Tips for Getting an Appointment Global Entry When Not Available

Global Entryallowing low-risk, pre-approved, fast-clearing travelers to the United States from abroad, is among five expedited security programs offered by the U.S. government.

Like other Trusted Traveler programs, Global Entry requires new users to submit online applicationfollowed by a Interview. The problem some people have is that getting a coveted Global Entry interview spot is sometimes easier said than done.

Conditionally approved applicants, including those renewing their Global Entry at expiration, may be eligible to skip the interview part of the process but seems to be lucky for those asked for a re-interview on renewal and who wasn’t.

For those who need an interview, getting an appointment can be anything from difficult to nearly impossible. This is possible thanks to a continuous backlog Created by enrollment centers that were closed for a long time during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in tourists wanting to travel internationally, coupled with staffing shortages.

In my own experience last year, I had to wait four months to find a Global Entry interview appointment at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). And in some locations, things can be worse than that, completely unavailable until the end of the schedule.

But all is not lost in your quest to get through the airport faster with Global Entry. Read on for tips on securing an appointment.

Customs and Border Protection will notify applicants via email once their application is approved, conditional or otherwise. At this point, you should try to schedule an appointment through online booking tool.

You can filter appointment availability by earliest available time, a specific date, or a location.

Based on a recent pilot search conducted for this story, appointments were available the next day at five centers in Arizona, Michigan, and Texas.

But for many locations, including Los Angeles; Washington DC; and Philadelphia, with no appointments on any given day until the end of the schedule.

Nothing is available in the New York City and Chicago areas until April at the earliest.

When I couldn’t initially find an appointment at O’Hare, I searched many other locations for availability, including in neighboring states and states not close to where I live. If you are flexible and travel a lot, consider going to a nearby enrollment center. In that case, it may be worth looking for the earliest available appointment rather than fixing on the most convenient location.

Before you give up on finding an appointment this way, know that the online booking portal is super dynamic and changes minute by minute, with appointments sometimes disappearing faster than Taylor concert tickets Swift.

Therefore, I recommend that you regularly check the online tool, if possible, for last minute openings due to cancellations. That’s exactly how I got an appointment for my application – I happened to check in on the morning of December 15 and found an open position in Chicago for December 30.

Related: Best Credit Cards to Get Global Entry and PreCheck

Use a service to find a Global Entry appointment

Of course, not everyone can check the site multiple times a day or a week to find that coveted open appointment during the short time it’s available. And even if you could, sometimes technology is just a better answer.

So, if the traditional scheduling route doesn’t get you the Global Entry interview appointment you need, consider trying an alternative service, such as Appointment scannerwhich TPG lead cruise reporter Gene Sloan tested out earlier this week.

For $29, users can get one month’s appointment notifications (up to 25 appointments per day), based on last minute cancellations and newly released appointments at over 20 subscription centers. sign.

If you can’t schedule an appointment within the first month, you can purchase a second month’s notice. Otherwise, your account will automatically expire after one month.

While it “can’t promise you’ll be able to schedule an interview,” it does offer a refund to any unsatisfied customer within 30 days.

“Signing up was super easy. It only took a few clicks and was less than 10 minutes. All I had to do was enter my email, phone number to receive messages (optional), name, up to three addresses. Global Entry points that I can get an interview, and then pay for,” Gene said.

“Once we find an appointment that matches your requirements, you’ll receive a text message or email (or both – your choice),” according to the company. “This alert has a link to the Global Entry scheduling website, where you can log in and request an appointment.” Within 34 minutes of signing up for the aforementioned ping, Gene got his first notification of one of his favorite appointment centers later that day.

Gene, who lives in remote Asheville, North Carolina, has no Global Entry interview locations near him.

“I chose the closest one at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT. It’s a bit annoying but I can drive there and come back, or make an appointment while going through the airport,” he said. “Since I could choose from three locations, I also chose to notify enrollment centers in Fort Lauderdale and Miami in Florida, where I usually go to see cruise ships. If opening times come up, when I’m in one of the towns, that would be a good plan B.”

Note that Appointment Scanner does not book interviews for you nor sell appointments.

While Gene couldn’t make it work given last-minute distance and availability, in theory a traveler staying close to their desired airport could. Appointment Scanner warns that appointment times disappear very quickly, so don’t hesitate.

The service is also a favorite of Brian Kelly, founder of TPG.

“I’m obsessed with the Appointment Scanner,” he told me. “Within an hour, I received multiple written notices for the coveted Bowling Green Enrollment Center in New York.”

Such is the case with TPG creative director Alex Maben, who swears by the service.

“I had a similar problem and after paying the one-time fee I was able to book an appointment within three days of using the service and it only took about two weeks,” she said.

The third option when you need a Global Entry interview appointment is to consider Register on arrival. This allows travelers to complete their Global Entry appointment when returning to the United States from abroad through customs.

Currently, this service is available at more than 50 airports around the globeso you’ll want to make sure to verify that the airport you wish to participate in the program will be open during your arrival.

In addition, you will need a US passport (you probably already have one if returning from abroad to the US). Additionally, you may want to verify if any other proof of residency is needed to complete the interview, such as mortgage statements and rent stubs. A complete list of supporting documents is available This.

Although I had planned to take this route when I flew home from Singapore in October, the CBP officer I spoke to when I arrived told me that the office does not conduct interviews on arrival. that day due to lack of staff, so it wasn’t. a guaranteed option.

When this works, it couldn’t be easier as it allows travelers to skip an extra step because they’ve already gone through customs.

As a reminder, the registration fee to become a 5 year Global Entry member costs $100 but also covers you Pre-check TSAallows low-risk travelers to pass quickly through airport security without removing their shoes or belt, or taking laptops or permitted liquids out of their bags.

If you apply for Global Entry and want to keep that $100 in your pocket, use Credit card application fee included of both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, including:

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