Painfully long airport security lines can be more than just a nuisance, they can very easily cause you to miss your flight, throwing an unnecessary wrench in any vacation or business trip. However, if you’re a passport holding American citizen, there is no reason to deal with this headache ever again. Global Entry not only expedites getting through customs when reentering the country, but also grants the holder access to the shorter TSA Pre-Check security lines for all domestic travel. At $100 for 5 years, if you fly more than a few times a year, Global Entry is a must have.
What Is It?
The United States Department of Homeland Security offers a number of “Trusted Traveler” programs to qualifying members of society. Essentially, if you’re willing to undergo an extensive background check and jump through a few hoops, you can receive credentials that mark you as a low-threat traveler, who requires less stringent security protocols. Global Entry is the trusted traveler program that offers the most benefits to its holders.
How Do I Get It?
Type into your search bar:
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry
Or you can just Google “Global Entry” and click the first link; they should both lead to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection homepage for Global Entry.
Once you’re on the homepage, click the medium sized blue and white box with check-marks on the right-hand side of the page that says, “Apply Now!” It’s beneath the primary banner and looks like this:
After clicking the box, you’ll be taken to a page that lists all the trusted traveler programs offered by Homeland Security, most of which have certain limitations. FAST only applies to commercial truck drivers in North America. Nexus and Sentri holders are only granted trusted traveler privileges for passage into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. TSA Pre-check holders are afforded shorter lines and less stringent security protocols at the airport, but only for domestic flights. Global Entry offers these benefits for all international travel into the U.S. and includes TSA Pre-check, all for just an extra 15 bucks. The choice is clear; click the green box under Global Entry.
After clicking the “Get Started” box under Global Entry and consenting to continue onto the Department of Homeland Security computer system, you’ll be prompted to create login credentials. This is necessary to continue, but the Global Entry application is long, so it’s useful to be able to come and go as you please anyway.
Create an account and begin your application. In addition to all the basic information one would expect from a government application (full name, current address, social security number, etc..) you will also need information regarding every place you’ve lived, worked, and gone to school for the last 10 years. It will be useful to have this information prepared before beginning the application; if there are any gaps in your history, the application cannot be submitted. If you plan on driving in and out of the country, there is an opportunity to include your vehicle’s information as well.
After your online application is complete it will be sent off for a background check. Once this background check is completed, you’ll be “conditionally approved” and given the opportunity to select your in-person interview date and location. Because the system is often backed up, you may not be able to get an interview slot until a month or later from your online submittal date. Select a location, date, and time that works for you and mark your calendar; slots are generally available every 15 minutes for any given day.
The Interview
On your chosen day and time arrive at the Global Entry location you selected; you are allowed to arrive 30 minutes early. Unfortunately, only select airports and Global Entry offices are available for any given area and you may have to drive a bit out of the way. Also, because of the restricted size of some Global Entry offices, you may be asked to come alone; exceptions are made for those requiring assistance.
Don’t forget your passport! You can’t enroll in Global Entry without it. If you included your vehicle information on the application you’ll also need to bring your drivers license, registration, and proof of insurance.
The interview itself is very straightforward. The entire thing takes place standing at the counter in a DMV-like office where an officer will more or less have you confirm the information submitted on your application. Once the interview is complete, the officer will ask where to send your Global Entry card and you’ll be on your way! The card must be activated within 2 weeks or you’ll have to redo the interview.
It is very important to know that the location given for your interview may not be the location you selected online! Double check the confirmation email that will be sent to you; locations can open and close at will. I didn’t realize my interview location had changed and I ended up being 30 minutes late. Fortunately, they were able to accommodate me; I just had to wait longer.
Enrollment on Arrival
Homeland Security offers an option called “Enrollment on Arrival.” This means that if you’re planning to return from an international trip after you’ve been conditionally approved for Global Entry but before you’ve had an in-person interview, you can have your interview upon passing customs when returning to select U.S. airports. This means if you pair your application submission with a well-timed vacation, you may be able to receive your Global Entry credentials more quickly than if you just scheduled an interview!
So there you have it. If you’re a passport holding American citizen with an extra hundred bucks lying around, there is no excuse to miss another flight because of airport security lines. I hope this article inspires you to obtain Global Entry, stress less, and travel more. Happy contrails!
Wander&Wonder 