What to expect during your Global Entry appointment

Travel can be filled with exciting experiences. It can also be filled with lots of waiting. But two U.S. government programs can help. TSA PreCheck® allows travelers to get through airport security lines more easily. Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck®, helps them get through customs faster when reentering the U.S.

Applying for Global Entry may take some effort, but it can make travel easier on both ends. Here’s how to schedule your Global Entry interview—a key part of the process—and what to expect when you get there.

Key takeaways

• Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) designed to help you get through customs checkpoints more quickly after reentering the U.S.
• With Global Entry, travelers can avoid paperwork and processing to reduce wait times.
• The interview takes about 15 minutes. You’ll need to bring required documents and be prepared to answer questions. 
• Capital One travel rewards cards Venture and Venture X reimburse cardholders for up to $120 of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fees.*

Global Entry is a TTP administered through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Membership in the program lasts for five years.

Global Entry allows prescreened, low-risk travelers to reenter the U.S. by air, land and sea after traveling internationally. 

Members of the Global Entry program also receive TSA PreCheck® benefits. TSA PreCheck®, like Global Entry, is a TTP. It allows travelers to get through airport security lines more easily when leaving the U.S. for a foreign country—and also when taking domestic, connecting flights after they return to the U.S.

The good news for Capital One Venture and Venture X cardholders is that they’re reimbursed for up to $120 of either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fees every four years.

To apply for Global Entry, you’ll need to be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident or citizen of one of the following countries:

• Argentina
• Bahrain
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Germany
• India
• Netherlands
• Panama
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Taiwan 
• United Kingdom

Children of any age can apply for Global Entry. Those under 18 years old need the consent of a parent or legal guardian to apply. The adult doesn’t have to be a Global Entry member, but they do have to accompany the child to their interview.  

Mexican nationals can also apply for Global Entry; so can Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are members of the NEXUS program.

Here are the general steps for applying for Global Entry: 

1. Create a TTP account.
2. Complete the application and pay the application fee.
3. Schedule an interview.
4. Complete the Global Entry application process by attending the interview.

You can start the Global Entry process by creating a TTP account, completing the application and paying an application fee. Once your application for Global Entry has been conditionally approved, the next step is your interview. 

To schedule an in-person interview, sign in to your TTP account and navigate to your dashboard. Then choose a Global Entry enrollment center for your interview. Because wait times for an interview can be long, it may help to schedule your appointment far in advance. It may be possible to reschedule your interview but doing so could delay your application.

You may prefer to have your interview coincide with your travel schedule by conducting it at a major airport. This option is available through a program known as Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival (EoA). 

With EoA, you don’t have to schedule your interview ahead of time. Simply look for the EoA signs as you approach an eligible airport’s customs area when reentering the U.S.

Remember, Global Entry memberships last for five years. Members can start the renewal process one year before their membership expires. 

An interview may not be necessary to renew your membership. Once you’ve signed in to your TTP account, completed your renewal application and paid the renewal fee, check your account periodically for updates on next steps. If an interview is required, you may be eligible to conduct it remotely.

The Global Entry interview typically lasts about 15 minutes. In general, a CBP officer will review your application, check your documents and ask some questions. They’ll also take your fingerprints and photograph.  

Here are key ways to get ready for your interview: 

Adult applicants need to bring a valid passport or a permanent resident card, if applicable, to their Global Entry appointment. One additional form of identification, such as a driver’s license or an ID card, is also required.

Children under 18 need to bring a valid passport or permanent resident card. The adult accompanying them should bring their own passport plus any additional documents, such as proof of residency, mentioned in the application. 

Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. are required to present their machine-readable permanent resident card. 

The in-person interview gives the CBP officer a chance to verify information about you. The questions they ask may be similar to those on the application, including these:

• Are you a citizen of the U.S.? 
• Do you plan on flying internationally into the U.S. within the next six months? 
• Have you previously applied for the Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI program?

The interview typically takes about 15 minutes. 

To check the status of your application after your in-person interview, the CBP recommends signing in to your TTP account periodically. If the status says Pending Review, then CBP has received your application and is processing it. 

It may be helpful to know that the processing time for Global Entry can’t be expedited. 

When an applicant is denied Global Entry membership, they typically receive specifics about the denial in writing.

To have your application reevaluated, start by signing in to your TTP account. If you’re eligible to file a request, you should see an option to request reconsideration. 

Global Entry is a TTP designed to help you get through U.S. customs checkpoints more quickly after reentering the country. One of the first things you’ll need to do when you apply for membership is to schedule an in-person interview with a CBP officer. 

If you’re considering applying for Global Entry, it may help to know that Capital One Venture and Venture X cardholders can receive up to a $120 credit toward their Global Entry application fee.