Global Entry Time Frame?

In pre-Covid time it was pretty simple and quick. I didn’t have to go for an interview - this was accomplished on an international return to the US. Still if your trip isn’t until October, you should have time.

It took me two days to renew in June (yes, I was astounded), and two weeks for my husband to schedule his interview and be approved in the same month.

It is all done online now under the TTP (trusted traveler program) and we found it to be efficient.

ps — the interview was done online via Skype or Zoom. (edit)

I applied on June 19th (Saturday) and received approval of the first step the next day. No appointments for my airport of choice (SFO) were available in July. I have an appointment on August 4th for my in person interview. This was my initial application, not a renewal. I do have TSA Pre, which expires next year

Edit to say the interview is done in person unless you are renewing.

I applied in January of 2020, and it was over a year before I got my interview. I realize COVID happened, but there were tales of people waiting for months before that. It seemed pretty random. A husband might get an interview in 4 weeks, while his wife got one in six months. Maybe post COVID things are running more smoothly. I hope so!

Interview availability varies greatly by location. If there isn't anything close in your timeframe you might look at the "Interview upon reentry" program.

I just renewed and was approved without an interview in less than 36 hours.

Re the commenter that mentioned interviews over zoom—I'm pretty sure that is only offered to renewing members.

Prior to the pandemic there were two options that were frequently mentioned to obtain an earlier appointment.

• Check back frequently, often multiple times a day. Earlier appointments sometimes become available due to cancellations
• Try another port of entry. One that may be less busy. I had a trip planned for Las Vegas and was able to schedule an appointment there.

It’s not clear that either of these are viable in the current environment.

As far as new applicants to GE, you definitely need an interview once you get provisional approval. This can be by way of an appointment or interview on reentry. At the interview the agent will scan your fingerprints. Your fingerprints are used at the GE kiosk to identify you.

Update:

I have my interview appointment schedule for middle of July!!

That was FAST!

I applied on 1/2/21 and was approved mid-May.

The answer to the OP is that initial applications are split into 2 pots: some are almost immediately approved conditionally for interview, others are reviewed in detail and this can take up to a year (at least pre-pandemic). Then the interview process occurs and this can take up to another year, at least pre-pandemic.

Note that if you have ever had prohibited items confiscated at US customs (e.g. prohibited food not declared) you won't pass the process so don't bother paying and applying.

When I was scheduling the interview it gave me the option to choose how many slots I needed. I chose 2 (hubby and myself) and when the dates came up it showed in each time slot how many appointments were available. We each chose the same time so we could go together.

I thought it had to do with how close an interview airport was for your first visit when you apply. I think they have opened more airports now which should help.

I thought it had to do with how close an interview airport was for your first visit when you apply.

No, when my wife and I applied I was approved for interview within 2 days, my wife took about 10 months.

Both my children completed the application process Monday and were able to schedule their appointments today. Their interviews are August 8 - a Sunday! Both are doing the interview in St. Louis.

Lyn - To see if you are approved, log into your Trusted Traveler Account and check your dashboard to see if you have been conditionally approved and you can schedule your interview.

Lyn, do you live close to another state that might have available appointments?

All, thanks so much for the responses!

It literally took about twenty four hours to get my appointment for my interview in two weeks!

I received this email today. It looks like there will be many more options for applying when enrolling on arrival.

Dear Global Entry Applicant,

Instead of scheduling an appointment at a Global Entry Enrollment Center, you have the unique opportunity to interview for Global Entry when you return from your next international trip.

What is Enrollment on Arrival? Global Entry applicants who are conditionally-approved can complete their interviews, the last step of the Global Entry process, while they are clearing through United States Customs and Border Protection or Pre-Clearance.

Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) is ONLY available at participating international airports in the United States and select Pre-Clearance locations and is NOT available on domestic connections.

Enrollment on Arrival is now available at the following locations:

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Abu Dhabi international Airport (AUH)
Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix in Oranjestad, Aruba (AUA)
Baltimore/Washington International Airport (MWI)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Detroit Metropolitan International Airport (DTW)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston
Halifax International Airport (YHZ)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (JFK)
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK)
McCarren International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport San Juan (SJU)
Lynden Pindling Nassau International Airport (NAS)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport(SJC)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
OrlandoSanford International Airport (SFB)
Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Shannon Airport (SNN)
St. George’s Bermuda International Airport (BDA)
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston
Winnipeg James Armstrong international Airport(YWG)
Check the CBP.gov website for an updated list of participating airports.

What do I do when I land in the international terminal? Follow the signage directing you to CBP officers who can complete your Global Entry interview during your admissibility inspection. In addition to your entry document (e.g., your passport), you will need document

For those renewing, I just renewed Global Entry: It took about 36 hours from the time I submitted the app and payment until I received notification of approval - lucky me, with no interview required. Changes to my details were minimal: added about 10 countries and 1 employment change.

I thought people might want to know the outcome of my Global Entry application. This was not a renewal. We applied in late June and had our in person interview at SFO yesterday. The only documentation we had to bring with us were our passports and drivers licenses. We were approved on the spot and should receive our cards in 2-3 weeks. We were called into our appointment exactly on time and it took about 10 minutes. My husband was asked different questions (by a different interviewer) than I was and I was a little concerned that he would be rejected because he inadvertently lied to his interviewer I discovered later. He was asked if he had been to Germany and France in the last 5 years. His answer was no. Incorrect. He’s not big on the details of our trips. 😬

Martinhen....post reported