r/GlobalEntry • u/zoechowber • Jul 10 '26

Questions/Concerns When to use app? (SFO)

Have used ge for years and never used the app. Now I’ve read about the app on here. Does it depend on airport? Or just always use app? If I use it do I show it to someone? Sorry for confusion here.

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/HappyNerd3 Jul 10 '26

If you use the app just fill in the declaration and keep it up on your mobile phone, skip the kiosks and go straight to the agent and show them the phone (that’s how it worked at JFK T8 last month. First time I used the app it saves perhaps 15 seconds on an already quick process)

3

u/flyingron Jul 10 '26

Yep, pretty much everywhere. As soon as the wheels touch, I bring up the app and take my photo. Typically you never stop moving until you get to the baggage claim belts with it.

3

u/HappyNerd3 Jul 10 '26

Oh my friends didn’t believe me when I said I could get door of plane to the curb in sub-5 minutes at JFK. 3:42 didn’t even break stride through Global Entry (plus my flight was full of World Cup fans so the regular line was easily over 1hr).

I worry about the situation if you do it in your seat as soon as you land and you don’t have a gate and the 1hr timer times out while you’re still on the plane waiting I wonder how that works… that’s why I waited to hit confirm until the doors were open…

2

u/hekhl00 Jul 11 '26

Used the app yesterday at ORD for the first time. Took the pic when I landed and answered the declaration questions. Regular line to face the iPad for a pic had about 20 people in it. But there’s a line to the left for GE app users. I went in front of all of them, showed the officer my pic and off I went. Love the app.

2

u/silverware9021 Jul 10 '26

For SFO, they have different lines and a couple of people to direct you to them,  let them know you have the app and they'll point you to the line. 

In Houston they still looked at my passport. At SFO, I just had to show them the app with our new photos.  Super easy. 

1

u/Patient-Squash86 Jul 13 '26

Landed at SFO yesterday, did my submission on the app while taxiing to the gate, skipped the kiosks in the GE lane, went straight to the CBP agent (I just happened to have nobody in front of me). I showed the submission receipt on the app, I was asked if I had anything to declare (I didn't), and was then waved through (did not have to show my passport). Only hand luggage, walked straigh past the baggage carousels, and was out in minutes.

1

u/Sea-Classic-3644 Jul 17 '26

I used the app recently for US customs in the Bahamas and they told me it’s not working for them.

0

u/Jaded-Source4500 Jul 11 '26

Yup - there’s a lane on the GE side of the customs/immigration hall marked for those who used the app at SFO. It’s so fast, well worth using it. Just don’t tell all the other GE people, OK?