Global Entry Offices Closed Due to Government Shutdown
If you have a Global Entry interview scheduled for the near future, you might want to check your email. Though the U.S. State Department is still processing passports, it appears that the shutdown of the federal government has caused the shuttering of all Global Entry offices, meaning if you're applying for or renewing your membership in this expedited customs clearance program, you could be out of luck for the time being.
In an email forwarded to TPG by a reader, Customs and Border Protection said that the reader's appointment — which was scheduled at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) — had been canceled due to the government shutdown. In the email, CPB says that all Global Entry Enrollment Centers are temporarily closed, and that the reader should reschedule their appointment "after US government operations resume."
CPB makes no mention of Global Entry Enrollment Centers being closed on its website. The current notice simply states:
NOTICE: Due to the lapse in federal funding, this website will not be actively managed. This website was last updated on December 21, 2018 and will not be updated until after funding is enacted. As such, information on this website may not be up to date. Transactions submitted via this website might not be processed and we will not be able to respond to inquiries until after appropriations are enacted.
There are no signs of a resolution to the shutdown coming any time soon. If you have an appointment at a Global Entry Enrollment Center keep an eye on your email to see if your appointment has been canceled — and even if you haven't received an email, don't count on the appointment happening before full government operations resume.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.