Michael and I held off on applying for the US Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry Program in part because of cost ($100? We can get a plane ticket for that amount!) and also because none of the nearby enrollment centers had hours that would fit in with our work schedules. But finally, toward the end of 2016, we decided to “gift” the applications to each other for Christmas, along with an overnight trip to NYC. Even still, it took us until March to actually get our act together and apply.
The application took us about forty-five minutes or so to complete. Understandably, the questions are all-encompassing and dig back into the past five years. Have your passport, résumé, and any past addresses handy, as you’ll need to list all countries you’ve visited, places you’ve worked, and residences you’ve occupied in that timeframe. This was definitely the hardest part for us, as we’ve moved several times in the past five years, and we don’t necessarily have passport stamps from every country we’ve visited. Once you’ve answered all of the questions, you’ll be prompted to enter payment.
We were anxious to hear back after applying since the $100 is non-refundable. We read conflicting reports stating the application review process took days, weeks, or months to complete. Ten days after submitting our applications, we each received an email saying that our application status had changed. We logged on together and discovered we were both conditionally approved. Hooray! Except… that’s not all. Once conditionally approved, you have 120 days to schedule an interview at one of the Enrollment Centers.
People who fly frequently may be able to schedule their interview at an enrollment center over their next layover. We were disappointed to find out that the airport we were flying to for our next trip (Indianapolis) does not have an enrollment center. Trying to see the positive side of things, we decided to drive down to Miami for a weekend. The enrollment center in Miami had quite a few openings when we looked, but a quick check of other airports showed that some had appointments few and far between. We settled on two back-to-back appointments at MIA on a Saturday morning.
We wanted to arrive early for our appointment (but not too early – MIA charges $17 per hour for parking!), so we got there about forty minutes ahead of time. I suggest looking at posts online before visiting the airport so you know where to find your enrollment center. Learning that the Global Entry office at MIA is located near the Lufthansa desk beforehand proved very helpful.
Once we found the enrollment center, we walked through the door into a small waiting room with several chairs, and just one person seated. It was strange, as there was no receptionist or signage – just a glass room of chairs, and a door leading to another room with desks. The glass on the wall was frosted, and once a family emerged from the desk area, we could see a very foggy-looking person waving us in. We approached the desk, and they asked for our appointment times and documents. The two gentlemen scanned the items, and the one in front of me asked me if I had any questions about the program. I asked a few (such as where to update my passport information when I replace it), and he answered them (online – in the same place you applied). The next thing I knew he was taking my photo and fingerprints. I was expecting to have to go meet with someone in another room, but it turns out this was the interview. He asked one application confirmation question (“Have you visited Mexico or Canada in the past five years?” “Yes.”) after collecting my biometric information. Michael was asked several additional questions, including naming all countries he’s visited in the past five years, as well as if he’s ever been arrested. I know all of this because we were standing side-by-side at the desk while we were interviewed. This took all of five minutes, and we were done well before our appointments were scheduled to start.
We were informed that we would receive our ID cards in the mail soon (it took just a few days), though you still need your passport in most cases. It does count as another form of government-issued photo ID, which can be helpful for other things. The application number becomes your Known Traveler Number and can be used immediately. They suggested logging in to all of your airline accounts, and entering that number in the personal information so it would apply to all future flights. I was successful in adding my KTN to an already-booked flight and received the benefits after having done so. Once approved, you have access to the program for the next five years – however, we found that it’s not actually five years to the date of approval. Your status expires on your birthday after five years. Since mine had just passed, my Global Entry access will not expire until April 2023; Michael’s will only be valid until June 2022 (2022 edit: Michael’s renewal process was pretty quick and painless; he was not required to return for another interview).
To get the most value out of your membership, wait until just after your birthday passes to book your interview.
So, how did it go the first time we utilized our Global Entry benefits? Pretty well, actually. Global Entry comes with TSA Precheck when available. Unfortunately on our next flight out of MIA, the Precheck line was closed and we had to wait in the regular line, though we were given a special blue card that allowed us to leave our shoes on (though it stated we still had to remove our liquids bag, which is not something you normally have to do with Precheck). On our return flight from Europe, we were able to use the special Global Entry kiosks and access a much shorter line at the Customs check. I claimed food products and was let through very quickly after detailing our purchases. Though we were seated toward the back of our plane, we made it to baggage claim ahead of nearly everyone else on our flight.
So, is Global Entry worth it? Well, we had a good experience on our first use. Though we only leave the country once or twice a year, the TSA Precheck benefits will be helpful on our domestic flights. I think the extra $15 (TSA Precheck alone is $85) will be worth it over the next almost-six years – but time will tell!
Enjoyed this post? You may also like:
- Is Global Entry Worth It?
- 20 Questions You Should Ask a Potential Travel Partner Before You Leave Home
- How to Split Travel Costs When One Person Makes More Money
- 5 Easy Ways to Save Money This Week (for your next trip!)
- What Happens When You Cancel a Non-refundable Trip?
- Dinner Party Survival Kit: 20 Travel-Themed Conversation Starters
- 5 Easy Things You Can Do Today to Save for Your Next Trip
- How I Search for Flights
- 10 Tips for Overcoming Museum Fatigue
- How I’m Approaching Travel Differently in My Thirties
- I won a trip! (Now what?)
- Exclusive Discounts + Promo Codes
Do you have Global Entry? What are your thoughts? Or are you on the fence about it? What’s stopping you from pulling the trigger? Let us know in the comments below!
