Easing Travel for EB-5 investors: Overview of Global Entry, TSA Pre, Nexus and Sentri

As an EB-5 investor one of the many benefits that are enjoyed is the ease of travel in and out of the United States

Global Entry Passes and the Trusted Traveler Program

While the reentry permit is issued by the USCIS, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) also offers a program for immigrant travel known as the Trusted Traveler Program (AKA TTP). TTP gives its users something known as a “Global Entry Pass”, which allows for a more simplified and faster traveling experience for immigrants traveling with an immigrant visa or a physical green card. 

The Global Entry Pass (GEP) requires a rigorous background check and an in-person interview to qualify. However, after being issued a GEP, you will be able to easily navigate CBP officials at a U.S. port of entry, as they will verify your identity and immigrant status with just a photograph. This pass also includes TSA Pre-check, which unlocks an expedited check in at airports as well. Allegedly, CBP is also developing an app to verify GEP arrivals to streamline the process further.

These documents are issued between 12-14 months after applying. Therefore, it is better to apply for any pass you may need as early as possible. GEPs can be applied for up to six months before entering the U.S., which allows immigrants to enroll upon arrival rather than finding an enrollment center after immigrating. 

This pass is $100 per person and lasts up to five years before it must be renewed. Many frequently flying EB-5 immigrants deem this a must in order to navigate U.S. airports efficiently, without delay, and with less hassle surrounding their forms of identification and visa status. For EB-5 investors who may be lacking a physical form of identification (I.e. using a receipt notice for an expired card or traveling without their card), this program is designed to save hours of travel time and inconveniences caused by checks with CBP officials, security exams, background checks, holding and more. For a majority of immigrants who can foot the bill for this pass, it may be well worth it for the convenience of pre-check and photo verification alone.

Global Entry with an expired conditional green card

For investors who will be traveling abroad with an expired conditional green card and a 797 receipt notice from USCIS, Global Entry will not allow you to board without seeing a security officer to check that you are in possession of an expired conditional green card and a valid 797 receipt. 

Travel in North America

Some programs, such as NEXUS or SENTRI, are specified towards borders with other countries, such as Canada and Mexico respectively. Many immigrants are not eligible until they become a permanent resident, therefore you must have a version of the physical green card prior to applying. 

NEXUS is a program that expedites travel between the U.S. and Canada. Similar to Global Entry, NEXUS is a five year membership program which grants expedited processing at US ports of entry (including airports, marine entry ports, and vehicle entry points) and allows for cross border travel between U.S. and Canada (expedited processing in, expedited processing out). This pass also includes TSA Pre-Check benefits. The cost is $50 per person and takes 12-14 months for processing. 

SENTRI is a similar program for vehicle and air travel between the U.S., Canada, AND Mexico. Members get expedited access to ports of entry and TSA Pre-Check for five years (although unlike Nexus, SENTRI only allows for expedited processing when leaving the U.S, not when entering). This pass costs a little more than $120 per person and takes 10-12 months for processing. Both passes require in-person appointments in the U.S., and can only be applied for once you are a permanent resident.

For EB-5 immigrants living in Canada and Mexico, this program makes traveling through airports and ports of entry much faster than the average immigrant traveling without. NEXUS and SENTRI can easily replace a pre-existing Global Entry Pass due to collaboration between the two agencies running each program, making the programs even more efficient for the savvy frequent travelers. A large portion of the EB-5 investor community 

One pass at a time

Note: you cannot have multiple versions of a travel permit at the same time. For example, an individual cannot have both a Nexus pass AND Global Entry pass at the same time. While some may have different benefits than others, most passes confer the same benefits to their owner (such as TSA Pre-Check).

Conclusion

There are a variety of ways that new immigrants can make their entry into the U.S. easier, and ensuring all government identification and travel permits necessary for your stay are taken care of as soon as possible can greatly improve this process. Be sure to pick a form of identification and permit that is available in your state of residence and corresponds to your travel needs. If you wish for an expedited travel experience or plan to leave the country often after your initial immigration is complete, be sure to explore all options available to you for travel, especially if you plan to travel with an expired conditional green card while your I-829 is pending.

To learn more about Trusted Traveler Programs, visit the DHS’s website.