Had my Global Entry Interview

Yes, i actually was able to complete my global entry interview when I returned from Iceland in Sept. alot earlier than my online scheduled appt for January 2018. It was completed on the spot as they were not busy when we we returned thru SFO.
The agt was so pleasant, efficient and competent. I felt so lucky that day.

We (my wife and I) had our Global Entry interview this past Saturday in Philadelphia (lucky me, I got to drive to Philadelphia in the first snow storm of the year) and, as stated above, the agent was very pleasant. Not only that, when we got home the approval emails were waiting for us. Fast service.

Thanks for sharing your interview experience. I hope more people, as they have their GE interview, follow what you did and report about the experience like some have on this thread alone. It can only help others.

My husband and I had our interviews at the same time but with different agents. I was intensively cross questioned about our trip to Cuba in 2014. I had the govt license of the tour with me.
My husband who had listed Cuba on his countries visited was not questioned about it at all. Depends on which border agent you get. We were both approved but my interview was more intensive.

In Portland, the interview was also a snap. I think the hard part is getting is scheduled!

I agree with Ray! The hardest thing was the scheduling. I did my interview in Boise and the agent was really nice. The thing that took the longest was for his system to boot up to read my fingerprints.

Interesting conversation you had regarding your last name and good information for you to know.

My agent talked about fingerprints and how it was harder to read your prints when you are dehydrated - especially when one is a Senior, hahaha!! He told me to stay hydrated on the plane. He also told me he had had a couple of people who's prints could not be read at all on the scanner and that they have to do something different for them.

We expire next year. So am wondering if anyone has had an experience with renewal?

@ Shelley...Prima! good that it all went perfunctorily well, that es ging wie am Schnürchen. You'll not get the "vier mal S" again. . I'll decline to take part in GE..not interested.

@ Fred - You know, I have been selected so many times for "SSSS" that I will do anything to NOT get selected for that treatment. I had TSA- Precheck too; but I think they pull me out because I am a nervous flyer, checking and re-checing my pockets, purse, etc.

Oh gosh, it didn't click that you got the SSSS recently! Did you think to talk to your interviewing agent about that and whether the GE would make any difference with the level of Pre-Screening - since that is part of the GE package? It would be interesting to hear their take on it.

( Before anyone feels the need to point out, I DO understand GE is for Immigration when re-entering the US and that the SSSS code is TSA/security screening on your boarding pass when you arrive at the airport.)

@ Shelley....Maybe I don't get the "vier mal S" since I'm not of the chosen and the few. They see an old geezer like me still traveling solo, and think what's with this guy? But..."was nicht ist, kann noch warden." Still a chance for me to get the "vier mal S."

I still am in awe of how efficient and easy the whole process was -- from the website to the interview. And fast; within two days of paying the fee and completing the on-line application, I received the notification to schedule the interview. Was pleasantly surprised how easy that was and that I could do it at Peoria instead of Chicago.

The interview lasted about ten minutes; show passport and driver's license, answer a few questions, and get fingerprinted -- all by a very pleasant and efficient agent. That was on a Monday; the card arrived Saturday.

We often hear about how 'government can't get anything right' -- well, it did this time (and I have no connection with anything governmental, just a satisfied customer).

A few flights after we received our Global Entry status, my spouse had the SSSSS on his boarding pass when we were connecting thru Canada on the way home from Europe. It apparently was totally random (as it should be). Going thru security, I kept the two tote bags (that had the cameras/netbook/cell phone, etc). with me, just to ease the process of deeper screening for him. His extra screening took no longer (and seemed actually much quicker) than a non-TSA-precheck scanning....taking off the belt and emptying all pockets was the long part....he went thru the scanner and done!

But, just to be clear, Global Entry does not exempt one from the random SSSSS checks, so sadly don't expect that.

But, just to be clear, Global Entry does not exempt one from the
random SSSSS checks, so sadly don't expect that.

Global Entry has nothing to do with boarding passes. It's about ENTRY into the US -- arrivals into the US, not departures from the US.