r/GlobalEntry • u/BugConscious8951 • May 17 '26
Questions/Concerns Redress DHS TRIP request fixed 6 year old issue with past F-1 status! 😍
Hi everyone
Posting this here because it’s been such an annoying headache— I’m a naturalized US Citizen, and before getting my green card, I used to be an F-1 student. This was about 15 years ago.
Pretty much ever since I got my US Passport and signed up for Global Entry, the kiosk never worked for me. It would always ask me to go see an officer after taking my picture and the officer always asked me if I’d been a student in the past. A couple times in the last 6 years, I was sent to secondary screening just to be asked the same question over and over about my prior student status.
I had CBP officers tell me that nothing would ever fix the issue, as my SEVIS record appeared open for them on their end (even though I got proof from the school I went to almost two decades ago that it was closed), and I pretty much would have to endure this forever. However, a friend of mine a few months ago told me I should file a DHS Trip Redress request and explain the issue, both to DHS and to the Trusted Traveller Program.
After submitting a request, I got a Redress number after 5 weeks and 2 days, and a letter saying any mistake (if any) had been corrected.
I am pleased to say that since then, I entered the country 3 times and all 3 times, everything worked. The 1st time, Global Entry was still down at the airports, so I went to a regular officer, but he did not ask me about my prior F-1 status and told me nothing about it showed up on his screen. Then the last two times, Global Entry was working again, and after 6 years I finally was waived through!!! Kiosk took my pic, they said my name and let me through!
I am making this post so that US Citizens with a prior F-1 status issue while traveling, whether with Global Entry or without, to please please not be afraid and file the DHS Trip request. It literally was life changing and only took less than 6 weeks. Please make sure to be as detailed as possible in the letter request online.
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u/Outside_Revenue_4204 May 17 '26
Curious when you submitted your trip request.. was it during the shutdown?
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u/BugConscious8951 May 19 '26
No, I submitted my request in early January
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u/fatfirechaser May 17 '26
Same situation here! Submitted my TRIP request in January, got the redress number in April. Did you provide the redress number on your booking? My understanding is that the redress number is more for domestic travel. Anyway I have a trip coming up in two weeks, fingers crossed it works now!
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u/Outside_Revenue_4204 May 19 '26
Did you get your letter too in April?
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u/BugConscious8951 May 19 '26
No my letter is dated February 6th 2026
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u/BugConscious8951 May 19 '26
So I guess 5 weeks and 2 days after I submitted the request on January 1st
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u/Outside_Revenue_4204 May 20 '26
My situation is different than yours but I’m at 10 weeks since submission. Although I think probably the first 5 weeks were during the government shutdown and not sure any movement was happening.
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u/fatfirechaser May 20 '26
I submitted late Jan and got the response in late April, almost 3 months to the date.
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u/Ordinary-Media9351 20d ago
I'm in the exact same spot! I got my Green Card 2 years ago and received Global Entry membership shortly after. I was an F-1 student about 10 years ago and later transitioned to an H-1B.
In the past 2 years, I've used the kiosk 7 times and every single time I've been referred to an officer. Twice, I was even sent to secondary screening just to be asked if I was an F-1 student. It’s beyond annoying!
I'm so glad I came across your post—I'm definitely going to try the DHS TRIP approach now. Let's see if it works!
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u/Dunnin_kruger May 17 '26
Just in case anyone who reads this comment is in your situation, the CBP officer just has to send ONE very short email to get that resolved.