[COC]

The primary reason that I can think of is the continuous annual background checks for 5 years. All built into the cost.

Like ASIC and MSIC

 

[desafinado74]

The primary reason that I can think of is the continuous annual background checks for 5 years. All built into the cost.

I forgot about this. Thanks for bringing it up. Fair enough re the high cost I guess.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

Although it doesn’t explain why Australian charges as so much higher than US or others like UK.

 

[DirectConnect]

Although it doesn’t explain why Australian charges as so much higher than US or others like UK.

A normal AFP NPC costs $56 per application which is $280 over the 5 year span. The other costs would be most likely the GEP staff required to handle all of these background checks going forward including uplinking it to the US system.

 

[LondonAussie]

A UK police certificate costs £65 (or $134 AUD) for a 20 day turnaround, or £115 ($237) for a 2 day processing time.

UK global entry is £42 ($86 AUD) for a UK background check plus $120 USD for a US Customs check.

 

[justinbrett]

Short version: If your ticket has your title on it (e.g. MS, MR, etc), it might mess with pre-check (at least on AS).

Had my GE on arrival interview the other day. Took about an hour of waiting to be seen, and then the interview took 5 mins (basically went over the questions in my application to see if anything had changed between applying and the interview).

Interview was completed around 1200hrs, received the full approval via email the next day around 0800hrs (~20 hours later).

Went to use my new Known Traveller Number (KTN) with online check-in for an AS flight (booked by QF on a QF ticket) and didn't get pre-check. Went to the counter to figure out if there was something funny with my booking, and turns out AS had the "MR" as part of my actual name on my ticket (e.g. LASTNAME FIRSTNAME MR). I've noticed MR being added to my ticket before, but this was the first time it caused an issue.

At the check-in counter, they played with my booking, removed the MR at the end... and voila — pre-check on the boarding pass!

I asked this in my GE interview and was told that shouldn’t happen. Might be an AS thing.

I’m flying AA today on a QF CR ticket, with the same format name (JUSTIN B MR). TSA precheck automatically on my BP, agent didn’t have to do anything.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

Terminal 4 JFK today at 315pm EOA - there was one person in front of my wife. Took less than 10 minutes and approval came through an hour later.

 

[desafinado74]

Out of curiosity, what does the Australian background check involve? I assume you have to fill out a form and answer some questions ? If so, what type of questions get asked ? And once your Australian background check is successful, do you have to go through the same checks from the CBP side ? Or you just have to do the interview with the CBP ?

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

Out of curiosity, what does the Australian background check involve? I assume you have to fill out a form and answer some questions ? If so, what type of questions get asked ? And once your Australian background check is successful, do you have to go through the same checks from the CBP side ? Or you just have to do the interview with the CBP ?

You need to prove your identity -including setting up a profile on the MyID App and answer some pretty basic questions.

CBP just processes and checks the details you included in the application to make sure you have had no issues in the USA including any immigration issues. It can take months for CBP to process but in recent times they appear to be moving quickly.

For both myself and my wife we received CBP conditional approval within hours of clearing the Australian background check. So they obviously checked and processed our application before the Aust check was even completed.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

Looks like it has passed both Houses

And the Bill has now received Royal Assent and now an Act.

 

[DC3]

And the Bill has now received Royal Assent and now an Act.

 

[desafinado74]

You need to prove your identity -including setting up a profile on the MyID App and answer some pretty basic questions.

CBP just processes and checks the details you included in the application to make sure you have had no issues in the USA including any immigration issues. It can take months for CBP to process but in recent times they appear to be moving quickly.

For both myself and my wife we received CBP conditional approval within hours of clearing the Australian background check. So they obviously checked and processed our application before the Aust check was even completed.

Thanks so much for clearing things up. Now i am hoping that the AUD won't collapse too much ! (And avoid reading stories of tourists being detained and deported for allegedly frivolous reasons)

 

[DC3]

And avoid reading stories of tourists being detained and deported for allegedly frivolous reasons

I try not to worry too much about things that I have no control over.

 

[desafinado74]

I try not to worry too much about things that I have no control over.

True. Otherwise you will become a nervous wreck. It will be interesting to see if many Aussies will apply for Global Entry. It seems like USA is not a popular destination at the moment for many in Australia and around the world.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

I try not to worry too much about things that I have no control over.

I also wouldn’t read too much into the reports - many of which are fake/distorted. I am not making any political statement. But as someone who has lived in the US for more than 10 years and comes in and out constantly (hence my longing and huge relief in gaining GE), I have not seen any difference at airports. And because I am on a visa I have spent those 10 years in the immigration line with all the people from the “interesting countries” and it is the same as before. Anyone who travels through MIA or LAX regularly has seen CBP/ICE meeting planes from South American and other countries doing pre screening and asking to see people’s passports etc as they get off the plane over many many years. It isn’t new and has happened to me before on various occasions.

Just one person’s experience but it is a lot of experience. Now as for the AUD I can’t help you there - although for me earning USD it did make last Christmas back in OZ very cost effective ;-)

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

True. Otherwise you will become a nervous wreck. It will be interesting to see if many Aussies will apply for Global Entry. It seems like USA is not a popular destination at the moment for many in Australia and around the world.

Certainly a lot of noise and press but to date the only drop off I have really seen is between US and Canada. I am heading back to Canada next week and it will be interesting to see what the flight is like. All my flights to other destinations have been full - Emirates from DXB last weekend was packed and friend on QR also said packed. I just booked a ticket to Germany in a month and got the last business seat. Flights home to OZ for Christmas are looking pretty full in business class at least, and this is even with a lot of new capacity being put on the route and the prices are just as insane as always - 22k USD QF or SQ from New York to East Coast via Auckland or Singapore or around 16k USD QF/AA going through DFW. No doubt cheaper if you go via LAX or SFO, especially on UA - which I guess I no longer need to avoid with GE! Of course it all could drop off quickly for political, cost inflation or general economic conditions if things really tank.

 

[Surchling]

Oh forgot to add, my interview on arrival experience, I arrived early so the actual office was shut, but they just made me line up with Americans and then when I got to the desk I said I'm here to do the Golbal entry interview, he's like cool, Name, Passport, Fingerprints, Done.
I wasn't able to add the Pre-Check for my connecting domestic flight as it was just completed, but I have added too all my flights since and had no issue. Pre-Check is so great, no need to take electronics out anymore (I no longer take up 4 trays)

 

[desafinado74]

Oh forgot to add, my interview on arrival experience, I arrived early so the actual office was shut, but they just made me line up with Americans and then when I got to the desk I said I'm here to do the Golbal entry interview, he's like cool, Name, Passport, Fingerprints, Done.
I wasn't able to add the Pre-Check for my connecting domestic flight as it was just completed, but I have added too all my flights since and had no issue. Pre-Check is so great, no need to take electronics out anymore (I no longer take up 4 trays)

Sounds great ! May I ask which airport was this?

 

[Surchling]

Sounds great ! May I ask which airport was this?

DFW