GLOBAL ENTRY, NEXUS AND SENTRI ELIGIBILITY
Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI require participants to satisfy strict low-risk eligibility standards. A prior immigration violation, border enforcement action or inadmissibility issue can prevent approval even when the traveler later obtains a valid visa or other travel document.
CBP’s current Trusted Traveler standards require the agency to determine that the applicant is a low-risk traveler and meets all program requirements.
A valid visa does not create an entitlement to Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI.
Current CBP eligibility materials state that a person may not qualify if the person has been found in violation of customs, immigration or agriculture regulations or laws in any country.
Current CBP Global Entry guidance states that applicants who are inadmissible to the United States under immigration rules, including applicants with approved waivers of inadmissibility or parole documentation, may be ineligible for the program.
CBP’s Trusted Traveler handbook likewise identifies inadmissibility, waivers and parole among important program eligibility considerations.
NEXUS is jointly administered for qualifying travel involving both the United States and Canada. CBP’s Trusted Traveler handbook states that U.S. participants must also meet the applicable Canadian admissibility requirements and Canadian participants must meet U.S. admissibility requirements.
Current SENTRI guidance states that an applicant may not be eligible if inadmissible to the United States or unable to satisfy CBP of low-risk status.
If the Trusted Traveler decision rests on an inaccurate CBP immigration record, correcting or documenting the underlying record may be more important than simply asking CBP to overlook the incident.
Possibly in some circumstances, but CBP specifically considers immigration violations and low-risk status when determining eligibility.
No. Visa validity and Trusted Traveler eligibility are separate determinations.
Yes. If CBP relies on inaccurate or incomplete information, its current reconsideration process allows eligible applicants to submit clarification and supporting documentation.
These CBP materials provide the principal Trusted Traveler Program eligibility and reconsideration framework discussed on this page.
A prior secondary inspection, withdrawal, expedited removal, waiver or record error can have very different implications for a TTP application.