How to Get Global Entry Reservations – Forbes Advisor

Smart travelers know Global Entry is the secret to getting through airports smoothly and waiting in line to a minimum. Part of the process of obtaining approval for Global Entry membership is an in-person interview. With backlogs, capacity limitations and increasing demand, booking an interview for Global Entry is like buying tickets for Taylor at her Swift concert. Luckily it’s cheaper and he only needs one in five years.

Here are some strategies for getting coveted interview appointments and moving toward Global Entry membership approval.

What is Global Entry?

Global Entry is a membership program operated by the federal agency US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This program provides members with expedited immigration upon entering the United States. Global Entry members go through a pre-screening process consisting of a rigorous background check and face-to-face interview, and are assessed as low-risk travelers. As a result, Global Entry members can speed through immigration in minutes when returning to the United States from international travel.

Global Entry membership also includes TSA PreCheck, our expedited airport security screening program. The TSA PreCheck member uses his dedicated PreCheck lane to keep his shoes on, leave his laptop and his 3-1-1 liquid bag in his carry-on, and wear a jacket. You can undergo a reduced inspection process.

Individuals, including infants and children, who wish to apply for Global Entry membership must apply individually through the Trusted Traveler website. A critical step in the approval process is the Global Entry interview. In order to be approved as a Global Entry member, all new applicants must be interviewed and each applicant must schedule their own interview time. In other words, there are no group or family interviews.

Applying for Global Entry can be a lengthy process. His website at Trusted Traveler lists current application processing times so you know what to expect. At the time of this writing, it took him four to six months to process due to the high volume of applications.

However, even after your application has been conditionally approved, you must still schedule your Global Entry interview. Given the limited number of applicants and interview slots, it can be difficult.

Interviews are not just for new applicants. Global Entry Members applying for renewal may also be asked for an interview. Once your renewal request is approved, your dashboard will show if an interview is required.

How to book an appointment for a Global Entry interview

There are two types of Global Entry interviews: in-person interviews and remote interviews. Remote interviewing is currently a pilot project and is only available to selected renewal members.

face-to-face interview

To schedule an in-person interview, log into your Trusted Traveler account and go to your dashboard. If conditionally approved, you can select an interview slot using the Schedule Interview option.

When you visit the Scheduling website, all registration centers are displayed by location and you can select your preferred registration center.

You can use the filter options to get the earliest interview date or specify a specific date. If your family needs more than one meeting, please select the number of meetings required.

Due to high demand, interview slots may not be available at all locations. Some enrollment centers delay their schedules further than others.

Don’t be surprised if you can’t get an appointment at your preferred center.

Here are some tips on how to score valuable Global Entry interview appointments.

1. Monitor application status.

You should receive conditional approval email notifications, but we recommend that you regularly check your application status on your Trusted Traveler account dashboard in case your notification emails end up in spam. An interview can be scheduled as soon as your application is conditionally approved. An interview must be scheduled and completed within 730 days of conditional approval. Otherwise, your application will be canceled and your fee will not be refunded.

2. Be aware of cancellations at your local registration center.

Many things happen in life. As a result, people cancel or reschedule appointments. Always check the scheduling website for last minute cancellations. Perseverance pays off.

3. Put 9:00 am on the first Monday of the month in your schedule.

In February 2023, CBP announced that it would be opening additional in-person interview times at 9:00 a.m. local time on the first Monday of the month to meet increased demand.

4. Take advantage of the registration upon arrival.

Registration on Arrival is a CBP program that allows you to complete the Global Entry interview upon arrival in the United States. No reservation required. However, you must be traveling outside the United States to take advantage of this option. If you can fit this into your travel schedule, this is probably the fastest and easiest way to interview for Global Entry.
Registration on arrival is available at over 60 airports, including over 12 international airports. When you arrive at the international terminal, look for signs directing you to a CBP officer who can conduct your Global Entry interview. Be sure to bring the required documents listed in the conditional approval notice.

5. Make your promise a “garden”.

If you booked months in advance or in less convenient locations, keep an eye on the schedule for earlier dates or better locations. Reservations can be easily changed online.

6. Hire and outsource search services.

Appointment Scanner from a third-party vendor searches up to three enrollment centers for availability of appointments within a specified date range and notifies you of availability. The service costs $29/month and you can unsubscribe at any time. It’s up to you to decide whether or not to book an interview once you’ve been notified, but it’s important to do so quickly as interview slots can fill up quickly.

remote interview

CBP is conducting a pilot program to offer remote interviews for Global Entry Member Renewers. Not all members are eligible to participate and must meet certain criteria.

• Requires conditional approval
• be over 18 years old
• Have a photograph on file with CBP that was taken within the last 10 years after the applicant was 14 years old
• Save Fingerprint to File in CBP

If you are eligible for a remote interview, you will see that option on your Trusted Traveler account dashboard.

Remote interviews are conducted using the Zoom platform, so please ensure that your device (computer, tablet, smartphone) can download and run Zoom before scheduling your interview.

As with face-to-face interviews, vacancies may be limited. The same strategy applies. Always check your reservation time as cancellations may occur.

What to Bring to Global Entry Reservations

I finally made an appointment for an interview. Find and prepare the necessary documents well in advance of your appointment date to avoid last-minute rush searches. And of course, remember to bring these important documents with you to your interview.

To get the final list of required documents, please log into your Trusted Traveler account and visit your dashboard. After clicking the interview confirmation link, you will be provided with the required documents for the interview.

These original documents typically include:

• valid passport. If you are traveling with multiple passports, you must bring them all.
• Machine-readable permanent resident card (if applicable)
• Documents proving residency (driver’s license, mortgage statement, utility bill, rent payment statement, etc.)
• Trusted Traveler/PassID membership number (available on dashboard)

Children under the age of 18 are not required to provide proof of address as a parent or guardian is expected to provide proof of address on behalf of the child.

How to sign up for Global Entry now

To sign up for Global Entry, visit the Trusted Traveler website. Find out more about the Trusted Traveler program. Create a Trusted Traveler program account using login.gov and[グローバル エントリー]to start the application process. Please fill out the application form carefully as it cannot be modified once submitted. Corrections can be made during the interview if necessary.

Before you pay the non-refundable $100 fee (valid for a 5-year membership), check your wallet for a credit card that can refund the Global Entry fee. Several credit cards offer this valuable perk.

Now the wait begins. Monitor your Trusted Traveler account and keep an eye on your email inbox for notifications regarding the status of your application. As soon as your application status is updated to “Conditional Approved”, you can schedule your Global Entry interview.

Conclusion

With Global Entry, you can get through airport security faster, minimize the time it takes to get from your plane to your home, and make the whole process less hassle and more efficient. The sooner you can get your Global Entry interview, the sooner you will be approved and have access to all Global Entry benefits. Our tips can help you book an interview and make your airport experience even better.