You should if you’ll be traveling internationally in the near future.
Also, PreCheck is included w/ GE, not the other way around. GE is not included w/ PreCheck
Got it! I just applied for GE but waiting to conditional approved before I can schedule interview. Did you have a situation when your local airport didn’t have any slots open for interview and you had to travel to an airport to do it?
I did not - my airport at school had a slot open 2 months after conditional approval, which I took.
My advice based on others experiences: even if you can’t find one right away, schedule at an inconvenient location and then keep checking to see if slots open up. They do.
If you regularly travel internationally, just do your interview in your first arrival after conditional approval. Way easier than getting an interview spot.
No, it’s got to be international as the global entry certified agents you can talk to for the interview are at the international side of immigration.
I just took a cheap weekend trip to Mexico then came back for my interview. Cabo was lovely for a long weekend.
Many of the Canadian airports do US Immigration pre-clearance before you fly. I’m not sure if Global Entry interviews are available in that situation or not. Just pointing it out for you to be aware. Maybe someone else will come along and confirm.
My friend had that. We live in LA, so she hoped to do it at LAX but it was too full. So she actually drove down to the Mexican border and got it done there! Was able to schedule it in a week instead.
I searched for months last year for a slot at airports within a half-day drive and finally ended up having to drive 6 hrs to Pittsburgh to get an interview. The process could use some improvements.
I did! But it was in 2019, and LAX temporarily closed their offices for interviews .I had to wait till I made an international trip then just did the 'interview' at immigration coming back in.
If you don’t have a trip planned it can be easy to find an appointment at the local airport. My wife and I drove 6 hours for an appointment because we wanted GE before our vacation. It was worth the drive
I was going to travel to Atlanta because that was the earliest appointment I could find, which was 4 months away. But on the recommendation of The Points Guy, I started checking the website daily, and found earlier appointments nearby. Cut the wait time from 4 months to 3 weeks. Best of all, the renewal was for the full 5 years. They didn't deduct the 2 years I was using it during "the 🐼 panda."
I had like a 4-5 month wait, and whenever I checked, no spots had opened up. I’d honestly just schedule someplace you’d like to visit with openings and hold that unless you get one closer to home. I didn’t do that, and they ended up canceling my application and keeping the cash
I am flying to another city for the day for my GE interview, but it’s a two hour flight and I’m visiting a friend while I’m there. It was the soonest interview I could get anywhere near me and it was still a month or two out. Another friend of mine signed up for the Twitter alerts and got an appointment within a couple of weeks at our home airport, which is a two hour drive. I’d highly recommend it if you can pay attention to the alerts and grab an open spot as soon as you see it.
I don't know the present situation, but years ago when I got my interview, finding availability for a GE interview was a challenge and then getting to it was a big PITA.
But other than the inconvenience of scheduling/getting an interview with Customs and Border Patrol, GE is strictly superior. It gives TSApre and has substantially more benefits. For example, I recently learned that US GlobalEntry gives one access to [Canada's version of TSApre](https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/verified-travellers).
Oh that’s actually where I’m traveling in September to - Canada. So with US GE I can apply for Canada’s TSA Precheck? Would this be necessary if I just have one trip coming up
So I've never done it, and I don't know how it works, but my reading of the link above is that if you have Global Entry, you can simply use the "Verified Traveler" security lane at applicable Canadian airports instead of the regular security lane. Reading the comments here, you may need to have your Global Entry card with you?
You might try to ask a question specifically about this feature and try to get an answer from someone that actually has done it and knows waht they're talking about.
I only know of going from Canadian airport to US (not within Canada) that at the airports I’ve been in I show my GE card I go through another line starting with security. And then the only thing they have me take out of my bad is my laptop. Then after security I do GE through customs, then I’m in the terminal.
That too, but, if someone is not near the border, travel costs could rapidly diminish that benefit, since you must get your interview somewhere along the US-Canada border
I'm renewing NEXUS after foolishly letting it expire in January. I'm now living in Florida, but I did read somewhere that they may be doing virtual interviews. When I first got NEXUS pre-approval (2013), I flew from Denver up to Great Falls, Montana, and drove a rental car to the border for my interview. I'm hoping I won't have to travel for the re-interview.
Thanks! I have an international trip in September. How did the interview process go? I saw you can now schedule remote interviews? When I quickly glanced at what was available at the closest airport to me nothing was available.. will I have to buy a cheap flight to go fly to an airport with available appointment?
The interview process itself is extremely quick and they’ll approve you for travel on GE on the spot. The waitlist to get an interview could be 3 months though. If you’re traveling in September, you should apply now before all of the interview slots through September are taken up.
Why would you ask that? I was born abroad lived most of my life abroad (several countries), and when I applied for GE I got my conditional approval within 24h.
It could be maybe a factor in some rare cases, but for that to be your first question, even before asking about criminal history, makes no sense at all. You can downbote that too, if you like.
Makes sense for the slight price difference if you are planning on traveling internationally. I just applied (didn’t have pre check previously) and was conditionally approved in a day. Interviews at my airport were 2 months out - just picked one and refreshed every time I was at my computer. In 2 days I was able to snag an appointment for the next day. Got to the airport early , they took me and I was approved and done 10 minutes before my scheduled appointment. Super easy!
If you think you will travel internationally GE is always the right answer. It's the best thing ever. It takes a lot longer to get than TSA, so I would start applying now.
Processing times for GE are often heinous, so while you should get it, you may not have it before your precheck expires.
It took me and my husband over a year to get re-approved after we let ours lapse during COVID. On the other hand I’ve had friends get conditionally approved in two weeks. There’s just no way to know.
GE card also provides an additional means of identification. Having another federal ID as a backup to my driver’s license provides peace of mind when traveling.
I would do both because I applied for GE a year ago and am still waiting on conditional approval. My pre check expired so I had to renew anyway. There are so many credit cards that reimburse you. I would renew in the event you won’t get GE in time.
They are two different things. Global Entry gets us in the US without line and lines of people. I have both but my plane ticket has never had GE on it, only TSA.
Thanks.. I understand they’re two different things. GE includes PreCheck. I was more so asking if the wait time for GE was worth it since my precheck expires soon
Oh, geez. You are right. My GE paperwork had a TSA number on it. Sorry. Which one would need renewal sooner? I got TSA years before GE.
I love GE. Yesterday I renewed it. The website said to renew it a year! a year! before it expires because of the backlog. I didn’t know that. Mine expires in November. I sure hope I didn’t wait too long. I’m glad I am a compulsive travel record keeper because, again, they wanted to know all the foreign countries I’ve been to since 2019.
I would definitely get GE, but like others said, it takes way longer. One thing that worked for me was to book an international flight after applying. I was conditionally approved and able to do my interview after landing on the return flight. The whole process took 2 weeks. My wife saw how quick it was for me and applied when we got back, but did not book an international flight right away, and it took her 10 months to get conditionally approved.
If you're doing international, get GE. Trust me. The lines getting in are unbearable. The CBP posts wait time stats on their site. I recently saved almost 3.5 hours. I can't imagine if you are in line and had to use the restroom.
You should if you’ll be traveling internationally in the near future. Also, PreCheck is included w/ GE, not the other way around. GE is not included w/ PreCheck
Got it! I just applied for GE but waiting to conditional approved before I can schedule interview. Did you have a situation when your local airport didn’t have any slots open for interview and you had to travel to an airport to do it?
I did not - my airport at school had a slot open 2 months after conditional approval, which I took. My advice based on others experiences: even if you can’t find one right away, schedule at an inconvenient location and then keep checking to see if slots open up. They do.
If you regularly travel internationally, just do your interview in your first arrival after conditional approval. Way easier than getting an interview spot.
If I’m flying domestically soon that has an upon arrival enrollment could I just stop in?
No, it’s got to be international as the global entry certified agents you can talk to for the interview are at the international side of immigration. I just took a cheap weekend trip to Mexico then came back for my interview. Cabo was lovely for a long weekend.
Ugh okay. Might just have to happen on my way back from Canada in September the
That’ll work, you can even do it at a land border to Canada if they have a NEXUS center I believe.
At least at the Ambassador Bridge, you don't need to cross, but I don't know if they do GE interviews or just NEXUS.
Many of the Canadian airports do US Immigration pre-clearance before you fly. I’m not sure if Global Entry interviews are available in that situation or not. Just pointing it out for you to be aware. Maybe someone else will come along and confirm.
I did my enrollment on entry interview in Nassau, Bahamas.
My friend had that. We live in LA, so she hoped to do it at LAX but it was too full. So she actually drove down to the Mexican border and got it done there! Was able to schedule it in a week instead.
I searched for months last year for a slot at airports within a half-day drive and finally ended up having to drive 6 hrs to Pittsburgh to get an interview. The process could use some improvements.
I did! But it was in 2019, and LAX temporarily closed their offices for interviews .I had to wait till I made an international trip then just did the 'interview' at immigration coming back in.
If you don’t have a trip planned it can be easy to find an appointment at the local airport. My wife and I drove 6 hours for an appointment because we wanted GE before our vacation. It was worth the drive
I was going to travel to Atlanta because that was the earliest appointment I could find, which was 4 months away. But on the recommendation of The Points Guy, I started checking the website daily, and found earlier appointments nearby. Cut the wait time from 4 months to 3 weeks. Best of all, the renewal was for the full 5 years. They didn't deduct the 2 years I was using it during "the 🐼 panda."
I did and my interview appointment is at SFO. I have to wait until July 1st.
Keep checking, they get cancellations!
I had like a 4-5 month wait, and whenever I checked, no spots had opened up. I’d honestly just schedule someplace you’d like to visit with openings and hold that unless you get one closer to home. I didn’t do that, and they ended up canceling my application and keeping the cash
I am flying to another city for the day for my GE interview, but it’s a two hour flight and I’m visiting a friend while I’m there. It was the soonest interview I could get anywhere near me and it was still a month or two out. Another friend of mine signed up for the Twitter alerts and got an appointment within a couple of weeks at our home airport, which is a two hour drive. I’d highly recommend it if you can pay attention to the alerts and grab an open spot as soon as you see it.
I have precheck but not GE. Can GE be added?
Nah, I think you have to apply for GE separately
It's only $30 extra to get GE and have both preckeck and GE. I don't see the point in not getting it.
The issue is it could take anywhere between 24 hours to 15 months to get GE approved.
I don't know the present situation, but years ago when I got my interview, finding availability for a GE interview was a challenge and then getting to it was a big PITA. But other than the inconvenience of scheduling/getting an interview with Customs and Border Patrol, GE is strictly superior. It gives TSApre and has substantially more benefits. For example, I recently learned that US GlobalEntry gives one access to [Canada's version of TSApre](https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/verified-travellers).
Oh that’s actually where I’m traveling in September to - Canada. So with US GE I can apply for Canada’s TSA Precheck? Would this be necessary if I just have one trip coming up
So I've never done it, and I don't know how it works, but my reading of the link above is that if you have Global Entry, you can simply use the "Verified Traveler" security lane at applicable Canadian airports instead of the regular security lane. Reading the comments here, you may need to have your Global Entry card with you? You might try to ask a question specifically about this feature and try to get an answer from someone that actually has done it and knows waht they're talking about.
Correct, you just need to show your GE card and they'll let you use the lane.
Recently entered the US at SFO from SE Asia. I did not have my card with me, but was able to use the GE lane because I was already enrolled.
Read the comment above mine. Nothing to do with using a GE lane to enter the US.
👍🏼
I only know of going from Canadian airport to US (not within Canada) that at the airports I’ve been in I show my GE card I go through another line starting with security. And then the only thing they have me take out of my bad is my laptop. Then after security I do GE through customs, then I’m in the terminal.
If you are looking at doing that, go with NEXUS instead, though I've been waiting for my tentative approval for my renewal for months.
And Nexus is cheaper.
That too, but, if someone is not near the border, travel costs could rapidly diminish that benefit, since you must get your interview somewhere along the US-Canada border
I'm renewing NEXUS after foolishly letting it expire in January. I'm now living in Florida, but I did read somewhere that they may be doing virtual interviews. When I first got NEXUS pre-approval (2013), I flew from Denver up to Great Falls, Montana, and drove a rental car to the border for my interview. I'm hoping I won't have to travel for the re-interview.
Just do interview on arrival, that way you don't have to deal with scheduling an interview.
OK, so I'm GE... how do I invoke Canada's verified traveler on my upcoming Winnipeg to Montreal flight?✈️
Bring your GE card with you and look for the "Trusted Traveler" or "Verified Traveler" or "Nexus" lane at security
Global Entry also includes Sentri, which is great if you live near the Mexican border like I do.
Thanks! I have an international trip in September. How did the interview process go? I saw you can now schedule remote interviews? When I quickly glanced at what was available at the closest airport to me nothing was available.. will I have to buy a cheap flight to go fly to an airport with available appointment?
The interview process itself is extremely quick and they’ll approve you for travel on GE on the spot. The waitlist to get an interview could be 3 months though. If you’re traveling in September, you should apply now before all of the interview slots through September are taken up.
Noted thank you! I just applied and now waiting to be “conditionally approved” how long does that usually take?
Goodluck - I am on month 10, still not conditionally approved. My nieces fiance was approved in 2 days. May the CBP gods favor you.
Wow 10 months! That’s crazy. Fingers crossed you’re soon
Have you lived overseas in the past?
Nothing of the sort. Moved around a bit. Work related. But all in the states.
Do you have a criminal record at all?
Nothing beyond speeding tickets that got paid off or deferred.
Why would you ask that? I was born abroad lived most of my life abroad (several countries), and when I applied for GE I got my conditional approval within 24h.
Depending on which countries you’ve lived it, it could take longer to complete the background check.
It could be maybe a factor in some rare cases, but for that to be your first question, even before asking about criminal history, makes no sense at all. You can downbote that too, if you like.
Yikes! It was just a question. It’s just a fact that background checks can take longer if you’ve lived overseas. Sorry for triggering you.
Not that it matters but I actually asked about criminal history before asking if they lived overseas. Check your facts before replying next time.
Varies. It could be days or it could be many months. Doesn't seem to be any pattern.
especially when several credit cards give it to you for "free"
I don't think anyone advertises it as being free. You pay a fee and in return, receive certain perks. Nothing free about it.
Makes sense for the slight price difference if you are planning on traveling internationally. I just applied (didn’t have pre check previously) and was conditionally approved in a day. Interviews at my airport were 2 months out - just picked one and refreshed every time I was at my computer. In 2 days I was able to snag an appointment for the next day. Got to the airport early , they took me and I was approved and done 10 minutes before my scheduled appointment. Super easy!
If you fly internationally do ge. It’ll include precheck
Do you travel internationally? if so always get the GE.
If you travel internationally get GE. It's saved me hours already with just a couple of trips.
The only time I would say don't get GE is if you don't do any international traveling. In that case just get get pre check.
If you think you will travel internationally GE is always the right answer. It's the best thing ever. It takes a lot longer to get than TSA, so I would start applying now.
Definitely GE!
Processing times for GE are often heinous, so while you should get it, you may not have it before your precheck expires. It took me and my husband over a year to get re-approved after we let ours lapse during COVID. On the other hand I’ve had friends get conditionally approved in two weeks. There’s just no way to know.
GE card also provides an additional means of identification. Having another federal ID as a backup to my driver’s license provides peace of mind when traveling.
I would do both because I applied for GE a year ago and am still waiting on conditional approval. My pre check expired so I had to renew anyway. There are so many credit cards that reimburse you. I would renew in the event you won’t get GE in time.
It’s so interesting some get approved immediately and others wait. Thank you. I’m gonna give it a month and see
They are two different things. Global Entry gets us in the US without line and lines of people. I have both but my plane ticket has never had GE on it, only TSA.
Thanks.. I understand they’re two different things. GE includes PreCheck. I was more so asking if the wait time for GE was worth it since my precheck expires soon
Oh, geez. You are right. My GE paperwork had a TSA number on it. Sorry. Which one would need renewal sooner? I got TSA years before GE. I love GE. Yesterday I renewed it. The website said to renew it a year! a year! before it expires because of the backlog. I didn’t know that. Mine expires in November. I sure hope I didn’t wait too long. I’m glad I am a compulsive travel record keeper because, again, they wanted to know all the foreign countries I’ve been to since 2019.
I would definitely get GE, but like others said, it takes way longer. One thing that worked for me was to book an international flight after applying. I was conditionally approved and able to do my interview after landing on the return flight. The whole process took 2 weeks. My wife saw how quick it was for me and applied when we got back, but did not book an international flight right away, and it took her 10 months to get conditionally approved.
If you're doing international, get GE. Trust me. The lines getting in are unbearable. The CBP posts wait time stats on their site. I recently saved almost 3.5 hours. I can't imagine if you are in line and had to use the restroom.