It appears showing your passport to reenter the U.S. is no longer needed.

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Now, I should say I have never signed up for TSA pre-check, Fast Track, or any other kind of Global Travel authentication. I have always opted to just be a grey traveler with as little a footprint as possible. I reentered the U.S. the same way in February and needed to show the traditional passport, etc. However, this time in April it was totally different. There is no longer any paperwork or documentation needed. It actually, seemed a little weird.

I should also note the U.S. “opt-out” for facial scans is a little bit of a ruse; the reason is when you depart from a foreign country, destined to the USA, the facial recognition is mandatory. The U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, TSA and Border Control, require all countries to authenticate the U.S. destined traveler at the point of exit. It’s not optional in other countries, you either comply or you don’t get to come home to the USA.

Because it’s not optional in other countries, and because the database is connected to the U.S. border entry system, the fact you can opt-out of having your picture taken inside the USA is moot; your facial impression is already captured at your point of departure from the foreign country and shared with U.S. homeland security.

This appears to be how the interconnected systems are now recording travel. By the time you reach the U.S. entry point, they already have a database of your biometrics to match your entry. Cameras located facing toward the traveler as they approach the kiosk, cross reference the data and the passport control officer knows exactly what authorities for entry you carry as you approach. Showing documentation such as your passport is no longer needed.

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