What are the Enhanced Security Measures for US-Bound Travelers?

The Department of Homeland Security announced in June 2017 that new airport security measures would be required for all international flights that will land in the US. Airlines and airports were given several months to come in to compliance, with a deadline of October 28.

The enhanced security measures include:

• Increased use of bomb-sniffing dogs and other screening techniques
• Detailed screenings of electronic devices like tablets and laptops
• Security interviews of travelers conducted by airline staff

Where are the Increased Security Measures Being Implemented?

No matter where you board your flight to the US, you’ll encounter new security rules. Enhanced security protocols are now being used at every airport around the world that sends flights to the United States. That’s a total of 280 airports in 105 different countries!

What Does the Enhanced Security Mean for Travelers?

The biggest impact that these security upgrades will have on you as a traveler is that it may take more time to check in for your flight. Airlines are recommending that you arrive at the airport at least three hours before your flight.

When you go through baggage screening, you should expect that your electronic devices will receive extra scrutiny. It’s best to take your phone, laptop, tablet, digital camera, and other items out of your bag. Put them in a separate bin for screening, apart from your bags, shoes, and jacket.

After you clear that initial screening, you should go directly to your departure gate. It’s a good idea to get to your gate with plenty of time to spare, as you may need to go through a security interview with an airline staff member. One traveler told us about her recent experience with an enhanced security interview:

“At the departure gate for our flight back to the United States, my husband and I had our names called over the loudspeaker and were asked to come up to the gate desk. There, an English-speaking airline employee told us we needed to go through a security interview. First, she looked at our passports. She asked us how long we had spent in the country and what was the purpose of our visit. The agent also asked us what cities we had visited. She seemed surprised when I rattled off our detailed itinerary! We had our children with us, so she asked their names and made us confirm they are our kids. After we went back to our seats, we saw other travelers on our flights being called up for interviews, too.”

Other Airport Security Changes

One piece of good news is that the “laptop ban” has been lifted now that the enhanced security measures are in place. The “laptop ban” was put in place in late March, after US and UK intelligence agencies determined that explosives could easily be hidden in electronic devices. If you were on a flight to the US from one of ten airports in the Middle East or North Africa, you were not allowed to carry on any electronic item larger than a standard iPhone.

In the US, electronics have also been getting increased scrutiny by airport security. When you go through TSA security at a US airport, you now need to take all electronic items larger than a cellphone out of your bags. Your laptop, camera, tablet, and other gadgets need to go in their own bin for x-ray screening. But there’s more good news for some of you! If you are a member of Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check, or other Trusted Traveler program, you can keep your devices inside your carry-on bags.

The post Enhanced Security Measures for US-Bound Flights appeared first on G3Passports.

When is your child likely to need identification?

Let’s look at some scenarios in which your child could use their passport book or passport card as official ID.

1. International Travel

This one is obvious! Children, even babies, are subject to the same passport requirements as adults. Your child will need a valid passport book for all international air travel.

2. TSA Security at the Airport

Whether you’re boarding a domestic flight or an international one, you’re going to need to get through the TSA security checkpoint first. The official rule is that children under 18 do not require their own identification if they are traveling with an adult companion. However, in practice, having ID for your kids will get you through the security checkpoint much faster! Families who do not have child identification documents are asked many questions by TSA security agents. The agents have to determine whether your child should be traveling with you, or if there’s a risk that you might be abducting the child. Having ID for your child goes a long way toward proving that your child really should be with you!

3. Travel as an Unaccompanied Minor

Thinking about letting your kid fly on his own to go visit Grandma? Airlines have strict rules for air travel by unaccompanied minors. Many airlines require that your child have official ID in order to fly on their own. A passport is the ideal child identification to use for unaccompanied minor travel. Because it has a photograph, it will allow the airline to positively identify your child and make sure your child gets where he needs to go.

4. Enrolling in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

Frequent travelers love the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs! By assigning you a Known Traveler Number, these Trusted Traveler programs allow you to get through TSA security checkpoints and US immigration quickly using designated express lanes. Children age 12 and under can also use the express lanes if they are traveling with a parent who is part of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. That’s great for your little kids, but what about your middle-schooler? Children age 13 and over need to apply for their own Known Traveler Number, and in order to get one, they must have official ID. You can use your child’s passport book or passport card as child identification for TSA PreCheck applications for your young teen. If you’re enrolling them in Global Entry, you will need to have their passport books. Global Entry is specifically focused on international travel, so passport books are a must.

5. SATs and Other College Testing

We’ve talked a lot about the many ways your child’s passport can come in handy when you’re traveling. But it can also be useful when you are at home! One important use of a passport for child identification is for college testing, like the SAT. To prevent testing fraud, the College Board checks IDs against the name listed on the test. All students must show official photo ID when they arrive to take the test. A passport book or passport card is one of the few universally-accepted child identification documents that can be used for college testing.

6. Medical Emergencies and Child Identification

Imagine this: your 14 year old daughter is traveling with her soccer team. You’ve got to work, so you’re not with her. During the game, she falls and breaks her wrist on the pitch. It’s not a life-or-death emergency, but she’s in pain, and she needs medical treatment right away. Does she have the right documents to get registered at the hospital without you? If she has her passport book or card, she can use that as identification with her health insurance card.

How has your kid used their passport for child identification? Tell us in the comments!

The post Minor Passports: The Perfect Child Identification! appeared first on G3Passports.

What is Global Entry?

Global Entry is one of the Trusted Traveler programs offered by the US Department of Homeland Security.  Of the four programs, Global Entry is designed for people who travel internationally by air.  Two other programs, NEXUS and SENTRI, are aimed at travelers who regularly drive into Canada and Mexico.  NEXUS and SENTRI also include the full benefits of the Global Entry program.

The Global Entry program is open to US citizens, US Permanent Residents, and citizens of Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Germany, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, and United Kingdom.  To qualify, travelers must fill out a pre-enrollment questionnaire and then appear at a Global Entry Enrollment Center for an interview.  Membership is granted after a background check to ensure the traveler is low-risk and trustworthy.

Global Entry and TSA PreCheck

A Global Entry membership costs $100 for 5 years.  As a Global Entry member, you can use special automated kiosks at many US airports.  These kiosks allow you to scan your own passport and fingerprints.  You can also complete your customs declaration at the kiosk.  The machine will then print out a receipt, and you can go directly to baggage claim and then through Customs.  You’ll be able to skip the long lines for US immigration.

Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck benefits.  TSA PreCheck makes getting through airport security quick and convenient. With TSA PreCheck, you’ll be able to use designated fast-track lanes at airport security.  Even better, you won’t have to take off your shoes, belt, or light jacket when you go through the security screening!  You can also leave your laptop and toiletries in your bag.

How to Update Your Global Entry When You Renew Your Passport

Your US passport is valid for 10 years, and your Global Entry membership is valid for 5 years.  If you have an active Global Entry membership when you renew your passport, you will need to update your Global Entry profile.

You can easily update your profile online on the GOES website. GOES is the Global Online Enrollment System for Trusted Traveler programs.  The GOES website is where you would apply for pre-approval for the program, and it’s also where you can update your information.  When you renew your passport, you can log on and update your passport number and expiration date.  You’ll need to know your GOES user ID and password.  If you’ve forgotten them, a password recovery system is available.

Once you have updated your profile online, you’re all set to travel!  If you would like to get a new Global Entry sticker for your passport, you can do so by stopping by any enrollment center. Most enrollment centers are located at major international airports.

TSA PreCheck and Passport Renewal

Do you have a membership in TSA PreCheck as a stand-alone program? If you do, you don’t need to do anything when your passport is renewed.  Your TSA PreCheck membership isn’t tied to your passport number, so it will continue to be active no matter whether your passport is valid, cancelled, expired, or renewed.

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You May Need a Passport to… Get a Driver’s License

The REAL ID Act of 2005 set national standards for state-issued driver’s licenses. In order to get a REAL ID compliant driver’s license, you now need to show conclusive proof of your identity and citizenship. If you have a valid passport, this will be easy. If you don’t have a passport, you’ll need to provide a lot more documents in order to get your driver’s license.

You May Need a Passport to… Board a Domestic Flight

Starting in 2016, you will need to show REAL ID compliant identification in order to get through TSA security to board both domestic and international flights. If you are flying internationally, you will have to have a Passport Book, but even for domestic flights, you may need to pull out your Passport Book or Passport Card. Residents of Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York are particularly affected, as their states don’t yet issue REAL ID driver’s licenses. If you live in any other state, you may need to use a passport if you haven’t renewed your driver’s license in several years and still have a non-REAL ID license. You can check your license by looking to see if there is a star in one of the upper corners. If you don’t have a star, you’re going to need your passport to get on your flight!

You May Need a Passport to… Buy Alcohol

You’re probably used to pulling out your driver’s license to prove your age when you order a glass of merlot at a restaurant or pick up a six-pack of beer at the convenience store. However, you may run into problems if you are a twenty-something who still has a vertical driver’s license. Some states, like New Mexico or Arizona, have a “vertical license ban” that forbids them from selling alcohol to anyone with a vertical driver’s license, even if the birthdate shows that you are over 21.

We have also heard about travelers from smaller jurisdictions like the District of Columbia who have been denied alcohol when traveling in the US. Store clerks in other states weren’t familiar enough with the license to be certain it was real.

Your passport is conclusive proof of your age… we’ll toast to that!

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