A classically trained journalist, Caroline Tanner covers news and travel for TPG. She is a dual-journalism graduate of Mizzou and Northwestern.
Nov. 07, 2023 9 min read
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Global Entry, which gives preapproved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S. from abroad, is among the five expedited security programs the U.S. government offers.
Like other Trusted Traveler programs, Global Entry requires new users to submit an online application, followed by an in-person interview.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, securing Global Entry appointments was nearly impossible for some due to an application backlog; there was no availability for months.
Speaking from my own experience in 2022, I had to wait four months to find an interview appointment at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
As of November, appointment availability appears to be much more open overall, though some locations remain booked through the end of 2023 and into 2024.
Conditionally approved applicants, including those renewing their Global Entry upon expiration, may be eligible to skip the interview portion of the process. However, it is seemingly the luck of the draw for who is asked to interview again at renewal and who isn't.
If you must schedule an interview as part of your Global Entry application, here are five tips on securing an appointment.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will notify applicants via email once their application has been approved, conditionally or otherwise. At this point, attempt to schedule an appointment through the online scheduling tool.
You can filter appointment availability by the soonest available, a specific date or a location.
Daily Newsletter Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsBased on a test search conducted for this story, the first available appointments were available as soon as the same day at five centers in smaller cities in Arizona, New York and Texas.
Previous slide Next slide US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYWhen I searched by major cities, appointment availability varied. While same-day appointments were available in Los Angeles, the majority of other cities did not have anything open until late November.
Both Chicago locations and Washington, D.C. were fully booked through November; Dallas, Philadelphia, Boston and New York City centers were booked through the end of December.
Miami International Airport (MIA) had an opening on Christmas Day. Neither Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) nor Nashville International Airport (BNA) had anything through January 2024. The longest wait time I found was at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), which was fully booked through March 14, 2024.
Previous slide Next slide US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYIf you can be flexible and travel, consider traveling to an enrollment center nearby. In that case, it might be worth searching for the soonest available appointment rather than fixating on the most convenient location.
Before you give up on finding an appointment this way, know that the online scheduling portal is super dynamic and changes minute to minute, with appointments sometimes disappearing faster than Taylor Swift concert tickets.
What that in mind, I would recommend checking the online tool frequently, if you can, for last-minute openings due to cancellations. This is how I landed an appointment for my application. I happened to check the morning of Dec. 15, 2022, and found one open slot for Dec. 30.
On the first Monday of each month at 9 a.m. local time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Trusted Traveler Programs release interview appointment slots for conditionally approved applicants to schedule at enrollment centers.
These appointments are accessible via an applicant's TTP dashboard.
If the traditional scheduling route does not get you the Global Entry interview appointment you need, consider trying an alternate service, such as Appointment Scanner.
For $29, users can receive one month of appointment alerts (up to 25 per day) based on last-minute cancellations and newly released appointments at 20-plus enrollment centers.
APPOINTMENT SCANNERIf you can't schedule an appointment during your first month, you can purchase a second month of alerts. Otherwise, your account will automatically expire after one month.
APPOINTMENT SCANNERAlthough it "can't promise you'll be able to schedule an interview," it will refund any unsatisfied customers within 30 days.
Previous slide Next slide APPOINTMENT SCANNERIt should take less than 10 minutes to sign up. Expect to enter your email, your phone number for texts (optional) and up to three desired Global Entry locations.
Previous slide Next slide APPOINTMENT SCANNER"When we find an appointment that fits your requirements, you'll receive a text message or email (or both — your choice)," per Appointment Scanner. "This alert has a link to the Global Entry scheduler website, where you can log in and claim the appointment."
Appointment Scanner users, including TPG principal cruise writer Gene Sloan, received alerts as soon as 39 minutes after signing up for the service for an appointment at one of his preferred locations for later that day.
APPOINTMENT SCANNERNote that Appointment Scanner does not book the interview for you, nor does it sell appointments. It also alerts users of remote interview appointments for eligible Global Entry renewal applicants.
"To be alerted about remote appointments: When choosing your enrollment centers at signup, search 'remote,' and select the 'Remote / Zoom' option," it notes.
This service is also a favorite of TPG founder Brian Kelly.
"I'm obsessed with Appointment Scanner," Brian said. "Within an hour, I had multiple text alerts for the coveted Bowling Green Enrollment Center in New York."
A third option when you need a Global Entry interview appointment is Enrollment on Arrival, which allows travelers to interview upon reentering the U.S. from abroad when passing through customs.
This service is currently available at more than 60 airports globally, so be sure to verify that your desired airport participates and that it will be open during your arrival time.
Additionally, you'll need your U.S. passport (which you would presumably already have if returning to the U.S. from abroad). Also, verify if any other proof-of-residency documents are necessary to complete the interview, such as mortgage statements and rent stubs. A full list of support documents is available here.
Although I planned on going this route when I flew home from Singapore, the CBP officer I spoke to when I arrived told me the office wasn't doing arrival interviews that day due to being short-staffed, so it isn't a guaranteed option.
When this works, it couldn't be easier as it allows travelers to skip an extra step.
Completing the Global Entry application process isn't as easy as it used to be because of the challenge of getting interview appointments in some locations. Still, the temporary headache and legwork required to find an appointment pale compared to the benefits of five years of Global Entry, especially for frequent international travelers.
As a reminder, the application fee for a five-year membership to Global Entry costs $100 but also covers your TSA PreCheck, which allows low-risk travelers to expedite their way through airport security without taking off their shoes or belts or removing laptops or allowable liquids from their bags.
If you apply for Global Entry and want to keep that $100 in your pocket, use a credit card that covers the application fees of both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, including:
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
