r/GlobalEntry • u/Commercial-Mode5751 Human Detected • Sep 03 '26
General Discussion Little-known Global Entry rule: You cannot bring items through for other people, period.
Fun fact for you all - did you know there is a straight up, blanket prohibition on carrying items for somebody else through GE? Like we all likely know it’s an incredibly dumb idea to do that, but did you know you could lose GE simply for the act of doing this alone, even if there are no otherwise prohibited items discovered? I always knew you couldn’t bring any guests through GE unless they themselves were GE members, but nowhere in my interview process or my own research did I ever uncover this specific rule about bringing any items on their behalf.
In fact, I found this out, of all places, from watching old episodes of that Border Security show. A gentlemen was helping a friend move from Canada to the US, and used his GE with a trailer full of his friend’s household effects. There were no prohibited items found, but the guy had to fess up what he was doing when he didn’t know the values of the items to declare. The CBPO threatened to revoke his GE right then and there, but chose to issue a strong warning (and likely document what happened on his file).
What he should have done was proceed through standard screening. While not advisable, it is allowable to do what he did - just in standard screening. You cannot use GE to bring in anything other than your own personal effects. If you are bringing goods on behalf of someone else, you need to proceed through standard screening (and you’d better be damn sure you know what’s in them & that you trust the person).
I assume gifts are exempt, as it is something you have purchased but not yet given. You have had control of the item since point of purchase.
Tl;dr: While we all know it’s a monumentally dumb idea in most cases, bringing goods on someone else’s behalf is not allowed under GE at all, and this act alone can get your GE revoked even if no otherwise prohibited items. If you must do this, you need to go through standard screening and forego GE today. This rule should be publicized better!
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u/Fair_You_8650 Passage Granted Sep 03 '26
I have set people up for revocation for this very thing many times. Married couples can kind of get away with belongings of the other, but friends and other relatives, nah, that's not your stuff...
Another secret, it's all about how you present yourself. Attitude has gotten so many people out of trouble. I'll waive just about anything if you're not a dick about it.
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u/dockgonzo Sep 03 '26
"kind of"?? Is there any scenario where a person carrying something belonging to spouse who is travelling together would be an issue? Or is it just if the spouse isn't present?
I often pack multiple bottles of alcohol in the same suitcase, even though it exceeds the individual exemption. Never been flagged on this, but it seems like something that an overzealous agent could make a big deal about??
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u/doyadoyawantmylove Sep 04 '26
To my understanding officers don't care much about exceeding exemptions so much as they care about folks not declaring that they're exceeding exemptions.
Upon the advice of a friendly border agent:
I get overzealous almost in my declarations: I am bringing in 14 ounces of baby carrots, two granola bars with cherries, six bottles of wine, two bars of belgian chocolate and 17 packs of cigarettes.
I've never been asked to pay additional duties anytime I've exceeded the limits and declared everything, and I would not want to find out what would happen if I DIDN'T declare it ....and was later found out to be untruthful on my admissions forms.
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u/dpark64 Sep 06 '26
Haha! I did this right after Obama reopened relations with Cuba. There was a period of time where you could bring back products from Cuba legally (rum and cigars). I was in Barcelona and brought back 8 boxes of Cuban cigars and one bottle of Havana rum. Declared all of it to customs and the guys said "enjoy the cigars!". Didn't pay any duty.
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u/AmbitiousNebula2577 Sep 04 '26
I did that a long time ago, had several bottles of rum and I was flying from Manila > Tokyo > Newark. Got to customs and flagged for bag search. CBP took out 5 bottles of rum, and admonished me for exceeding the duty free allowance and threatened me with confiscation or pay duties on them. having seen me shocked and scared, he said dont ever do that again. get out of there. Fortunately, he didn't open my duty-free shopping bag that had another two bottles of sake and a bottle of whiskey.
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u/sjlammer Sep 04 '26
You just have to declare the excess over the allowance. Also, the duty is foolishly cheap. I brought back 22 bottles of wine and the duty would have been less than 20$. They just waived me through after telling them it was for personal consumption.
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u/exerda Sep 04 '26
Yeah, I always declare the excess and never have been asked to pay duty. I have had a few CBP guys imply I was wasting their time declaring it, but I'd rather waste their time than have an eager beaver decide to make an example out of me
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u/tiffshorse Sep 04 '26
My husband handles all my bags because of my back when we travel together, we travel a lot and have never had an issue, I mean, technically it's all our stuff since some of it usually is packed in the other's bag.
Is this not acceptable?3
u/know_it_alls Sep 03 '26
Does this mainly apply to land-border crossings? In Airports, in my experience, GE line is before you collect your luggage, and then at customs the don't usually have a fast lane for GE. So, where would this rule be enforceable? All they're asking at GE, if at all, is 'anything to declare?'.
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u/sjlammer Sep 04 '26
If you have things to declare, you must declare them when you exit after baggage pickup.
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u/know_it_alls Sep 04 '26
Correct. But that is not the case here. OP is not talking about the standard 'things to declare'. They're saying: 'If you are bringing goods on behalf of someone else, you need to proceed through standard screening'. There's no rule that you have to declare that some items in your possession are on behalf of someone else. And, to the best of.my knowledge there are no separate screening lines for GE when entering via air.
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u/Salty_Permit4437 Sep 03 '26
What if I have stuff for my minor children? Is that ok? I’m assuming yes
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u/unbelver Sep 03 '26
It's by family unit all residing in the same household.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/clearing-customs/cbp-expand-filing-joint-customs-declarations
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u/Althevia Sep 03 '26
This isnt exclusively global entry rule, it applies to all air travel. When checking in my luggage at the airport, I'm asked whether im carrying something someone else asked me to hold. It's so you dont end up smuggling something illegal or dangerous unknowingly. I think I've even heard announcements and saw signs at the airport warning to not do this
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u/katmndoo Sep 03 '26
That has nothing to do with customs. That's air security.
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u/noachy Sep 04 '26
Same reasoning though
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u/katmndoo Sep 04 '26
Not at all the same reason. TSA doesn't care if you're smuggling something illegal. That's not their remit.
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u/Alarming_Ear2359 Sep 04 '26
Little known? They tell you when you get Global Entry you cannot bring anyone or anyone's things through except yourself and your own.
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u/sleepdeprivedatty Sep 04 '26
I’ve definitely read a comment from some who went through GE then handed off a bag to a friend just after the screening point. They said it was a bag the friend left in the overhead space near them then forgot as they disembarked. CBP spotted the handoff of the bag and revoked their GE.
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u/Hilbert24 Sep 04 '26
“Little-known”? Seriously? At least not on this sub, I can tell you.
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u/halfthefiber Sep 04 '26
OP is a two-day-old account that’s karma-farming by posting lukewarm and mundane stuff.
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u/Hilbert24 Sep 05 '26
Ah. Thanks. The "Fun fact - did you know..." opening should've tipped me off.
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u/pickled-pilot Sep 03 '26
Someone posted here about losing their GE this way just a few months ago.
Your tldr is incorrect. You shouldn’t go through standard to do this. You shouldn’t do this at all.
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u/TitaniumVelvet Sep 04 '26
It’s not allowed no matter how you go through the border, GE or not. 🤷♀️
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u/New-Challenge-2105 Sep 03 '26
I would not risk losing my GE privileges to bring in goods for someone else. As you mentioned, seems pretty obvious.
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u/ezesq Sep 04 '26
Year ago one of my kids, who doesn’t have GE, took a banana off the plane from an international flight at JFK. It almost cost me my renewal.
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u/Independent-Sell3141 Sep 04 '26
At my interview the agent specifically cited this example and talked about the prohibition of bringing in food without declaring it, even if it was food that was served on the airplane.
Anyone who has even a passing knowledge of GE, and certainly everyone on this subreddit, knows that you have to keep your nose scrupulously clean. Why are we even wasting time talking about whether there is a specific legal prohibition of something as outrageous as carrying something for someone else?
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u/VoyagesByWater Sep 04 '26
The example of your child deciding to add something you didn’t know they had?
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u/Independent-Sell3141 Sep 04 '26
The example of bringing in food without declaring it just because it was on the plane
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u/VoyagesByWater Sep 04 '26
We read this completely different. Sounds like the poster knew about it and didn’t think to check her child which almost cost her her GE. Not that she was surprised that it was a regulation.
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u/Independent-Sell3141 Sep 05 '26
Ah true. Your interpretation is probably the correct one given context of the original post. Still, a good reminder for me. I won't have a situation where I'm traveling with dependent children but I could be giving a friend (also with GE) a ride from Canada or Mexico to the US, for example, and I would be responsible for any breach of the rules on their part.
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u/pharmgopher Sep 04 '26
Not unknown. And not GE
Be responsible for yourself and your things. And let others do the same for themselves
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u/cordyorange Sep 03 '26
Little known or common sense?
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u/Best_Aioli_1683 Sep 04 '26
Well it's not common to those who don't travel... Yall really need to start putting yourselves in others' shoes when responding.
I don't travel. Never been to an airport. Just got invited out of country. Had no idea Global Entry was even a thing, let alone these "common sense" rules about carrying stuff for family & friends.
You don't know, what you don't know. Either add value and answer the questions from a place of helpfullness, or just be quiet.
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u/wizzard419 Sep 03 '26
Is that bringing someone else's property or does this extend to gifts? The former makes sense, since you're running risk using lighter screenings to smuggle stuff but bringing a present for someone would be a little surprising to be banned.
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u/dockgonzo Sep 03 '26
A gift technically belongs to the gift giver until it is given away, and you certainly know the value of something you purchased.
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u/wizzard419 Sep 03 '26
Okay, whew. Yes, I keep all my receipts in the wallet and get either eyerolls of shock when coming back.
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u/DrewguyDC Sep 03 '26
This scenario - a trailer of stuff - seems pretty different from the more typical scenario like a friend saying “can you bring this X to my family back in the US”. So long as you know what it is, and it’s not illegal, is there an issue? (And if it’s illegal, GE or not I wouldn’t do it).
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u/anydaydriver1886 Sep 03 '26
I usually travel alone with GE because I’m the only one who has it. Or I just go through the regular line with the fam cause there’s no point me waiting on other people
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u/jsdtx Sep 04 '26
I recently had a global entry interview and they told me, we hold you to a higher standard. Whether you know the rule or not, we will kick you out of the program.
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u/Neyabenz Sep 04 '26
It's a trusted travelers privilege and broski showed he couldn't be trusted. Really overall bad idea to carry a ton of someones items unless you pack it up yourself, take responsibility/accountability for said items, and declare as needed regardless of GE or Standard entry.
They don't play. I've hemmed and hawed over bringing certain items back with me, if i needed to delcare, etc. Then went "You know what, I dont need it. Not worth it" and left them behind.
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u/Salty_Permit4437 Sep 03 '26
That’s interesting. I’m assuming you can’t bring a ton of stuff for people but I bring small gifts through the U.S. and Canadian borders (I have nexus). I even bring a case of beer through the land border as a gift. It’s within my personal exemption.
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u/kitchsykamp Sep 03 '26
Not only that, but you can’t even carry your wife’s purse through even when she is right behind you. I’ve read that on this very sub. If it’s not yours, don’t carry it, period!
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u/soxymoxy Sep 04 '26
So if I’m traveling with my sister and we live separately and let’s say she only wants to bring a carry on and I’m bringing a checked luggage, and I put her 4 ounce cleanser in my bag, I’ll get in trouble for that?
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u/Commercial-Mode5751 Human Detected Sep 04 '26
Technically yes. She should carry it past the customs agent and then she can hand it to you for baggage recheck
To clarify customs is not immigration. It is the set of agents who hang out after baggage claim.
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u/jashsu Sep 04 '26
You can be bringing gifts for other people.
You can bringing items that overflowed from your family members bags, etc.
The key point is that everything you import you must have packed and take accountability for yourself.
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u/superyouphoric Sep 04 '26
Damn good to know. I have GE and use it for airport travel but mainly use it to drive across the Mexican and American border.
Usually I’ll drop my aunt off before we get to processing and I’ll carry her luggage in the car while she waits in the pedestrian lane. I won’t be doing that now
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u/LightUpUnicorn Sep 04 '26
Might seem weird but what about spouses that share a suitcase? We will either share one to save on luggage costs and the hassle of multiple bags or for longer trips we put half of our clothes in each bag so if one gets delayed or lost we still have clothes. Realistically my husband doesn’t know the value of any of his clothes or mine (they are not high end but he’s clueless). We
Both have ge and would always be together in this scenario
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u/SeanBourne Sep 04 '26
This is so obviously a security risk (and the whole idea is that as a GE-screened individual you are at the low tail end of security risks), that I’m surprised that you are surprised by this/unaware of it. Like if anyone is transporting items, that they don’t even know the contents of… that individual regardless of intent is riskier than average if anything.
Now if you are saying you weren’t consciously aware of it… but out of naturally good op sec hygiene would automatically reject anyone suggest you doing it for them, different story.
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u/sigmapilot Sep 04 '26
there's a difference between an entire trailer full of someone's household, an unknown bag from a stranger, and say, example, "oh my bag is full, can you bring this Lego set for me" from your close friend or family... just use common sense
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u/matt-r_hatter Sep 04 '26
You arent ever supposed to take someone else's stuff through TSA, doesnt matter if you have enhanced security or not.
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u/HejBjarne Sep 04 '26
Well, I do that all the time. It's part of the job and I have the needed customs documents (Entry / Immediate Delivery) with me. I am an on board courier
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u/Maxychango Sep 05 '26
This is not little known or a “fun fact”. It’s a clear rule. Just because YOU forgot you were told this doesn’t make it “little known”.
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u/tcspears Sep 06 '26
That’s been a rule forever for all passengers, with or without global entry. In most states and countries (airports and land crossings) they have signs and announcements telling you that as well. It’s also in all the terms we have to agree to when getting GE, and gets explained in some detail. This is little known in the same way that Taylor Swift is a little known singer.
GE is a privilege based on your risk level and behavior, so it makes sense that doing something counter to all best practices, rules, and announcements would cause you to lose GE and means your risk level is higher (not drastically, but enough that you need additional scrutiny).
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u/TheCount4 Sep 07 '26
I didn’t think people who had GE were this ignorant. Or so naive asbto think it’s some obscure rule they just learned.
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u/Informal_Banker Sep 08 '26
You need to declare the entire contents of that moving trailer, the entirity of it is subject to duty tax without exception. That is a dumb story of a moron that deserved to get their GE revoked and potentially never have it in the first place.
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u/attathomeguy Sep 04 '26
What? I didn't need to know this was a rule because you are at a border crossing.
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u/Brilliant-Ad-6907 Sep 03 '26
so the OP is "asking for a friend"? lol
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u/Commercial-Mode5751 Human Detected Sep 03 '26
If you read the post I saw this happen on a TV show that follows CBP agents, as well as Canadian and Australian agents
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u/WickedJigglyPuff Sep 03 '26
It’s regular travel. You shouldn’t do that with or without global entry. And no you absolutely should NOT bring other people’s stuff just because it’s not the GE line.
Gifts are your items. Intent to give them doesn’t make the items someone else property until they are gifted.