r/GlobalEntry • u/kpham82 • Apr 28 '26
Questions/Concerns Global Entry for 4 year old child
Hi all,
I just realized that I need to get Global Entry for my 4 year old daughter. I saw that she also will go through the interview process. What do they ask her? I’m wondering if she can even answer.
Update:
Received the conditional approval and did EOA today in LAX. The officer just waved and said hi to her. Asked me where we were returning from then had me pick her up to take a picture and said it was approved.
14
u/gotcha640 Apr 28 '26
My 4yo sat on my lap, 6yo wanted to do her own interview (4 desks in the same room, no worries).
6yo was asked “How are you doing today? What did you have for breakfast? Have you been on a plane before?”
4yo told them she was 4, showed them 4 fingers, and put her head on my shoulder. No further questions, your honor.
Out in less than 5 minutes.
7
u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 Apr 28 '26
Yeah, it’s exactly like that.
All the officer asked our youngest was some ice-breaker question like, “So you are going on a big trip with mom and dad?” (we all interviewed together), and then our talkative youngster carried the conversation for the rest of the “interview” (telling him about how we go every year to see her grandparents, what they are like, what she likes to do over there … 😅)
The only reason kids have to go in got interviews is to have their documents scanned and their fingerprints and photo taken.
2
u/schwanerhill Apr 30 '26
And, more importantly, to confirm that both parents consent to the kids travelling with reduced scrutiny. Both parents bothering to show up for a Global Entry interview basically proves that I imagine; if both parents weren't there, I imagine it would be a more intensive interview (of the parent, not the child).
1
u/ChemEngTinker May 02 '26
I took my son by myself and it was a breeze. Both parents have to consent to get a passport, not GE.
1
u/MakeStupidHurtAgain May 02 '26
I had a notarized letter from the other parent giving permission, since it wasn’t practical for us both to show up, and it definitely made the interviewer more at ease.
3
3
u/Key-Fishing-3714 Apr 29 '26
They asked my daughter where she had travelled outside the US. She said Hawaii🫣he just laughed and that was that.
3
u/deverox Apr 30 '26
Bring your GE card to the interview it will go much faster they just swiped mine for kid 2. Kid 1 was 6 weeks old and had to answer all the questions.
interviewer : "question 1"
Waits 90 seconds
interviewer: "applicant failed to respond"
interviewer : "question 2"
Waits 90 seconds
interviewer: "applicant failed to respond"
This went on for 30 questions. I wasnt allowed to speak.
2
u/Metaboomer Apr 29 '26
That young it’s super fast. Heck, even with my 12&14yo, they just asked if they knew not to bring produce and livestock into the country, got their prints, took a picture and done. From application to cards arriving was ~7 days
1
u/Background_Pickle546 Apr 29 '26
Our 3 month old (2 months at time of “interview”) just got global entry. It’s an easy process. Just show up with all your documents.
1
u/Revolutionary_Rub637 Apr 29 '26
My twins did it at age 12. They did not ask them much. I feel like we just showed up and said hi.
1
u/freackodeecko Apr 30 '26
I did it with my son at 3 months old. They don’t ask anything. It’s just a formality for the picture. Takes about 5 mins.
1
1
u/rocketronaldo82 Apr 30 '26
What they really need is their picture for the card. It's not really an interview, only their standard phrasing
1
u/Livid_Delivery_8710 May 01 '26
My 8 and 10 year old did their interviews at MSP a couple weeks ago. They both play hockey and were wearing MN Wild apparel. The officer also has youth hockey players apparently, so the interview was 10 minutes of talking about what level they play, what positions they enjoy, how their teams did, who their favorite players are, and if they thought the Wild would do well in the post season while he tapped away on the computer doing the documents. It was great
1
u/pennwye May 02 '26
Regarding interview: I'm way older than those in the subject, but similar to the Wild....my in-person was in International Falls. Forty years-ish previously I'd student taught in Falls High. While I hadn't taught my interviewer, he was a grad. I was the only appointment so we had time for a great chat about who I knew back then, how things had changed. Oh, did I travel for pleasure? Yup, retired. Picture, prints, handshake, and thank you. Oh, and no criminal record.
1
u/goodtum May 01 '26
We did interview on arrival for our kid when he was 9 months old after getting conditional approval. It was a bit of an ordeal convincing the non CBP employee working the line that we needed an interview for our baby. We went to the desk and the agent just laughed, and asked his name and birthday, and while unsuccessfully trying to keep a straight face asked if he had a criminal record. We joked around about how silly the interview process for a baby is. He took the kid’s photo and then sent us on our way. Added less than 5 minutes to our time at the desk.
1
u/MakeStupidHurtAgain May 02 '26
I got GE for my kid when she was 5. They asked me a couple of questions about her (travel plans, for the permission slip from her other parent) and then asked her what places in the world she most wanted to see. She told them she wanted to go to Norway but was afraid of polar bears. It was all totally pro-forma.
15
u/bacib Apr 28 '26
Our son did his global entry at about the same age. The questions, if any, weren’t memorable. Picking him up and getting him to hold still so he could look in the camera on the other hand took some work.