[ryan]

If you have a green card you can avoid this by signing up for Global Entry[1]. Then you can avoid customs lines and just swipe your card at the kiosk - enter the country without ever talking to anyone. As an extra benefit the kiosk is always empty so you are through in minutes... hmm maybe I shouldn't be spreading the word about this :)

[1] http://www.globalentry.gov/

[jacques_chester]

Global Entry is open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, Dutch citizens, South Korean citizens and Mexican nationals. Canadian citizens and residents may enjoy Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program.

OK, I like Dutch people, but how'd they get into this sweet deal ahead of classic US friends-and-allies like the UK or Australia?

[pekk]

High-level cooperation/reciprocity of some kind

[jacques_chester]

Further poking shows that American travellers on the Global Entry program can use our "SmartGates", but Australians don't get any advantages going the other way.

On the other hand, the AUSFTA gave us all sorts of other goodies; the E-3 visa being the biggie.

[chii]

Australia is more like the lapdog of the US, not an equal allie...just my opinion ;)

[onetwothreefour]

Serious question: can you be non-white and get one of these?

[Samuel_Michon]

"Global Entry is also available to citizens of the Netherlands who are enrolled Privium, Canadian NEXUS members and Korean SES members. Global Entry is also available to citizens of Mexico." [1]

Mexicans and Koreans tend not to be caucasian, so at least some non-whites can get one of these.

Not sure whether you would want one, though. It sounds pretty intrusive.

"Travelers must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and interview before enrollment." [2]

Also, the system relies on a fingerprint scanner. Since I have no fingerprints (due to medication), I would receive a big ole 'X' on my receipt every time.

"If the kiosk receipt has an “X” printed on it, then you must report to a CBP officer. Please report to the nearest staffed CBP passport control station. You do not have to get back in line. The CBP officer at the passport control booth will review your documents, determine the reason the “X” was printed on the receipt and either release you from there or refer you to “secondary” for additional processing.

The “X” can mean many different things: random inspection; you have items to declare; you have duty to pay; you have agriculture products that need to be examined; your membership may need review; your fingerprints may not have matched, the system may have trouble completing the transaction; you may have timed out on one of the screens, or other issues. "

[1] http://www.globalentry.gov/faq.html

[2] http://www.globalentry.gov/about.html

[surfmike]

Uh, yes. A (non-white) friend of mine has it. The program also allows South Korean and Dutch citizens to enroll.

[jfb]

Why would you think otherwise?

[w1ntermute]

Because ICS uses racial profiling as one of their main tools.

[onetwothreefour]

The same reason the "random checks" line at security isn't really random?

[UnoriginalGuy]

In Canada their "random checks" seem to be via a machine/automated process. You stand on a mat and an arrow either directs you into a line or to additional checks, so there can be no racial or otherwise profiling.

It is a great system, I really enjoyed it when I was there.

[seldo]

A number of people have recommended this to me; I'm talking to my immigration lawyers now about what happened and the best way to prevent it happening again, but this is a strong possibility.

[mahyarm]

Most of these programs require retina/iris photographs, which I feel extremely uncomfortable with.

[UnoriginalGuy]

Why? I've had that done, it is literally just a web-camera pointed at your eye. Takes two seconds, doesn't hurt, and is really no worse than having a "normal" photo taken (since it is a normal photo, just of your eye!).

[khuey]

Global Entry is just fingerprints.

[mahyarm]

As a Canadian, I have to go through NEXUS, which requires the iris photograph.