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1922

Abstract

have an interview with a Customs and Border Protection officer. I did mine here in Boston, MA. Very convenient, and the office is inside the airport.<h2 id="fcba">My Experience with Global Entry Application</h2>The first three steps are quick and easy: select your program, fill out an application and pay the fee. Then, you will have to wait a few weeks to wait for conditional approval and schedule an interview.Below, you can see a screenshot of my dashboard:<figure id="d40a"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*g2mdpzHzV66_74CTtSqiHg.jpeg"><figcaption>Screenshot: from the author.</figcaption></figure>I got my email to schedule the interview on Sep 21st 2022. I was able to schedule my interview for Sep 23rd 2022. Yes, it was quick and easy! You might have heard that some people were having trouble finding availability. That is also true. The lines are long, so you will have to be agile when searching on the CBP website.I was refreshing the page every single minute of the day. Usually, in the evening some appointments are canceled, so you might find availability for the next day.You can find the availability of the interview centers in this <a href="https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/schedulerui/schedule-interview/location?lang=en&vo=true&returnUrl=ttp-external&service=UP">official link</a>.The membership of the program is valid for 5 years and includes TSA PreCheck eligibility for domestic flights, which is very handy when traveling inside the country.<h2 id="596c">My Interview</h2>The interview process was easy. You arrive at the center, and wait in a waiting room.In my experience, they called me and asked where I had been in the last few months. They took my fingerprints and a photo. Since I had a trip p

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lanned to Brazil a week later, I asked if I would receive the Global Entry card soon. They said “no”; receiving it usually takes 7–15 days.But they gave me a confirmation with the Known Traveler Number (nine-digit number) printed, which means that you can already use this number when booking your airline tickets.<blockquote id="618e">Remember: you must use your Known Traveler Number in the tickets to receive a “stamp” on your airline tickets before boarding. It states that you are “TSA PreCheck”.</blockquote><h2 id="7a6f">When to choose Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck?</h2>You will have the option to do one or the other. If you travel internationally, I recommend choosing Global Entry ( $100 fee). If you have American Express Platinum, you can waive that fee. If you want to get started with the Amex Green Card and want to use my <a href="http://Apply for an American Express Card with this link. With your new Card, you could earn a welcome bonus and your friend could earn a referral bonus. Terms Apply. https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/american-express-green-card?ref=MARIAPHZvw&xl=cp01">referral link</a>, you can receive 40,000.If you mainly use it for domestic traveling but also want to avoid long lines, you will be fine with TSA ($ 78 fee).Global Entry is intended to make international travel more convenient and efficient for those who travel a lot internationally.If you have questions about Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, feel free to drop a comment, and I will be happy to help you!Disclosure: I only recommend products I use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. If you’d like to support my work, please consider using my affiliate links that are in this article. It is no cost to you, and I earn a small commission.</article></body>

Travel

Applying for Global Entry: All You Need to Know

My experience applying for the Global Entry and TSA Pre-Check

Photo: Official CPB website. San Jose International Airport.

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As soon as I got my green card (I wrote about it here), I started the process of applying for Global Entry.

Global Entry is a program offered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers arriving in the USA. When I applied for Global Entry, I thought I needed to be a green card holder or US citizen to do so, but later I found out that, as a Brazilian, I would have been able to apply beforehand.

You can find all the eligible countries in this list.

Screenshot: from the author. Updated as March 7th 2023.

Benefits of Global Entry

Participants in the program are able to use automated kiosks at select airports, allowing them to bypass long lines at passport control and customs. Scanning your face and passing through security is very easy and smooth.

To become a member of Global Entry, you must fill out an online application, do a background check, and have an interview with a Customs and Border Protection officer. I did mine here in Boston, MA. Very convenient, and the office is inside the airport.

My Experience with Global Entry Application

The first three steps are quick and easy: select your program, fill out an application and pay the fee. Then, you will have to wait a few weeks to wait for conditional approval and schedule an interview.

Below, you can see a screenshot of my dashboard:

I got my email to schedule the interview on Sep 21st 2022. I was able to schedule my interview for Sep 23rd 2022. Yes, it was quick and easy! You might have heard that some people were having trouble finding availability. That is also true. The lines are long, so you will have to be agile when searching on the CBP website.

I was refreshing the page every single minute of the day. Usually, in the evening some appointments are canceled, so you might find availability for the next day.

You can find the availability of the interview centers in this official link.

The membership of the program is valid for 5 years and includes TSA PreCheck eligibility for domestic flights, which is very handy when traveling inside the country.

My Interview

The interview process was easy. You arrive at the center, and wait in a waiting room.

In my experience, they called me and asked where I had been in the last few months. They took my fingerprints and a photo. Since I had a trip planned to Brazil a week later, I asked if I would receive the Global Entry card soon. They said “no”; receiving it usually takes 7–15 days.

But they gave me a confirmation with the Known Traveler Number (nine-digit number) printed, which means that you can already use this number when booking your airline tickets.

Remember: you must use your Known Traveler Number in the tickets to receive a “stamp” on your airline tickets before boarding. It states that you are “TSA PreCheck”.

When to choose Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck?

You will have the option to do one or the other. If you travel internationally, I recommend choosing Global Entry ($100 fee). If you have American Express Platinum, you can waive that fee. If you want to get started with the Amex Green Card and want to use my referral link, you can receive 40,000.

If you mainly use it for domestic traveling but also want to avoid long lines, you will be fine with TSA ($78 fee).

Global Entry is intended to make international travel more convenient and efficient for those who travel a lot internationally.

If you have questions about Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, feel free to drop a comment, and I will be happy to help you!

Disclosure: I only recommend products I use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. If you’d like to support my work, please consider using my affiliate links that are in this article. It is no cost to you, and I earn a small commission.