Global Entry Card Saves Time

Global Entry Card kiosk – from http://www.cbp.gov
If you are a frequent traveler, you might consider looking into a Global Entry Card.
With a Global Entry Card, you can skip the line at Customs when you re-enter the U.S.
For domestic flights, the card gives you eligibility for the “random” selection that’s used to pick passengers for TSA Pre-Check. Why would you want to be chosen for TSA Pre-Check? Keep your shoes and sweaters on. Leave your liquids in your baggie inside your luggage. Leave your laptop where it is. Awesome! Oh, and the security line is usually shorter for TSA Pre-Check.
Filling out the application for the Global Entry Card is a piece of cake. Everything can be done online. The hard part is getting an appointment for an in-person interview, which is required to finish the application process. My metro area, San Antonio, had zero available appointments listed for the near future. Austin had a three-month wait. I opted to drive down to Laredo since they had immediate openings. Those of you who live in areas where interviews are not offered may have to wait for the interview until you travel to a larger metropolitan area.
The (currently) $100 fee you pay covers you for five years. Twenty bucks a year to skip the line? I’ll take it! (Note: If you have an Amex Platinum card, you’ll get a refund for the fee.)
Helpful GOES card links:
Overview: http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry
Interview Locations: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/remote-interview-pilot-trusted-traveler-programs#
Apply: http://www.cbp.gov/global-entry/how-to-apply
Kiosk Locations (for hassle-free entry): http://www.cbp.gov/global-entry/locations (Note the locations that don’t have application centers.)