How To Change Name On Global Entry

Most a yr and a one-half ago, my married woman and I got married. She decided to accept my concluding name. While I appreciate her gesture, updating the various legal and corporate databases with that information has at times been easier but also more than hard than I predicted.

A copy of our wedlock license has been sufficient in many cases to change credit cards and loyalty account data. Although most include instructions to fax, a scanned copy tin be emailed in many cases. Instructions vary and can be hidden on most websites, then I would simply call the customer service line and ask what to do and where to send it. It took another six months before she got effectually to irresolute her last proper noun with the Social Security Administration and Washington Country Section of Licensing, more often than not considering that would require waiting in line instead of sending an e-mail. Her new passport followed a few months after, and the process was footling different from an ordinary renewal.

Information technology surprised me how like shooting fish in a barrel it was to change someone's legal name. All we needed was a marriage document, and that toll a few bucks. Even the Social Security Assistants had the procedure down cold. But the painful role was yet to come.

Updating Your Proper name and Passport Number for Global Entry

Eventually we needed to update her Global Entry information with U.S. Community and Border Protection. Megan doesn't travel internationally all that oftentimes. Her passport and ticket data were still nether her maiden name during our honeymoon, so nosotros faced no problems and so. Merely an update would be required to utilise TSA PreCheck for domestic flights now that all her tickets were issued nether her new name.

When nosotros offset enrolled in Global Entry before our wedding, nosotros raised the topic and were told by a friendly CBP officeholder that we just needed to show up at an part unannounced.

It is possible to alter your passport number online by yourself if you go it replaced. Name changes require an in-person appearance. Fortunately, we were told that an appointment would not exist necessary unless we wanted to get the physical Global Entry cartereplaced, and nosotros were told this bill of fare wasn't actually necessary.

Before I go any further, I'll skip to the dial line. Having gone through the process with Megan — and despite all the hassles thrown up by other officers —this original information is correct. Just testify up. If they requite you a difficult time, persevere using the advice I provide beneath.

"Yous Need an Engagement"

We finally showed up at the role before an afternoon flying to London over Thanksgiving. Just nosotros were quickly turned away. There was no manner they could do anything without an engagement, which nosotros could request past filing a new application. Feeling a little rushed to catch our flight (Megan had been held upward at piece of work) we decided to check again when nosotros returned habitation. But there was no way to file a new application from an existing account.

I called. I was told by a third officer that no date was needed. I pressed, explaining that nosotros had been turned away, only he confirmed that Megan just needed to show upwards with her erstwhile and new passports. It wasn't articulate if her wedlock license was needed, merely I recommend bringing a copy.

Returning to the drome earlier Christmas, we were greeted by ii officers: one was the aforementioned person I spoke to on the phone, and the other was the one who turned us abroad at Thanksgiving. Oh, shit.

At present theybothwanted to turn u.s. abroad for arriving without an appointment, and this is when I learned the source of their confusion.

The CBP Actually Wants You to Get a Global Entry Menu, but You Don't Need It

An date was demand to go a new Global Entry carte. We did know that, just Megan didn't want one. They told us she needed one. I asked, "Couldn't we just go the name and passport number changed without an appointment?" Yep, only she'd nonetheless need a carte. Fine. Exercise what you lot can at present and we'll accept care of the bill of fare later.

The bellicose agent who turned us abroad before took both passports and updated the information. I then logged into Megan'southward GOES business relationship from my computer. The proper noun had been updated without the new passport number. This shows that the system updates itself immediately, only also that the job was still incomplete. I handed them back so he could go practise information technology over again. This time both fields were changed. I was not making friends.

Meanwhile I tried to clarify with the other officer why we needed to replace the Global Entry card. This was our second visit already. I did not want to make a 3rd. Megandefinitely did not want to make a 3rd. She has limited patience for my travel antics.

Officer: "Who told you that you don't demand a carte? Of course you lot need it! Information technology's office of the program!"

Me: "What does it do?"

Officer: "You need information technology to cross the border from Mexico or Canada."

Me: "We use our passports. Does she need the card?"

Officeholder: "Information technology's an added benefit of the plan."

Me: "So information technology's not required. It's a benefit."

Officeholder: "But what if y'all demand your Trusted Traveler number for TSA?"

Me: "And then her number will alter when she requests a new bill of fare?"

Officer: "No, it won't change. But you demand the number to add it to her reservation."

Me: "Nosotros've never had problems entering the number. Information technology'due south saved in her account."

Officer: "Only what if y'all forget information technology? Or the computers crash? Airline estimator systems crash all the fourth dimension. Stuff gets wiped out."

Me: "Our numbers are written down. And then I already accept them. If the number isn't changing and she can use her passport to cantankerous a border then I don't see why she needs a new carte."

Officer: "Merely it's an added benefit of the programme…"

His case was getting weaker and weaker. There did not seem to be any reason to get the card. I've been told by other agents that no one e'er asks for it, that if you accept your passport it should be enough (some bloggers take reported exceptions, but those officers appeared to be making upward rules). And considering Megan'due south Trusted Traveler number wouldn't modify it was not clear that she needed a new card in gild to use PreCheck. But somewhen I gave in and just applied for Megan's new bill of fare and paid the $25 replacement fee.

GOES Homepage

The CBP officer was able to show us where this magical application button was located on the GOES website so we could request an appointment.

GOES Replace Card — "Replace Card" is obviously the option I want if I don't need to replace my card and just desire to change my proper name. And an unrelated heading like "U.S. Programs" is the best identify to put this push button. /sarcasm

This actually launched the entire application process again. Megan had to fill out her employment information, residential addresses, and countries visited during the last five years. Proficient grief.

PreCheck Works without a New Global Entry Card

When we finally left the role, her application was only pending for review. She did not however have an appointment or a new card, simply I decided to check whether our recent visit was enough to get Megan back into the PreCheck line. Her number was already in her Alaska Airlines profile, so I tried checking her in again for our flying that afternoon. No good. Then I went into the reservation itself on my computer and clicked the link to update rider data. I re-entered her Trusted Traveler number, saved it, and checked her in a 3rd time. Success!

Lessons Learned

You don't demand to make any changes equally long as you go on to use the name and passport that were originally enrolled. If you change your proper name, you'll demand a new passport, so you'll need to update Global Entry.

Y'all don't need an appointment to update your proper name and passport number in the system. The updated information should appear immediately.

Y'all don't need to supervene upon your Global Entry menu after a proper noun alter to your passport. There is a $25 fee if yous choose to replace it anyway.

Whatever CBP officer who tells you otherwise is probably confused. They may get defensive. Merely they exercise take the ability to update your name and passport number without an engagement, so play dumb and tell them you'll get the bill of fare subsequently.

If yousexercise desire a new card, you lot can employ for information technology by clicking the link for a "lost carte du jour." People who practice this should probably apply before their first visit rather than make two trips out of it. Merely whether you want to become through that hassle is entirely optional. If you detect yourself at an airport with a CBP office and some spare fourth dimension, I recommend getting the system updated now and doing the application later because wait times for an appointment tin can sometimes existmonths into the futurity. Fortunately, once you have an appointment you lot can oftentimes drop in similar before to check if they accept time for a walk-in.