ekscrunchy

Having to show the scar? You ought to report that!!
My body is full of scars and I mean a few long ones.
I've had a hip replacement since I was in my early 40s, and the md gave me a laminated card attesting to that but I have never had to show it to anyone.
I set off the bell sometimes and need a female TSA agent to check me once in a while but usually I just go into the enclosed machine and put my hands up....
Asking to show a scar, or to show any part of her body, strikes me as kind of illegal.

williamscb13

I applied for my Global Entry renewal at the end of November and am still waiting on conditional approval. However, years ago I checked that I didn't have fruit by accident upon reentry to the country and an apple was found by the fruit sniffing beagle. I got a stern lecture about it. I've applied for Global Entry since and had to do another interview where I once again got a lecture about fruit. I did get the GE again. I admitted this on my application though perhaps I shouldn't have as it wasn't official. So my application remains in limbo.
My son on the other hand, I sent in his application last week and it was approved almost immediately.

sassy27

The cute beagle got you. I always loved seeing the beagle on my return home as I don't think they are used anymore. However, my story involves the Immigration agent flying from Dublin, Ireland. I had taken cereal with me when leaving the US to Ireland. I didn't eat it all so saved it for my early morning return home. I got a lecture and stern warning my GE would be revoked, and I would have to pay a fine if I didn't note it on my form the next time. I even said where it was bought and that I planned to eat it at the gate. It didn't matter and made me so paranoid, but I renewed last year with no issues. I also have never had to fill out a form again. This time, when I answered yes to verbally being asked if I had food, the next question was any fruit or meat to which I only said no. I was told to have a nice a day.

P_M

I had an apple in my carry-on when I was leaving Europe, but I took it out and ate it before the plane took off. 10 hours later I was in Houston and a beagle alerted on the very pocket of my carry-on where the apple had been. Of course they didn't find anything, but I was very impressed that beagle could still smell it 10 hours later.

ekscrunchy

That cute beagle caught a lamb sandwich at JFK when I was returning from Spain. I had packed it to eat on the plane but forgotten about it until baggage claim when the beagle was doing his sniffing. The agent took it out and threw it away but did not say anything or give a lecture. And that was before I got my first GE card.

My problem now is that I let the card expire and after it did, I applied for renewal.

I did the renewal for my partner when he got an e-mail saying his was about to expire. He got his asap.
But I did not check mine and never got an e-mail reminding me that it was about to expire. So I just forgot to renew until a couple of weeks after the expiry date. I think that is why I am still waiting 5-plus months later.

My partner gets a wheelchair, and that lets you pass through without waiting in the immigration line. I think they might take me through with him when we return from our trip next month.
If not,, I am resigned to waiting in the (long) line at JFK.

Melnq8

Funny thing about that beagle...it alerted on my spouse's backpack a year or so ago when returning from Switzerland. He was baffled, until they rooted through it and found a bag of fruit flavored candy. The handler then told the dog it wasn't fruit and they moved on.

ekscrunchy

So you are saying, in effect, that you cannot bring fruit into the US? Canada??

Oh, dear......

Patty

I'm not sure the delays are expiration related. My first GE renewal was post expiration and took 10 days. My second GE renewal was prior to expiration and took 7 months!

janisj

Not 'in effect' -- in general one has never been able to bring fruit, vegetables, meat, and seeds into the US. (with some specific exclusions)

tomfuller

I remember eating Florida oranges bought in Canada and handing the US Customs the paper bag with the peels.

starrs

In case this info is helpful to anyone -

I applied online in mid-March and received conditional approval. There was no option for a scheduled interview and instructions were to have the interview the next time I entered the country.

Today my flight from London arrived at 4:55 pm. There were no long lines and absolutely no one ahead of me in the MPC (Mobile Passport Control) line. I walked one station/ desk over and was the 4th person in line for the "interview". The interview consisted of handing the agent my passport, reading an instructional page (in a plastic holder), doing my fingerprints and taking a photo.

The agent said I would be updated with the results in 1 to 3 days.

I just checked my email. I was approved at 5:25 pm, which was probably immediately. Certainly before I exited the airport.

Thrilled it was so fast and easy. I've used MPC before with good results. Looking forward to Global Entry on future trips.

Moderator1

New thread merged with existing topic