If you've been thinking about applying for Global Entry, you're not alone. The expedited re-entry program via U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been receiving a record high in applications lately, meaning it can currently take 4-6 months for your Global Entry application to process.
As if the process wasn't already arduous. Global Entry costs $100 to apply for and includes TSA PreCheck®, assuming you're approved after the background check and lengthy application. Following that, applicants typically need an in-person appointment to verify eligibility. Interview appointment slots for enrollment centers open up on the first Monday of every month by 9am local time, but can be difficult to schedule, and often, inconvenient.
Luckily, first-time applicants who are active travelers are now encouraged to take advantage of an Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) option. Available at 65 airports, this shortcut allows a conditionally approved Global Entry traveler to interview with a CBP officer upon arrival back in the U.S. at the international terminal.
To complete the EoA interview, you'll need a valid passport, plus documents proving your residency (such as a driver's license or utility bill) and a permanent resident card, if applicable.
“Given the unprecedented demand and continued interest in TTP, CBP is at an inflection point, where we must provide consistent, efficient, and accessible processing methods for applicants to select an appropriate enrollment option,” said Michael Millich, TTP Director in a statement. “This includes ensuring a coordinated release of interview appointments on a recurring basis. CBP must remain accountable to the traveling public and should proactively open and immediately fill additional interview appointment slots while engaging in other capacity-enhancing activities such as mobile enrollment events and blitzes to meet established processing goals.”
Once approved, Global Entry lasts for five years and must be renewed before it expires to not lose the benefits.