The Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) run by the Unites States Department of Homeland Security is actually five different programs:

• TSA Precheck
• Global Entry
• Nexius
• Sentri
• FAST

Each has its own purpose. TSA Precheck allows you to get through the TSA line quicker by typically not having to remove your shoes or your belt and by using the simple metal detector portal in place of the full body scan. Global Entry includes the TSA Precheck and adds expedited entry into the US when returning from foreign countries. Nexius is for frequent travel between the US and Canada, while Sentri is for frequent driving between the US and Mexico. Lastly, FAST is for border crossings between the US and Mexico or Canada for commercial truck drivers.

There is one more program that you may have heard about, too. It’s called CLEAR. But this program isn’t run by Homeland Security and isn’t part of the Trusted Traveler Program. It is run by a private company and you have to pay for it. It doesn’t get you through TSA any quicker by reducing what you need to do, like taking off your shoes or belt. It just uses biometrics, facial recognition​ or finger prints, to make the ID easier. We opted in to the facial recognition​ option offered by American Airlines and it didn’t cost us anything, so I’d suggest looking into what your airline may offer and avoid paying for CLEAR.

We chose to get Global Entry since it includes TSA Precheck, plus it makes reentry to the US so much easier when we return from Jamaica. Once you are accepted into the Global Entry program, you receive a KTN, Known Traveler Number, which you give to your airline when you book your airline tickets. You probably get a KTN with the other parts of the TTP, too, but since we only have Global Entry, I’m not 100% sure.

So for our latest trip with the Global Entry app, we just took a head-shot selfie and filled in a couple of pieces of data, which airport and which terminal at that airport, then proceeded to the immigration area. We showed the app with the big green check mark by our picture and the officer waived us through. We didn’t even have to stop and show our passports.

Actually, this last trip was a little more complicated, but not by much. We couldn’t get the app to work on Darlene’s phone, so she had to go to a kiosk and get her picture taken where the facial recognition was used, then she was waved through by the immigration officer. So even when it didn’t work perfectly, it still worked for getting through quickly.

Now the phone app for Global Entry is going away, being replaced by an app that supposedly includes all the available pieces of the TTP. On September 15th of this year, you’ll need to download the new Trusted Traveler app and enter your information. How smoothly will this go? How much information will you need to reenter into the new app? I guess we’ll find out on or after 15 September.