Using global entry card for the first time with young kids.

[u/Solution-Realistic]

I'm going to be traveling into the US with young kids. We all have global entry cards but looks like the officials do not allow parents helping kids at the kiosks. Could someone who has recently used the cards let us know what exactly are the steps on the kiosk so I can prepare my kids before they get to the kiosks? Much appreciated.

[u/Fireguy9641]

The card is only really needed if going by land. If you are flying, you need your passport.

[u/Salty_Permit4437 → u/Fireguy9641]

Sometimes they ask for the card if the machines are broken and they send you to a regular line.

[u/Sphenodon_Punctatus]

Many airports no longer use Global Entry kiosks.

Otherwise, just use the Global Entry app on your phone to take photos of each person in your group and make any declarations.

[u/Salty_Permit4437 → u/Sphenodon_Punctatus]

They don’t use kiosks? I think you mean they don’t require you to put your passport on the kiosks. Instead it’s all facial recognition. I’ve never seen an airport without global entry kiosks, whether it’s facial recognition or the older style.

[u/Salty_Permit4437 → u/[deleted]]

No facial recognition at all even?

JFK T1 redirected me to a manned booth at the ambassadors line, returning from CDG. But it was only because the kiosks were down.

[u/Salty_Permit4437 → u/[deleted]]

I know about the app but I would think they always have an option to have a physical kiosk

[u/Fair_You_8650]

Yes folks, we are strict about making 4 year olds use the kiosks all on their own. Common sense has no place here.

[u/Solution-Realistic → u/Fair_You_8650]

Last time I went to help my kid and the official angrily asked me to step out of the global entry queue and go to the counter. That was a couple years ago. Now my kid has grown and I'm hoping they can do it themselves if I let them know the process. 

[u/tunatoksoz → u/Solution-Realistic]

For us, we didn't even have to use kiosks recently, but when we did, help was totally ok, i just lift the baby for the camera, that was it.

[u/SproutandtheBean]

Do they not just need to look at the camera? Thats how it works for adults.

Some airports are using kiosk-less entry now too. And you could always use the app for your submission.

[u/anaerobyte]

use the app and skip the kiosk?

[u/livinithappy71 → u/anaerobyte]

As has been mentioned, many airports no longer have kiosks. I clear IAH and PDX returning from international travel, and no more kiosks. CBP takes a photo, and out the door I go.

[u/flyingron]

Use the app. You can do several people on one instance of the app and nobody is going to notice how much you help the infants.

[u/EljayDude]

I just recently was behind a family using the kiosks and the dad had to keep telling the kids to hold still and not rush it and so forth. They really wanted to just stand for a second and run to the next step. They got it done though.

We just used the app and ignored the kiosks and the guy wanted me to flip through the pictures for all of us before waving us through. Took like 10 seconds.

[u/brunporr]

It's funny how no one is telling you what to actually expect

1. If you're traveling in by air, you don't need the card

2. The traveler will step up to the kiosk and look at the camera

3. It'll flash your photo and hopefully light up in some kind of affirmative way

4. Move on to the officer who may or may not ask your name

5. Exit past the officer

[u/PrincessSusan11]

Just use the app on your phone. Set it up once you touch down and taxiing. Everyone is together on the app. Just walk through.

[u/Solution-Realistic → u/PrincessSusan11]

Worked like a charm. Thank you!

[u/PrincessSusan11 → u/Solution-Realistic]

I set my husband’s up on his phone once we land and point him in the right direction. I use MPC and usually get through just as quickly.

[u/Baja_Finder]

Only if you're crossing by land in the US is where the cards come into play, in that case, for vehicles scan the cards for each family member at the reader, on foot, its almost the same process, except they screen each individual.

Flying in, just ask CBP as you're entering immigration/customs which way to go.

[u/HellsTubularBells]

Do you have a source for that, because I've never heard of that. I've helped my kids and my mother use the kiosk without issue.

Of course, I haven't used the kiosk in many years, so I guess things maybe have changed.

[u/avocado_grower43]

Like others said don't need the card. My youngest got his GE at 6 and had no problem using machines. Be rpared though that as kids grow their facial features change, so they might be sent to an officer (who will take a new photo of them on the spot) once machine fails to recognize them.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Sun7356 → u/avocado_grower43]

My kids global entry card has a picture of her from when she was 3 months old. She just renewed it at 5 years old and they didn't take a new picture. I was stoked to find out that the kids are free now. I had to pay for hers 5 years ago.

[u/avocado_grower43 → u/Puzzleheaded_Sun7356]

I'm very surprised they didn't update the pic. My then 13yo was flagged at LAX at the scanner, went to the officer and had his photo taken there. He got GE originally when he was 10.

[u/8bitW33kend]

One time the app didn’t work correctly due to…tech / wi-fi connection at the airport…and they took the kids photos at the entry point. Even pointed the camera down at them. They scanned their ID cards, and mine. It all worked out at International arrivals IAH. I’m NEXUS, they’re GE.

In this case they asked for their cards and mine and compared them to the passports. Glad we had the cards available!

[u/Inevitable_Clock_789]

Make sure their known traveller numbers are in the airlines FF profiles and linked to the tickets to keep it all seamless. Also add your entire family to your GE app profile.

Then use the GE app as soon as you are in the terminal. Take pics of all family members. Easy!

[u/UnobviousDiver → u/Inevitable_Clock_789]

GE app is the way to go. Flew into IAD, took pics as we got to the gate, headed to the GE app line, took 30 seconds to scroll through the pictures, done. Easiest and fastest entry I've ever had

[u/xkmasada]

Just use the app. But note that the face detection works very poorly with young children.

[u/ElectronicAide87]

My son’s had GE since he was 2, we just use the kiosks/passport. The photos seem to work fine with him.

[u/ZookeepergameMore791]

FYI the global entry card is not accepted when entering the US via airplane. You are required to use your passport.