If you've been struggling to find a Global Entry interview, try this
Editor's Note
If you are a Global Entry applicant with conditional approval but have had trouble scheduling an interview because there is no availability at your closest enrollment center or the next available appointment date is several months away, listen up.
On the first Monday of each month at 9 a.m. local time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security's Trusted Traveler Programs release new interview appointment slots for scheduling at enrollment centers. The appointment slots are accessible via applicants' TTP dashboards.
Mark your calendars for the next appointment release date Sept. 1.
Other enrollment tips
Enrollment on Arrival
Conditionally approved applicants can also complete the interview process when returning to the U.S. from abroad via CBP's Enrollment on Arrival service.
Instead of scheduling and partaking in a formal interview at an enrollment center, you can finish the enrollment process at one of 16 international or 52 U.S. airport locations as part of your trip home.
To complete this process, you'll head to the passport control area just as you would for the immigration process when returning to the U.S. after an international trip. From there, follow signs in the airport for the "Enrollment on Arrival" lanes. If you don't see these signs, ask a CBP agent. An agent will complete your interview during your admissibility inspection.
Double-check that this service will be open during your arrival time, as EOA interviews are restricted to certain hours.
Enrollment on Departure
Similar to EOA is Enrollment on Departure, a service that allows conditionally approved Global Entry applicants to complete their interviews prior to departing on a domestic or international flight at select airports.
EOD is currently available at Gate 41 in Concourse B of Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., and in Concourse J on Level 2 opposite the Lufthansa check-in counter at Miami International Airport (MIA). EOD at Dulles is open daily from noon to 8 p.m., while EOD at the Miami airport is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For both EOA and EOD, travelers must bring a valid passport and a document proving residency, such as a driver's license with current address, mortgage statement, rental payment statement or utility bill, plus a permanent resident card (if applicable).
Last-minute/day of appointments
Applicants often cancel their scheduled interviews, especially on the day of the appointment. If you cannot secure an interview slot during a first Monday release, regularly check the online scheduling tool to see if there are last-minute openings due to cancellations.
Paid alert services
Don’t have time to check for open appointments frequently? If the traditional scheduling route does not get you the Global Entry interview appointment you need, consider trying a third-party alert service, such as Appointment Scanner or Global Entry Spotter.
Appointment Scanner charges $29 for one month of alerts (up to 25 per day) based on last-minute cancellations and newly released appointments at up to three enrollment centers of your choosing. You can receive alerts as text messages or emails (or both). It does not auto-renew. If you want to continue after one month, you’ll need to purchase another month.
Although it "can't promise you'll be able to schedule an interview," it will refund any unsatisfied customers within 30 days.
Global Entry Spotter charges a one-time fee of $25 for unlimited SMS alerts of available appointments at up to three locations. Most travelers secure an appointment within days of signing up; however, there is no set time period for the service. You will receive text message alerts until you book an appointment and opt out.
Keep in mind, these services only notify you of appointment availability. They do not book the appointment for you. You’ll still need to schedule the appointment yourself, so be sure to act quickly when you receive an alert that works for you.
Bottom line
The monthly first Monday appointment release helps travelers who have already applied for Global Entry be able to use it sooner, especially for enrollment center locations that tend to have less availability. Even so, appointments do get booked up quickly.
If you haven't yet applied and plan on doing so, use a credit card that covers the $120 nonrefundable application fee for Global Entry. If you already have Global Entry, you can also use this credit to cover memberships for someone else.
As a reminder, CBP releases new appointments on the first Monday of each month, including Sept. 1.
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- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.