Global Entry -- Record Time?

That is great news Frank. Unfortunately, my renewal application from February 2023 still shows "Pending Review." My GE technically expired in August but I was able to get the benefits when I flew internationally in September and October this year. "Due to a significant increase in application volume, we are extending the grace period to allow you continued full benefits while U.S. Customs and Border Protection is finalizing your renewal application."

I reached out to them about the delay but was told that the delay was normal and could take up to 6 months for approval. Well, I am at six months since applying for renewal in February....

I just called again. Now I am told applications can take up to 11 months!

That surprised us also since we read the same cautions you had. We have a trip scheduled for mid-Jan so we were very concerned about renewal by that time. But saw that the expiration had been extended by a year. This was our second renewal of GE so maybe that a difference. But really surprised it was renewed in 48 hours.

I've been waiting four months. I read it could take as long as 11 months.

If I don't hear anything by the end of the month, I'm going to try to talk to someone.
Of course, my GE doesn't expire until next June but I wanted to give it time in case I need to do an interview.

In our four renewals, nothing has ever been said about an interview. Of course, we did an interview when we first applied ten years ago.

When I renewed my Global Entry online last October I had the same results. OK’d per their website in two, maybe three, days. I received a new card within a month. Amazing!

Both of my daughters and I all renewed our GE within three weeks of each other starting with mine on 10/2. All three of us were approved within 48 hours. However, D#2, who renewed last, also received her new card within a week as well. D#1 and I are both still waiting for the card.

EDITED TO UPDATE: D#1 and I never received our cards (now almost five months past). I contacted them and they told me I would need to apply and pay $25 for a lost card. Really? Pay for something never received? Since it is really not needed unless crossing land boarders into Canada or Mexico, I'm in no rush to request a replacement.

Two days ago I completed the global entry renewal process. I was okayed in 30 hours! Amazing and grateful for such an efficient government process. Will wait for the card in the mail. My card doesn’t expire till next October. The early renewal was a CYA move. I thought of making a post on this lightning turn around, so Frank’s post was very timely.

I had to do an interview on my last renewal.

Mine still says application in progress.

I sent a note into the GE people asking about my application. We'll see what happens. They also gave a number to call if I don't hear anything in a week or two.

Both of our renewals were approved within a day. I did mine in late August or so, and my husband did his last month. I was surprised it was that quick, but was very happy about it!

Our GE renewals (myself and spouse) took months, but eventually came through. No interviews were required for the renewals (but interviews were required for the initial application, of course). Some of this seems pretty random - how long things take might be impacted by your travel history (just my own speculation).

My spouse and I submitted our online renewals 30 minutes apart. Mine was approved in 36 hours. He was still waiting 7 months later, so he went to their office at our airport and was given the standard answer of "due to the volume of applications.....and there is nothing we can do." He was notified of approval the very next day. Coincidence? I think not.

So I got a form email from the TTP. (It was sent amost immediately but went to my spam folder so I didn't see it until today.)

It says GE can now take up to 12 months to process. As long as you have applied for renewal prior to your expiration date, you can still use GE after that until you get a decision. (They suggest printing out the renewal information to show a customs officer if asked.}

Nexus and Sentri up to 20 months.

They also said that applications are vetted separately so there is no way to tell how long it will take. There is nothing they can do to speed up the process

The following was interesting:

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is my family member already conditionally approved, even though we applied on the same day?
A: Each application is processed and vetted individually. Applications are not vetted by groups.

Our renewals were approved in a day. I credit that to not having any significant changes to my data, no arrests or suspicious activity, and good luck. That is, there was nothing new when they looked up our criminal records, and no new employments (retired).

My husband and I both applied for renewal the same day; same info on our applications. Mine came back approved the same day. My husbands' took around 11 months. He was afraid there was a problem, but after inquiring, found that it is purely random, just like at the airport when someone gets patted down by chance.

We applied for GE over a year ago, told to wait for an appointment (which would need to be 3+ hours away in Seattle). About 6 months later we received an email stating we could apply upon re-entry to US. The email arrived about a week after we returned from Europe, so we planned to do so this fall. Got mixed messages from Immigration folks upon entry and ended up through customs. We did not go to the "office downstairs" which required exiting security then returning for our last flight home. In addition, we got conflicting messages from two different people at the information booth outside customs, regarding the exit & entrance customs told us---so we decided to forget it, since we felt we would need to take turns going without luggage. The GE line was longer than the regular line (no line for regular) so we even wonder if it's worth the hassle...

Our main airport is Seattle, but we also use Portland and Vancouver.

CanAmCherie

Got mixed messages from Immigration folks upon entry...got conflicting messages from two different people at the information booth outside customs, regarding the exit & entrance customs told us...

It seems that all large organizations (but especially governmental) are now afflicted with the "left hand / right hand syndrome". Neither knows (nor cares) what the other is doing. Just go with the flow, have a drink if so inclined, and hope for better luck next time.

We have Global Entry and have always found the lines to be much shorter than the regular lines. I'd definitely pursue getting it even it it means some hassle on the front end.

Wow --- opened an interesting can of worms. I guess this proves the inconsistency of the government's consistency. We were worried on our first renewal, five years ago, how to list a Cuba visit not in the tourists zone. Finally just put down Cuba and the dates and nothing was said. We now have new passports so the Cuban stamp will not show up. Not sure how any travel affects the TT program. For those still waiting --- Good luck !!!

DEFINATELY worth the hassle of getting it. Just got back this week from Athens thru JFK. It took all of 1 minute (maybe less) to go thru customs; simply looked at a screen for facial recognition (no lines there) and then waved through. We didn't even need to show our passports,

With GE, the last two times I arrived at JFK, I went from stepping off the airplane to stepping out of the terminal--with immigration and customs in between--in five minutes.

Both times, the regular line was mobbed. Even the Mobile Passport line had a good 50 people in it but GE was given priority.

Thanks. We'll continue to pursue it.

One person told us we needed an approval letter/email while another said the email that told us to do it upon internation arrival was all we needed, even though there was nothing that said we were "approved". Some told us to go down to the office, while another said we should've just shown the email to the immigrations officer, so we were past that point...

When you get approved, the notice will be in your Trusted Traveler account. You don't need any document printed out. You will only get an email telling you to check your Trusted Traveler account.

If doing interview on arrival, when you get to immigration, just say to the officer you need to do your Global Entry interview on arrival and ask where that would be. They'll tell you. Go to that office and they will look you up on the computer. All they will need is your passport.

Follow their instructions. If they tell you the place is before customs, then go there first. Don't worry about your bags. When I did my last renewal interview, the place was just after immigration but before customs. If I had hypothetically gone to collect luggage first--I didn't as I only have carry on--I would have missed the interview location and not been allowed back.

Great News Frank! It gives all of us at least a little hope ;-)

I renewed after a gap where I wasn't sure if I would ever travel again. I missed the renewal window by 3 days and now have been waiting what seems like nearly a year to hear anything,

I requested Global Entry renewal several weeks ago and received approval within one working day. Had expected waiting months. Was very surprised and happy. Received my new GE card this week.

Thanks very much, Frank II, for the detailed information. We'll try to follow up regarding a TT account. Is that something that would have been set up during initial application?

In Seattle you now pick up your luggage before GE line or Immigration line. On the way back, we had checked our carryon plus a suitcase we got at a charity shop. It all was very quick, and there would've been plenty of time...oh well, we'll have another chance in May!

Feel blessed Frank. My husband's was approved very quickly, too. Mine took over 10 months.

Final follow up -- The Global Entry card was received in the mail today. Just two days over three weeks from beginning to end. Good till 29. Entered it on my computer calendar for renewal. Good luck to those still waiting.

A full YEAR after applying for renewal of my Global Entry, I just received approval!!! This feels like Christmas morning!

I'm coming up on the eight month anniversary of waiting.