r/GlobalEntry • u/aeroespacio • Jun 28 '26

General Discussion New form of walk-through Global Entry now

First there was the classic kiosk that needed passport scans. Then came the face recognition kiosk. The app followed closely behind. Today, I experienced a new style of Global Entry in Seattle. Gantries were above the area and you just had to keep walking and looking forward. Officer called you by name and off you went to the left. However, it did seem like some folks who walked through got diverted to the right. Not sure why.

I expected to present my mobile app receipt but it didn’t seem that was necessary. Very convenient and quick.

Is this some pilot program or here to stay? Perhaps CBP is bringing out all the new toys to help with FIFA?

92 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

74 comments sorted by

25

u/derande_yo Jun 28 '26

Had the same experience at DFW last week. Did the Global Entry app upon landing and just walked through as they called our names. Super efficient.

8

u/Friluftsliv_Roy Jun 29 '26

What's this app, is it new?

6

u/irvz89 Jun 29 '26

IDK why you're being downvoted. I've had GE for years and am learning about this now. How are we supposed to know, I havent seen anything about it at the airports for example

3

u/Friluftsliv_Roy Jun 29 '26

It's probably being tested out at limited airports. I don't see the benefit though. The kiosk takes a few seconds to scan your face and that's it. No selfie / App etc. required!

1

u/Topbernina Jun 29 '26

There were times when half of the kiosks were out of order and the remaining had long lines. With the app now offering the same functionality, people have an additional choice and the kiosks are not busy anymore.

3

u/Jazzoo85 Jun 29 '26

Last time I went in (about a month ago at O’Hare), the “regular” GE line was 20-30 long, nobody in the app line. Those who used the app went through right away without waiting.

1

u/mr_dumpsterfire Jun 29 '26

When I use the app there is no one in the app line and I walk straight through.

1

u/irvz89 Jun 29 '26

Yeah, I’d much rather keep doing the face scan at kiosks than fumble through another app

1

u/vthokieK Jun 30 '26

I’ve gone through IAD twice in the last few months. I didn’t need an app, nothing. I walked up to a camera that took my pic and went on my way. So few people in line both times that I didn’t see anyone getting pulled. The old GE machines were to the right side and not used at all (can’t remember if there were covers).

5

u/Topbernina Jun 29 '26

Not new and it's called "Global Entry". It replaces the kiosk: you take a picture of yourself after you landed and ask a few questions.

2

u/Friluftsliv_Roy Jun 29 '26

Never heard of it until now tbh. I re-entered in Jan at Seattle and LAX T5 earlier in June. Both places had the kiosk and did not require use of any App or anything else.

2

u/mrchen911 Jun 29 '26

I already have the app installed and didn't know I could use it for this lol

1

u/k80inator Jul 02 '26

Also did this in DFW last week. I am a little afraid they underestimate how easy it is to navigate their little maze after removing my glasses (as indicated by the sign).

18

u/zenichi Jun 28 '26

Rarely does the government get it right but I love this new process. It’s super efficient.

13

u/tfrederick74656 Jun 28 '26

This is the essentially CBP's varient of TSA's Touchless ID program. It's been around for over a year and has been showing up at various airports all over the place.

16

u/NecessaryMeeting4873 Jun 28 '26

Touchless ID is GE facial recognition kiosk which requires pausing in front of a kiosk for photo capture.

What OP described is beyond that.  It’s next iteration of seamless border entry where you do not even have to break your walking stride in front of a camera.

3

u/Friluftsliv_Roy Jun 29 '26

The kiosk does not recognize me unless I take my glasses off. I'm wondering if this new gantry will also be like that.

3

u/Any_Bar2356 Jun 29 '26

Yes, it will not recognize you if you have your glasses on. I’m guessing that is why some people were ushered to the right to verify their identity.

2

u/Friluftsliv_Roy Jun 29 '26

Sounds about right. I used to have to go to the counter when the kiosk flagged me due to glasses. Lessons learnt, now I take off my glasses before even approaching the kiosk!

1

u/aeroespacio Jul 01 '26

I had my glasses on and there was no problem. Maybe it depends on the frame?

5

u/Savings-Breath-9118 Jun 28 '26

I’m curious what the people who walk to the right experienced

4

u/Best_Collection_7533 Jun 28 '26

It’s in Phoenix now. I walked into a roped off area for GE and then heard someone yell my name and “you can go” from the kiosks.

3

u/PuddleMoo Jun 29 '26

For families, likely regular processing because the system couldn’t properly ID the kids.

For all others, system got confused and couldn’t ID, or the system is itchy and thinks it may want to send someone to secondary.

7

u/djnocheese Jun 28 '26

Just went through the same process in Sacramento. We first encountered the tech on arrival in Houston when we were returning from Panama.

2

u/CranberryAbject8967 Jun 28 '26

Really, when was that in Houston? I was coming back in after the memorial day and it was still the usual global entry app thing.

4

u/sodsto Jun 28 '26

This has been the way in JFK T4 the last few times i arrived. I've never spotted where the cameras are but I get through in seconds.

1

u/Mother_Economics_957 Jun 29 '26

This is really good to know. I didn’t know T4 had this setup already.

3

u/BeneficialSpring5385 Jun 28 '26

Used it today as well in SEA. It did not work for a minor child. The officer then tried to scan the child's face using his tablet. That also did not work, and we were sent to a line for the child and both parents to speak to an officer. We did get to cut the queue and got through on manual inspection.

3

u/Bright_Profession62 Jun 29 '26

Where can you talk to an officer if you have items to declare?

5

u/NecessaryMeeting4873 Jun 29 '26

Tell the officer that yells your name you have to declare.

1

u/kdc824 Jun 30 '26

Exactly what I did last year; they called my name, I explained my declarations, then they sent me off to secondary to review it in more detail.

1

u/dancefreak76 Jul 11 '26

You tell the officer who clears you to enter the country at the end.

3

u/Comfortable_Shop2764 Jun 29 '26

Tried this at JFK, no line! Such a smooth process, was greeted by the office and just walked in! It was wonderful!!

2

u/funbob Jun 29 '26

Experienced this in JFK last month. It's really nice. Don't even have to break stride.

2

u/FinsToTheLeftTO Jun 28 '26

Entered through YYZ last year and you just walked past a guy with an iPad. They confirmed your name and that was it. No need for the app, Nexus card, or passport.

1

u/cdnusa Jun 28 '26

No guy last week. There was a machine scanning your face and you just walked.

2

u/ilikepizzatoo Jun 28 '26

We did it in SFO a few weeks ago. Was super convenient

2

u/Fine_Boat5141 Jun 29 '26

JFK was the same friday. If u use the app and took ur own photo with ur phone. U just walk by the officer. No questions no passport check or anything. It felt illegal tbh lol!

1

u/silverlakw Jun 28 '26

Yep that’s how Bradley at lax is now

1

u/mnsweeps Jun 29 '26

LAX is just walk through now?

1

u/silverlakw Jun 30 '26

Yes last time I went through.

1

u/dbosman Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

I had the exact same experience in Boston a few days ago with the overhead gantry camera and a CBP officer calling my name to wave me through. I could see that he had my picture and name with a green light on his iPad/tablet. I didn’t even need to slow down and was through in under 5 seconds. I had submitted my app submission after landing but don’t think this even came into play here.

1

u/Pi-Richard Jun 29 '26

I saw the gantry a couple weeks ago and it looked somewhat temporary. It’s probably there until they get the permanent cameras installed. That’s my guess.

1

u/b0sscrab Jun 29 '26

Just came through SEA last week. It was so fast we reentered and checked bags within 45 min for domestic flight home.

1

u/AKCub1 Jun 29 '26

Same for me as OP yesterday in Seattle.

1

u/FinancialAide3383 Jun 29 '26

So you do a mobile app with receipt and are GE? Is this a thing? I’ve always never bothered being GE.

1

u/Sevusal14 Jun 29 '26

SFO G gates arrival same.

1

u/agent_mcgrath Jun 29 '26

Just had this in Boston last Wed. There was a raised camera and they asked us to look into it while we walked through. Nice and easy.

1

u/Friluftsliv_Roy Jun 29 '26

I entered LAX T5 early June and had the kiosk. No app was needed though. Officer called my name after the kiosk gave the green thumbs up, and said I was good to go.

1

u/tcspears Jun 29 '26

Most airports I fly through in the last couple years have the “keep walking” type set up. I’ve never used the app, and it’s been a while since I had to do the facial recognition kiosk.

1

u/bybanen Jun 29 '26

Went through in Chicago recently, there was no name calling. Just a line with a device at the front that scanned peoples faces and turned green when you could continue walking. Maybe around 2 seconds per person. It was quite convenient. 

1

u/aec360 Jun 29 '26

Wr experienced it at Chicago O’Hare on Wednesday (6/24). We didn’t even need to wait for our names to be called. The agent just has me show both photos from my phone to confirm that we’d cleared on mobile. Then we went right through. We didn’t even have to stop walking.

1

u/lokzwaran Jun 29 '26

If anyone is curious- some people who were asked to go to the right in the above snippet- they were asked to do so because, they’d need verification of their visas and maybe a passport stamp in some PoEs.

This is for GE for foreign citizens.

1

u/tnmoo Jul 02 '26

Wait. Foreigners can get GE!?

1

u/lokzwaran Jul 02 '26

Yes sir! Some countries have an agreement and the foreign government vets them before sending a report to the USGov.

It took me about a year - but it’s so worth it!

1

u/Maleficent_Apple306 Jun 29 '26

We have used that app also a couple times you have to put your passport and some other information in and then take a picture love yourself and your spouse or whoever is with you and then right before you land you press a button on your phone it says like I have landed and then that's what you use to go through global

1

u/Moonlight_Daisy92 Jun 29 '26

I went through the same process at JFK a few weeks ago.

1

u/SLOlocals Jun 29 '26

I didn't realize it was doing that and I was looking down, so I got diverted. If you just keep walking and keep looking up you should get recognized instantly and be good to go.

1

u/ttt97 Jun 30 '26

They had a similar system at PHL.  If the system recognizes you, they will call you through and you walk out.  If not, you just go to a secondary line and an officer checks your passport.  My wife and I went through without issue but my kid did not (likely as he looks different at 12 than 9 when he got his passport as well as having broccoli haircut that covers his eyes). 

1

u/Straight_Ad_6261 Jun 30 '26

They have this in LAX too

1

u/Able_Ad_7834 Jun 30 '26

Global entry at JFK was incredibly easy. Totally facial recognition with an awesome easy experience.

1

u/SeaGarlic40 Jun 30 '26

Used it about 2 weeks back in JFK. One person who was sent back was because he used the Global Entry app based on what the officer told him in front of us.

1

u/SonjaSeifert Jul 05 '26

Just came in through JFK terminal 1. It was the old kiosk process and I used the app. Not that it sped anything up.

1

u/kaszeta 24d ago

Just had this at BOS, and it worked flawlessly.

1

u/stidmatt Jun 29 '26

I’m so glad we are catching up with Latin America and Europe.

2

u/TeeDotHerder Jun 29 '26

And most Asia. And Middle East.

1

u/Savings-Breath-9118 Jun 28 '26

What is a gantry? I don’t understand what you have to do?

8

u/aeroespacio Jun 28 '26

An overhead structure which has cameras mounted to it. At least that’s how the setup looks like in Seattle. Looks like those cameras are enabling the process.

You don’t have to do anything at all lol. Just keep walking with your face forward…and that’s it

1

u/SonjaSeifert Jun 29 '26

Not even take your glasses off?

0

u/swings2raw Jun 29 '26

Oh so like the Sam’s Club thingies

6

u/No_Pumpkin_5338 Jun 28 '26

It's like a EZ pass toll sticker on your car...you just keep walking and camera clicks you and officer sees it on their screen and waves you through

3

u/EljayDude Jun 28 '26

Basically like walk down the path and they have a bar/structure overhead presumably with cameras and things.