Why You Should Get Global Entry and How It's Different from TSA PreCheck

If you’ve ever arrived on an international flight carrying 500 passengers, you know that the line at customs can be brutally long. And when you’ve been traveling for 18 hours and have already been through two layovers, the last thing you want is to spend another hour in line waiting to officially reenter the country. Time spent in the customs line is really just time you’re never getting back—and it’s further delaying the post-flight shower you’ve been longing for. This is where Global Entry benefits come in handy. For international travelers with Global Entry, there’s little-to-no line at customs, and instead of meeting with a customs agent, you just scan your documents at the kiosk and are on your way. If you’re ready to expedite your homecoming, here’s everything you need to know about the U.S. Global Entry program.

What is Global Entry?

Global Entry is essentially a way to not stand in the customs line when coming back into the U.S. Travelers who have gone through the Global Entry application and screening process are able to enter the U.S. after a quick check-in at an electronic kiosk. There are no customs lines, no paperwork (it’s an environmentally-friendly system!), and you end up reunited with your luggage and family faster as a result of Global Entry.

How to Get Global Entry

The first step is to create a Trusted Traveler Programs account on the U.S. Customs and Border protection website. Once you’re logged in, fill out the Global Entry application and pay the associated fee. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will review your application and conduct a background check once you’ve submitted, and if it’s conditionally approved, you’ll make an in-person interview appointment at a U.S. Global Entry Enrollment Center.

What’s the Global Entry Interview Like?

First off, applying for U.S. Global Entry doesn’t mean your interview is going to happen next week. In fact, it could take a few months. However, if you don’t want to wait, you can try your luck as a walk-in. Whether you walk in or show up for a scheduled appointment, you’ll need to bring a printed copy of your conditional letter of approval, your passport or permanent resident card, and proof of residency (your driver’s license works).

How Much Does Global Entry Cost?

It costs $100 (non-refundable) to apply for Global Entry, and that fee covers you for five years. However, you may be able to get Global Entry for free, or even help a friend or family member do so. Credit cards like the American Express Platinum Card offer a rebate if you use your credit card for the Global Entry application fee. Furthermore, on some cards — AmEx Platinum included — you can use your credit card to pay for someone else’s Global Entry and still receive the rebate. (This is only true if you haven’t used the card for your own Global Entry fee.)

What if the Person I’m Traveling with Doesn’t Have Global Entry?

You can’t take anyone through Global Entry kiosks with you, and that includes your young children. In other words, if you want your four-year-old to enter the U.S. with Global Entry, they need to undergo the same global entry application and screening process in order to enroll.

How Does Global Entry Help Me?

Travelers approved for Global Entry also get TSA PreCheck. So in addition to getting back into the country faster, you’ll have an easier time getting through security. Once you’re approved for Global Entry, you’ll receive a Known Traveler Number, which you can add to your frequent flyer profiles and plug in when you’re booking flights.

How to Use Global Entry

First, when you’re given a Known Traveler Number after getting approved for Global Entry, you’ll want to start entering that number when booking flights. When heading to customs to get back into the U.S., follow signs for Global Entry and wait in the (wonderfully short) kiosk line. You’ll scan your passport or permanent resident card at the kiosk, verify your fingerprints, and declare any items you’re bringing back into the country. You’ll then get a receipt, and you won’t have to fill out the infamous blue-and-white customs form flight attendants hand out on international flights.

How is Global Entry Different From TSA PreCheck?

Is TSA Global Entry even a thing? Is there some sort of fusion between Global Entry and TSA PreCheck? To be clear, TSA PreCheck expedites your security process when entering the airport, whereas Global Entry eases your customs experience when returning to the U.S. However, Global Entry travelers qualify for PreCheck as a perk of their Global Entry status. Global Entry essentially gets you PreCheck and then some—and it only costs $15 more than TSA PreCheck alone.

Sources:

TSA

The Points Guy

Travel and Leisure

Smarter Travel

Did this post help you? Do you have any questions? Feel free to leave a question or comment below!

Indoor Air Purifying Plants for Your Home

In addition to basic photosynthesis that removes carbon dioxide and returns oxygen to the air, plants can remove toxicants from the air, soil and water in at least two ways. First, they can metabolize some toxic chemicals, releasing harmless byproducts, and second, they can incorporate toxicants such as heavy metals into plant tissues, thus sequestering (isolating) them.

Worldwide, ambient air pollution is estimated to cause about 16% of the lung cancer deaths, 25% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) deaths, about 17% of ischaemic heart disease and stroke, and about 26% of respiratory infection deaths. (Source: World Health Organization)

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Indoor Allergen Committee suggested in a 2010 report that allergists consider indoor air filtration to be part of a comprehensive strategy to improve respiratory health. (Source: Environmental Health Perspectives)

Detoxify your home with the following house plants:

• Ficus plant

• Peace Lily

• Boston Fern

• Areca Palm

• Rubber Plant

• Golden Pothos

• Lady Palm

• Chrysanthemums

• Snake Plant (bedroom plant)

• Spider Plant (no sunlight needed / bedroom plant)

• English Ivy (bedroom plant)

• Aloe Vera (bedroom plant)

• Bamboo Palm

• Dracaena (Janet Craig and Cintho) - (no sunlight needed)

• Dwarf Date Plant

• Sansevieria (Laurentii, Superba, Moonshine) (no sunlight needed)

• Philodendron (no sunlight needed)

• Kentia Palm (no sunlight needed)

• Lavender (bedroom plant)

• Jasmine (bedroom plant)

• Gardenia (bedroom plant)

• Bromeliad (no sunlight needed)

• Golden Photos (no sunlight needed)

Cactus is another important plant that literally cleans up and absorbs all of the EMF and radiation in the home.

If you are looking for a great gift, this wonderful company called, Wood and Wine Succulents started by my awesome friend, Laura Linda Bradley is FABULOUS! She makes the most GORGEOUS handmade succulent arrangements and centerpieces! Check out her Etsy store here and her Instagram here .

If you are a plant lover, I wanna see!

Be sure to tag your plant bebes on Instagram with the hashtag:

#NicoleDeRosaLifestylePlants

Productivity Hacks

I've been asking myself recently, am I busy or productive? We all have "busy work" to do and for me that's emails, filling out endless spreadsheets in Google docs, editing, writing, scheduling, researching etc. Then there is the non "busy work" but what I call my productive results driven / life changing work.

Take this website for instance. I have been putting this off because it sounded too overwhelming to start. I kept my writing, photos and ideas tucked away for too long and finally dusted them all off during the pandemic. I am working towards my dreams, building a business and turning my passion into a full time job.

Since I started scheduling my goal achieving tasks first thing in the morning, I have become more of a productive person with tangible results to show for my time and it FEELS SO GOOD! For me, I am focused between 10am -1pm. During that time, I get a lot done. Otherwise, if I do the busy work first, I just get sucked in and before I know it, it's time for lunch. Make it easier on yourself and do the hard work when you're most alert. It has made ALL the difference for me! I've heard people refer to this as "working IN your business" verus "working ON your business".

I love my planners because I needed to stop doing 100 semi important or low priority things per day instead of 1-2 crucial things per day. My mentality is always wanting to do more, reply to everyone quickly, answer questions quickly etc. but the reality is that those things can wait. Checking my email 2-3 times a day instead of every hour, and working on things in between with zero distractions.

6 months of harcore focus and alignment can put you 5 years ahead in life pursuing your dreams and goals. Don't underestimate the power of consistency and desire. We all have what it takes to become the best we can be. Stop doubting yourself! Harness your power and exceed your expectations!

I love to listen to The Skinny Confidential podcast and what really resonated with me was that I didn't need to make a "To Do List" for my entire life, everyday. It's overwhelming and wildly unproductive. What Lauryn Evarts Bosstick aka The Skinny Confidential suggests is....

"Flip it on it's head, just focus on your objectives for the day. What this simple tip does is work on what's going to move the needle without the distraction of the menial tasks that don't matter. You're essentially respecting your time."

If you have meetings and deadlines that day, of course those are non-negotiables. But, you can start by dedicating a day or two where those precious focus hours are for yourself, your hustle and whatever goal(s) you have!

Like Lauryn, "I have my top 3 non-negotiables and separately a list of 7 things I would like to get done in order of importance, so my list is really never bigger than 10 things. It is honestly brutal to have more than 10 to do's. Usually I end up doing about 7. I focus on completing one task before moving on to the next. You should know I keep a separate long ass scroll list in my notes app for stuff that's not pressing, but I never let that list consume my day."

Time batching or time blocking is effective because it builds structure and boundaries around blocks of time, so that you can dive deep into specific tasks without interruptions that break up your workflow. I take breaks in between each task.

Here are just a few ways to work smarter:

• Plan out your days and weeks in advance.

• Set clear intentions, so you have a plan.

• Planner / whiteboard / google calendar

• Invest in learning

• Automate tasks

• Use "Do Not Disturb" on your phone

• Don't multitask

• Do important work only

• Become organized

• Limit doing email to 3x's per day or less.

• Measure results, not time

• Stick to a routine

• Works in blocks

• Turn off phone notifications for unimportant apps.

• Relieve stress. Reward yourself for your hard work (self care)

• Find tasks to eliminate

I'm sure this applies to some of you even if you're in a drastically different career. We all want to do the easy tasks first that are the fastest, but they might not be the most important. I just wanted to share how I've been scheduling my day and maybe it can help you get closer and closer to your goals and dreams too!

Do posts like this bring you value? Let me know in the comments section below!