My Global Entry was up for renewal this year. Rather than schedule an interview appointment and make an extra trip to the airport, I took advantage of the “Enrollment on Arrival” program to knock out my interview at San Francisco International Airpot.
What Is Enrollment on Arrival?
Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) is CBP program that allows Global Entry applicants who are conditionally approved to complete their interviews upon arrival into the United States. The EoA program eliminates the need for a Global Entry applicant to schedule an interview at an enrollment center to complete the application process.
With appointments often difficult to obtain (especially now), taking advantage of an interview on arrival can save you time and hassle.
You can find a list of locations where this service is offered here.
To be clear, you cannot just show up an airport and apply for Global Entry. First apply online here. Once you are conditionally approved, then you can take advantage of the Enrollment on Arrival program.
My Enrollment on Arrival Experience
After arriving at SFO from Frankfurt earlier this month, I proceeded through Global Entry as I normally do. But rather than just exit to baggage claim, I went to the “Enrollment on Arrival” desk (located close to the where the inbound passengers are proceeded), where I found no wait to speak to an agent.
I told her that I was provisionally approved to renew my Global Entry and just needed to complete an interview. She gladly obliged, taking a fresh photograph and set of fingerprints and then going over all the countries I have visited over the last five years (that took quite some time, as you might imagine). She then confirmed my current address…and that was it.
10 minutes…and I’m good for another five years. A new physical card arrived in the mail less than a week after the interview.
Sorry I do not have any pictures, but numerous signs warning against photography prompted me to keep my mobile phone in my pocket…
CONCLUSION
The Enrollment on Arrival process was easy and highly recommended for those applying for Global Entry for the first time or renewing their existing membership. It saved me a lot of time and hassle!
image: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Hope you didn’t get stereotyped or harassed in anyway. I read that white supremacist terrorist were responsible for the most terrorist attacks inside the USA and are considered the greatest risk to national security by the DHS.
We all have to be open eyed and vigilant around white males but don’t go overboard unless you have reason to believe they are a terrorist.
Personally i just hope they all go back to their shithole countries.
Welcome home.
#maga
White American male wants to keep the status quo, shocking.
Right wing militias and white supremacists are the only groups in this country that really scare me because I walk by them on the street and they are unstable and carring a glock in their wasteband. I see it weekly. Some Paki trying to light a shoe on an airplane is something ill never see.
FBI/DHS have identified right-wing White Supremacists as the key domestic terror group we should be worrying about
(interesting how some of that group who used to frequent this blog…somehow aren’t here anymore post-11/3)
I tried to use Enrollment on Arrival recently at JFK Terminal 5 and I was told the “officer who performs the interviews was not available today”. I had to make a regular appointment when I got home.
That’s very annoying!
When I renewed (both times) I was accepted without a subsequent interview. Last time with COVID just ramping up, within 10 days. My wife, a permanent resident, is still Pending Review after months.
The 1 year (instead of 6 months) extension I hope gets us on the other side of COVID.
My issue is that I was conditionally approved for NEXUS renewal but the locations have been closed for months. They keep extending the extension (now through March 21) but I can’t do that on arrival and the Canadian border remains closed for all nonessential travel. Thankfully my PreCheck and global entry keeps extending as well.
My wife and I have that same problem. We applied for NEXUS at the same time so we could cross into Canada faster (we live near Seattle). She got approved a month later (in April) and I was only approved in October. But now there are no appointments available anywhere (there were a few in Minnesota last month but we’re not going to drive all the way there just to do this).
She also applied for Global Entry. After she was conditionally approved we went to Seattle-Tacoma Intl Airport without an appointment, figuring it was worth a try. The fellow took her, and her card came two weeks later. I already had it. That will speed us coming BACK from Canada if we ever get there again, but we need NEXUS to avoid the 45-minute wait to enter Canada.
My Global Entry was due to expire in September filled out the updated paperwork in August.
Received a conditional approval 3 weeks later and before I could even look for an appointment received the new card in the mail not needing to interview again.
Flying back into lax (terminal 7) next week and trying to do my interview for the first time getting global entry. Do I still clear normal customs first or do I go straight to the global entry line? Confused if the interview is done before or after clearing with an agent
Proceed directly to the Global Entry line.
According to your experience of EoA at SFO airport, that you went to “Enrollment on Arrival” desk by following the direction instruction sign “Global Entry” path?
My renewal application has been Under Review for almost 4 months now.
How you get such a good story, my was a nightmare i have to wait for almost 2 1/2 hours some people was getting tired of waiting, some just get up and leave this happened on MIA I got a connection and i almost not making on time, there was not order i saw people getting there and almost got there interviewed immediately, when ask why that was happening the rude cbp just said “i can give you you passport back, leave and try another day”
For anyone looking to schedule an interview for Global Entry at SFO Office:
https://mobile.twitter.com/GOESbot
This bot lets you know when a slot opens due to any cancellations. I was able to get my interview in a couple of days and am very thankful to whoever has coded the bot (it’s on git) and is continuing to host it – thank you!
The LAX bot isn’t working:
https://mobile.twitter.com/goesbotlax?lang=en
Used the interview on arrival at EWR a couple years ago for my renewal and my wife’s initial application. It wasn’t so much an interview for me as he just typed some things on the computer and said I was good to go. My wife, who is British, had a bit more of an interview, but it was still an easier process than my initial interview in 2014 in Seattle.
Has anyone used the Austin Bergstrom airport using the Invterview on Arrival? If so, how was your experience?
My interview was different. Just why I wanted it (easy, speedier check out) and a mini lecture to declare all food or there would be worse penalties for trusted travelers.
I did on arrival DFW in September. 2 mins and I was done. This was my first Global Entry, also was provisional approved in 2 days in April. Quick and easy, let’s see how my renewal goes in 5 years.
Mine expired earlier this year and I had no recourse to renew it. My passport had expired and covid shutdown all passport work so I was stuck. But…this just means I’ll get to fly somewhere like ABQ for an easily found interview time.
I renewed online, too, and got the same provisional approval. My nearest airport is Dubai so it will be a while before I can go (I live in Thailand). Kind of unfair that they charge the $100 up front.
After applying for renewal back in February, 2020, I just received notification of full approval with no interview.
My question (which I cannot find an answer for) is what if I want a new card? The letter sent to me says there is no requirement for a card except land crossings between Mexico/Canada and the US. I like to have a card as a spare ID in case anything happens to my Driv Lic
I’ll be going to toronto then back to Lax, where do i avail of the enrollment upon arrival?
In Toronto at Pre-Clearance facility.