Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.
We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.
You’ve got upcoming international travel and tried to sign up for or renew your Global Entry membership before it expires, but it’s been challenging to get an appointment.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has alerted travelers on its website that all of its Trusted Traveler Programs — Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST — are experiencing “application processing delays,” leading to low interview availability. The agency says applications can take between 6 to 18 months to complete, which can be a serious problem if you have international travel coming up.
But with air travel surpassing pre-pandemic figures, it’s no surprise that wait times at customs and immigration to re-enter the U.S. have been lengthy. In some of the country’s biggest airports, such as New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), it’s not unheard of to wait for a whopping 45 to 60 minutes for your turn at an immigration kiosk.
To combat the long lines, some savvy travelers have invested in a Trusted Traveler Program membership to get through long lines faster.
Today, we’re focusing on Global Entry, as actually securing an appointment to finish your application has proven to be pretty complicated as of late. Here’s what you need to know about signing up or renewing your Global Entry membership right now.
The U.S. government created the Global Entry program back in 2008 to give preapproved clearance to low-risk travelers entering the U.S.
Currently, this program is 1 of the 5 available Trusted Traveler Programs. All programs except TSA PreCheck — which the Transportation Security Administration administers — are governed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection unit (CBP).
Global Entry first originated as INSPASS, or INS Passenger Accelerated Service System, in the 1990s. After the CBP merged with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), it created the current Global Entry program.
Initially, the program was only offered at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) Terminal 4 and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
Today, Global Entry kiosks are found at 61 U.S. international airports and 13 preclearance facilities in Aruba, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates. More than 8 million people are currently enrolled in Global Entry, including citizens from the 13 partner countries. An additional 3.5 million people are expected to apply for the program this fiscal year.
To minimize waiting at customs, member information is stored in a database. When members enter the country through a participating airport, they scan their machine-readable passports and fingerprints at a kiosk, complete a customs declaration form, and proceed straight to the baggage claim area.
To finish your application, you must complete an interview with a CBP officer. Previously, interviews could only be done in person, but one of the newest ways to complete your Trusted Traveler Program interview is by remote video.
To be eligible for the remote interview pilot, you must:
Note that CBP says travelers renewing NEXUS, FAST, and SENTRI memberships will be integrated into the pilot through a “phased approach.”
Also, first-time Trusted Traveler Program members cannot participate in the remote interview just yet.
If you meet all of the above requirements, read below to learn how to register for a remote interview from the comfort of your home!
Ready to schedule your remote interview? First, you’ll need to log in to your Trusted Traveler Program dashboard. You’ll need your email address and password handy to do this.
If it’s less than a year before your Global Entry membership expires, you’ll see a box reminding you to complete your renewal to avoid an interruption in service.
Note that you cannot renew your membership until 1 year before expiration. As you can see in the screenshot below, my membership expires on February 20, 2023, but was not able to be renewed until February 20, 2022.
After clicking the Renew Membership button, you will be asked a series of questions, such as whether you’re a U.S. citizen (if you have dual citizenship, you must check the U.S. citizen box), then select the program you wish to renew. You’ll then be asked whether you plan to fly internationally within the next 6 months.
Next, you’ll be taken to another page to acknowledge that you’ll have to undergo a background check for renewal. Note that a conviction of any criminal offense or pending criminal charges, including outstanding warrants, will disqualify you from membership.
You will then be taken to a page to renew your Global Entry membership. You will review your information on the Final Review page, update your old data, and add any missing information. On this page, you will fill out or update:
After double-checking that all of your information is up-to-date and correct, you’ll then be taken to a portal to enter your payment information (we’ll share more on which credit card to use for Global Entry membership a little later).
Hot Tip: Make sure all of your information is correct, as you cannot make changes to an application once it’s submitted. If there are errors in your application, a CBP officer at the enrollment center will need to change your application for you.
You’ll need to visit the TTP website for application status updates, as notification of when you can schedule an interview appointment (if one is required) will only be posted there.
After making your payment, you will then need to wait for conditional approval to schedule and attend an in-person or remote virtual interview.
To schedule a remote interview, you’ll need to log into the TTP dashboard and click on the Scheduling Your Remote Interview link.
CBP uses Zoom for the remote interviews. You can use a computer, tablet, or smartphone as long as it has a working microphone and camera. However, your device must be capable of running Zoom, so make sure whatever device you plan to use can run the latest version of the app.
Make sure to allot roughly 30 minutes for the process. Applicants can wait in a virtual waiting room, available through your TTP dashboard or the CBP One app, for 15 minutes, and then the actual interview should take no longer than 15 minutes.
For the actual virtual interview, you will need:
As you need many of these documents during the renewal process, it shouldn’t be too difficult to meet the requirements for the actual interview.
If you’re a current Global Entry member or first-time Global Entry applicant and your application has been conditionally approved, you can do Enrollment on Arrival. This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to score an interview right now, given the long wait times, as no appointment is needed.
Like all other interviews, you will need to have some essential documents handy such as your valid passport, proof of residency, and a permanent resident card (if applicable).
Note that several airports do not offer enrollment centers, so make sure to check whether your preferred airport participates before arriving. These include airports such as Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and several international airports including Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) and Bermuda International Airport (BDA).
You can take a look at the airports that .
CBP is still doing in-person interviews for conditionally approved first-time TTP members and those undergoing renewals.
However, CBP is facing serious delays with processing applications, and appointments at some facilities are booked completely through the summer of 2023.
After submitting your application, you will be contacted to schedule an interview at one of the Global Entry Enrollment Centers across the country. Note that not all enrollment centers are located at airports; for instance, the center in Washington, D.C., is in a federal office building.
To schedule an appointment for your Global Entry application, you can use CBP’s TTP scheduling tool, which lists all Global Entry enrollment facilities in the U.S. and U.S. territories. I recommend checking this link daily as availability can pop up and disappear in an instant. Using the filter from the scheduling tool, you can filter to find a day with your preferred number of appointments. If you’re in a rush, you can sort by the earliest available facility, but note that it may be far away from your home airport or enrollment facility. Keep in mind that if you’re scheduling appointments for several people, like family members, each person will need their own appointment time (and you will have to log into each account separately to book).
That said, it may be worth taking a day trip to the next state over or even hopping on a cheap flight to complete your enrollment. For instance, the next Global Entry appointment at the Middleburg Heights (Cleveland U.S. Customs and Border Protection) facility is in January 2023 — 4 months from now. But just 1 state away — a 3-hour drive or an hour-long flight — Detroit (Detroit Metro Airport Global Entry) has slots open as early as October.
Hot Tip: A third-party paid service, Appointment Scanner, sends you alerts when there are last-minute interview cancellations. You can choose from over 100 enrollment centers, set a date limit, and customize your notification preferences.
To apply for Global Entry for the first time, you’ll need to complete an application through the TTP website. You will need to complete the following steps:
If you already have Global Entry, you’ll need to create an account in the new system to keep your information updated, renew your membership, reapply when your membership expires, and more.
You will need your current basic contact information for first-time and renewal applications. You’ll also be asked for prior addresses and job history, which may be difficult if you haven’t kept track of the places you’ve worked or if you move often.
To sign up for Global Entry, you must pay a $100 one-time fee, which is required with your application and must be paid at the time of application submission through the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) system. You can pay by credit card or by electronic bank transfer. If you’re rejected from the program for any reason, you will not get your $100 back.
Many of the most popular premium travel rewards credit cards offer credits to offset the cost of a Global Entry membership. You can get your fee paid for by having cards such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® in your wallet. While all of these cards come with hefty annual fees, they make up for it in perks such as lounge access, elite status, and travel credits. In this case, the 3 cards mentioned above offer a $100 statement credit for a Global Entry membership once every 4 years.
If you already have Global Entry, your authorized users can also utilize your account’s 1 Global Entry credit when paying with your Amex Platinum card, Chase Sapphire Reserve card, or Capital One Venture X card, or you can pay for the application for a family member or friend.
And remember, along with Global Entry approval, members get complimentary access to the TSA PreCheck Trusted Traveler Program, which normally costs $78.
Not everyone will be approved for Global Entry or want to pay the $100 fee. But there are other ways to beat long wait times at immigration and customs lines. One way to expedite your entry into the U.S. is with the Mobile Passport program.
Mobile Passport is a program that was launched in 2014 to help combat long wait times at immigration. Today, more than 4 million travelers have used the program.
MPC is a free program available to U.S. citizens and Canadian B1/B2 visitors. The app allows travelers to submit their passport and travel information using a cell phone. It enables you to store your data for future international travel. You can download the app through the Google Play or Apple App stores. Once downloaded, you must create a profile with your passport information, name, gender, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
After landing in the U.S. or arriving at an eligible U.S. preclearance airport, you will select your airport or seaport and terminal, take a self-photo, answer a series of CBP inspection-related questions, and then receive an electronic receipt with a QR code. You will then bring your physical passport and mobile device with your digital QR-coded receipt to a CBP officer.
Up to 12 profiles can be created, so Mobile Passport is perfect for family members. CBP says that all authorized Mobile Passport apps allow a single household to submit 1 transaction, including answers to CBP inspection questions.
Mobile Passport is available at 31 U.S. international airports, 3 Canadian preclearance locations, and 4 seaports of entry — check out our detailed Mobile Passport guide for a map and list of all of the locations. Keep in mind that MPC is only available these select airports, so it won’t work if you’re not at an eligible port of entry.
CBP said in a bulletin posted on its website that travelers who don’t travel multiple times per year internationally should instead apply for the TSA PreCheck program. This notice appears to be an effort to stave off the number of travelers applying for Global Entry, a program for travelers arriving back to the U.S. from abroad.
The agency says TSA PreCheck applicants can schedule an appointment in less than 2 weeks. If approved, you can receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) about 3 to 5 days after your appointment.
TSA PreCheck, which was started in October 2011, allows TSA to expedite the security screening process for low-risk travelers.
Like Global Entry, your membership in TSA PreCheck lasts for 5 years. You will not receive a refund if you’re rejected from the program. If you choose to renew your application online, it will cost $70 and is still valid for the same 5-year timeframe. If you decide to renew in person, the fee remains $78.
Several credit cards, including the Amex Platinum card and Chase Sapphire Reserve card, will reimburse the fee regardless of whether you’re approved or not, so make sure to pay with a card that covers the charge.
To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident and pass a background check. And, similar to Global Entry, having a criminal charge or conviction is grounds for disqualification.
Many of the world’s airlines and virtually every major U.S. carrier participate in the program.
A TSA PreCheck membership comes with several perks, like leaving your shoes, jackets, belts, and other light outerwear on. Additional benefits include keeping laptops and small liquids in your bag.
Note that TSA PreCheck is not Global Entry. It’s an entirely separate program operated by TSA. If you apply for TSA PreCheck and then later decide you want a Global Entry membership, you will need to apply (and pay) for it separately.
Getting a Global Entry interview to renew your membership has been a challenge as of late. If you have upcoming travel plans, you may want to schedule an appointment sooner rather than later, and if you’re having trouble finding an enrollment center, consider doing a virtual interview. We hope this helps you get a Global Entry appointment quicker and smoother than ever!
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
Was this page helpful?
Victoria holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the Howard University School of Communications and is an award-winning journalist, travel reporter, and the founder of the “Travel With Vikkie” newsletter.
Travel is changing fast... Stay on top of all the points strategies, exclusive offers & pivotal news - and lock in huge savings along the way.
We respect your privacy. Please view our privacy policy here.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
29 comments
Leigh
January 28, 2023
Pretty thorough. But people will still complain that it is too complex.
Make sure you add an email in your account that is valid and that you will monitor.
Might mention some of the third party apps to help find interview appointments as well.
Also…approval time can vary greatly from one person to another. As little as one day to almost one year to get conditionally approved.
Eric
February 22, 2023
In some markets a 3rd party appointment scanner app is essential if you need Global Entry quickly. I was able to apply, get conditionally approved, secure an appointment, and get final approval in 5 days with a known traveler number in 5 days.
Barbara (Bobbie) Valentine
February 23, 2023
I need to connect with Global Entry to find out when my appointment in March is.
Keri Stooksbury
February 23, 2023
Hi Bobbie – if you log into your account at https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/ you should be able to see your scheduled appointment at the top left. Thanks for reading!
Marcia
March 07, 2023
Do they release the new appointment time slots at the beginning of the month or what? For instance, at JFK, when i first looked, there were many appts. in April, and the whole month of May was wide open. But June and further were completely Xed out. I assume that meant that they just were not scheduling past May. Yet. Not that there were no more appts. for the rest of the year. So, my question is, when does June open up? I need to book a specific date due to being in the area for another event, and I am driving so I can only do regular, in-person appt. Thanks
Leigh
May 28, 2023
Check every day.
Josh
March 20, 2023
Forgot to mention that you can also do walk in interviews.
Leigh
May 28, 2023
Walk ins are highly discouraged. If you mean Enrollment on Arrival, that usually works.
Leigh
May 28, 2023
Please advise where you have seen any enrollment center offering walk-ups as a regular option.
Most are too busy with appointments, changes, questions to even entertain the idea.
Becky Jo Haugen
March 26, 2023
We need to cancel our appointments. We were able to do it in Los Angeles. We are scheduled for June 29, 2023 at 3:45.
Christine Krzyszton
March 26, 2023
Hello Becky Jo. You will need to log in to your account and cancel the appointment. We are not affiliated with Global Entry. https://ttp.dhs.gov/
Leigh
May 28, 2023
Appointments get automatically canceled if you do the Enrollment on Arrival and get approved.
Nancy Krueger
May 23, 2023
I was told I have been approved for an interview for first time global traveler. That took 5 months. When I checked to schedule an appointment in Milwaukee, they are full through August 31. If I try to schedule a specific date, or ANY date, after that, it gives me options in about six sites in U.S. including Florida, Virginia, and other remote locations. When/how can I get an appointment in Milwaukee (2 hours from my home) after August 31?
Keri Stooksbury
May 26, 2023
Hi Nancy – I would continue to check the TTP website frequently as slots may open randomly. Would you also have the opportunity to interview on arrival? You could also use a service like Appointment Scanner to track openings.
Keith Munroe
June 14, 2023
I am finding it virtually impossible to set the interview for my wife and I. The process even to get to this point has been exhausting and frustrating beyond belief,
The Tampa airport is where we would like to register, but can’t find a way in.
Barb
June 17, 2023
My husband and I did our interview upon arrival from international travel at BWI airport. My husband received an approval email almost immediately, his status changed to approved on the global entry application website & he has received his global entry card.
I have not received an approved email and my status on the site still says need interview. I have tried contacting them via phone (useless) and email (no response). So frustrating!
Ann
July 09, 2023
My husband and I both applied for GE on Jan 17, 2023 and still don’t have our conditional approvals. Our friends applied in March and got conditionally approved within a week. They got interviews for August at BWI. I have called and emailed and I get the same reply, not everyone is vented at the same time, you just have to wait. At this rate we will not have GE for our trip in December. Agree, very frustrating!
Mary
June 21, 2023
We were approved in 04/2022 and told we could interview upon entry into the US at either Chicago airport. When we arrived to Midway after a flight delay but all agents able to complete the global entry were gone for the night. I interviewed late May through a work sponsored event and the officer told me my husband could interview upon entry back into the US at O’Hare from 12PM to 8PM. Fast forward to last week, we arrived at 4PM to Chicago O’Hare, got through customs and were ushered to the global entry office (kept saying around the corner, around the corner. We finally found it at 5:30PM only to see a sign saying, “we are closed” with a person sitting at the desk behind the glass. It’s beyond frustrating trying to get this interview completed! I called and no one called me back. We are traveling international again in October and really want this taken care of! Any advice?
James
June 26, 2023
Is there an additional cost to using the UPGRADED POINTS offer described here. Usually articles with long benefits documents have an extra cost that is not divulged until after going through the app process.
Keri Stooksbury
July 04, 2023
Hi James – Our Appointment Scanner link goes directly to their site. There should be no additional fees for clicking through our link, but there is a fee for the service. Thanks for reading!
mike
June 26, 2023
Absolutely the most frustrating process invented by the US. The website says it has interview upon arrival at Montreal airport. No one in Montreal had heard of it. We spent an hour walking the airport looking for a CBP office. Going home to Atlanta we were told that the interview upon arrival should have been done at Montreal, go figure, and the Atlanta office closed a 4 pm when we arrived at 4:30. There was an officer sitting in the office who said we could not access the process that day. Interesting how every airport has signs encouraging people to enroll in the program and the program is designed to limit enrollment. California airports and enrollment centers show no appointments available until May 2024. Who invented this crap? Its worse than the California DMV and that takes a real effort.
Mel O
June 29, 2023
I wanted to share a tip for anyone planning to apply for the TSA Global Entry program based on my personal journey. It was a surprise to find out that you can’t just show up for the Global Entry interview – some locations send you back and you need an appointment. I used ttptracker.com which I found through reddit. It’s got a free service that sends you alerts on your computer, which really helped me and my family organize our plans. If you’re busy use the SMS option.
Hile
July 17, 2023
Are you eligible for a zoom interview if your global entry membership is expired?
Jarrod West
July 17, 2023
Hi Hile,
Yes, you should be eligible.
Ed
July 17, 2023
How does rescheduling work? I took an interview slot 4 months and a 3-hour drive away but would like to continue looking in case a closer/sooner one opens up. Is there a way to look without clicking the Reschedule button? If not, does clicking the button cancel the appointment I have?
anonymous
August 02, 2023
Scheduling an appointment is beyond frustrating. How can this be so difficult?
Does anyone know WHEN calendars open up to make appointments? I’m in Chicago and all of the Chicago locations say books through 9/29/23, but I don’t see the option to book beyond that.
Wish I would have just renewed my TSA
Ram Wagle
August 02, 2023
I live in Chartlotte and have checked in for last 6+ months. It won’t allow me to choose the date/time on this. It will always say this location is full till some month.
I just checked today and it says all full till Aug 2023. How do I set it up without driving 5+ hrs to nearby airports?
Jon L
August 07, 2023
We applied July 19th, got conditional approval the next day. Saw that Charlotte appointments full for the month of August and won’t let you look at a calendar beyond that to schedule. July 31 when I queried two appointments by Sept 5, Ft Lauderdale showed up as doing weekend appointments all day both Sat Aug 5 and Sun Aug 6. Booked flights that night to Ft Lauderdale for two appointments at 11:00am Aug 6. Flew down to Ft Lauderdale Aug 5, had our appointments Aug 6 which took all of 10 minutes total for both of us for everything to be done. System showed approved before we left the CBP office, and we got our approval emails in the Lyft on the way to the airport for our return flight. Amazingly easy compared to what I keep reading! Be flexible and consider taking a day or overnight trip to finish up your enrollment. CBP agent said they don’t normally work Sundays in the Ft Lauderdale office and we were not alone in flying there specifically to do our Global Entry interviews.
Christine Krzyszton
August 07, 2023
We appreciate you taking the time to share that information, Jon.
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.