I highlighted the 18-month potential delays for new Global Entry applications, and ways to beat it last week. But since using the Appointment Scanner service, there’s nothing I’d more emphatically recommend.
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Delays, Staffing Shortages, COVID – Oh My!
Like seemingly every other aspect of the world right now, shortages – be them supplies, or people – are causing delays though in this case, it’s at the Department of Homeland Security’s Trusted Traveler Programs. Global Entry allows pre-screened passengers to bypass the lines at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by submitting to an in-person interview with CBP staff.
However, the two-part process first requires application processing including an extensive background check followed by conditional approval for the aforementioned interview. While some readers remarked last week that their path to Global Entry approval was faster than the potential 18-month processing period the agency had warned, many have expressed they endured extensive wait times during the process.
Additionally, as I mentioned last week, I was due for renewal during the pandemic and missed my window for Global Entry renewal, meaning that I had to go through the process from scratch. As a result, not only was my Global Entry membership revoked, but so too were my TSA Precheck benefits.
Appointment Scanner Saves The Day
Global Entry interviews are hard to come by. Small to medium markets have even fewer agents, fewer appointments, and may have a limited opportunity to participate in enrollment on arrival. I mentioned Appointment Scanner, a service that helps travelers that have applied for Global Entry and received conditional approval search for options as they become available. Many cancel or reschedule their appointments but checking the site constantly is an exhausting process.
I selected three airports that were easy for me to reach, one of which offers online appointments conducted via video conferencing. Within an hour of signing up, I had a few options texted (and emailed) to me that had become available. Some were not great options (too far, too soon, or when I already had other commitments) but I stuck with it.
One came in for Pittsburgh, my home airport, just a few weeks out. I attempted to snag it but was too slow (some are gone almost instantly.) I got another couple of opportunities and finally snagged one a few weeks out. Then, several others (as soon as one day before, and a virtual appointment) came open and I was able to improve my position considerably.
I found that my ability to capture an opening was best later in the evening when most might have been busy or asleep. At a certain point, so many appointment opportunities among my listed airports were coming in that I continued to monitor them for slightly better opportunities, but mostly dismissed them, happy that I had captured one that worked for me.
Worth Its Weight In Gold
I was a little skeptical of Appointment Scanner’s service initially for both its performance (would it send me alerts quick enough) and the government’s willingness to release space. The service, which does not renew monthly, charges $29 and allows up to 100 alerts sent and up to three airports.
Initially, while I was conditionally approved, there were no opportunities to secure an appointment at a reasonably close airport even including the entire state of Florida and all online appointments. I had grown concerned after I applied for renewal but failed to move to the interview stage due to both waiting and difficulty securing an appointment (despite a lengthy extension and grace period.)
Admittedly, I first tried to just do it myself, checking and rechecking, then refreshing the browser for new opportunities but found it to be futile. While I wouldn’t want Appointment Scanner to increase its price, it was certainly worth more than $29 to me because of the time it gave me back and the ability to move my appointment when something better came along.
While I would not let my renewal application lapse again, this was a great experience and I would repeat it. Further, for those who might be securing an appointment for multiple applicants, the fee doubles, triples, or even quadruples its value as group appointments through CBP can be arranged for traveling families but only one appointment is needed.
Conclusion
Pro tip: don’t sleep on renewing your Global Entry membership as I did. But if you did, or it’s your first time applying, Appointment Scanner is an easy cheat code you can apply during historic record applications to the service. I have little confidence I would be able to secure an interview and ultimately a trusted traveler number without it.
What do you think? Have you used Appointment Scanner? How was your experience?
Used this for both myself and my wife—completely agree! Such an awesome tool.
I could not get a renewal appointment until June 2023. Instead, last week, I used the new program that permits conditionally approved Global Entry renewals to occur when you are reentering the US from a foreign country. This service is available at at dozens of US airports.
After clearing immigration in Houston, before leaving immigration area, I was sent to a specific Officer, was photographed, fingerprinted, and told I was approved in less than than five minutes.
This is a great and easy way to renew Global Entry with no appointment.
I agree with everything you’ve said…
In addition, “Global Entry Now” is also a great website, that is free, and updates every two minutes. I secured two coveted spots at AUS with 2 days notice. I’m so glad my moron friends finally have GE.
Hi, I agree with you with everything you said, but the problem is not only with Global Entry, its also with Sentry as well, sadly it’s a worst-case, I have been waiting for 6 months already for my card renewal. They have several technical issues with their website, I’ve tried to paying for renewal before my expiration date, but every time when I click the button to do my payment, right after that, always appears this “sorry but there was a technical problem” please try again in a few minutes error code …. I even have an screen shoot of it. I called with supervisor from the sentri office from where I live, he telling me there it was a lot people complaining about the problem, he was very sorry for what it happened to me, but sadly it was nothing he could do for me, my only hope it was just to get my renewal back sooner. I can’t believed it, this happens in USA too, I have always thought this kind of situations only happened in México where I was Born, but I found out it happens here too. Thank you, GOD BLESS YOU.
The waiting period for an appoint for this program is a total [redacted by admin] show. You take ones hard earned money and not enough personnel to facilitate the interview process? What a scam and someone higher up needs to look into this quickly. This is simply not acceptable and we shouldn’t be quiet about it.
I do have appointments in June 2023. Will this help me get something sooner?
@MediaMark – Yes sir. I have improved my position several times.
I inadvertently allowed hubby’s Global Entry to expire in late 2021. He spent many minutes (or hours?!?) searching for an available interview spot within a daytrip’s drive, which included six airports. He finally got lucky and was able to schedule an interview two weeks ahead at an airport only a 3-hour drive from home.
Even though I later renewed my GE eight months early (renewal allowed within in 12 months before expiration), I also was required to complete an interview. Unable to schedule an appointment sooner than seven months away at a distant airport, I attempted Enrollment on Arrival when I arrived at DFW on an international flight in February 2022. Unfortunately I arrived one hour too late to be granted an EOA interview.
I pursued EOA again at MIA in April 2022 after an early international arrival (5: 30 AM). I was denied at first until an authorized officer stepped up and agreed to give me an interview. Whew! Valid for another five years by which time I hope the renewal system improves.
Tip #1: Take note of your expiration date. I had assumed the date was five years after a Global Entry membership is approved. Your expiration is tied to your birthdate (similar to most drivers licenses), not issuance/approval date as passports are.
Tip #2: The current 2-year extension of Global Entry benefits applies **ONLY** if you begin the renewal process **BEFORE** your membership expires. I began hubby’s renewal process a month _after_ his GE expired. After been forced to use the regular TSA and Immigration lines for a single international trip, hubby was highly motivated to find a renewal interview opening asap.
Get Nexus, and you get GE for half the price.
Downside is you have to do your Nexus application and interview at (larger) Canadian airports or border crossing. but if you’re close to the border, or flying to Canada anyway, do it.
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/application-demande-eng.html
I’m a newbie to GE, and as much as I would love to use Appointment Scanner, I still can’t seem to get conditional approval. To top that I don’t think I’ve even been waiting nearly long enough to try and escalate it. Can anyone here tell me if there’s a quicker way to get conditional approval? Thanks in advance!
@N Carter: Check out this post from last week. There are some tips there, but the fastest is probably to contact your congressional representative or senator. They have a simple process and it hurries it along rather quickly: https://liveandletsfly.com/global-entry-delays/