How to Apply For Global Entry

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Benefits of Global Entry

Wondering how to apply for Global Entry? Let’s be honest, air travel these days can be kind of an annoying pain in the…ahem. Getting to the airport two or even three hours early only to wait in ridiculously long security lines and still be stressed about making your flight on time. And then there’s the whole immigration line that takes forever when you return to the US from international trips. Enter Global Entry!

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Global Entry eliminates the paperwork and processing lines when you’re re-entering the United States and includes access to expedited entry benefits in select other countries. It also comes with TSA PreCheck®, which means greatly reduced security lines at participating airports.

How to Apply For Global Entry

• Visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website and confirm your eligibility for Global Entry. U.S. Citizens, permanent residents, and residents of about a dozen other countries are eligible.
• Create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account, you’ll use this to apply for Global Entry.
• Complete the Global Entry application and pay the $100 non-refundable fee. Many travel credit cards, like the Capital One Venture X card [referral link], offer Global Entry benefits that will reimburse your application fee. More on that below!
• Your application will then be reviewed by Customs and Border Patrol. This can take anywhere from days to months and there seems to be little rhyme or reason as to why it takes so long for one person versus another person.
• Once your application is conditionally approved, you’ll need to schedule your interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. These centers can be found at most major airports throughout the U.S. Interviews can be notoriously hard to get, booking several months out. I’ll share tips on how to fast-track the process in the next section!
• Bring the necessary documentation and complete your interview! Note that your interview requires digital fingerprinting and your photo will be taken. What I didn’t realize is that said photo will appear on your Global Entry card. I thought it was simply for them to compare on the back end and let’s just say that I was not looking my best on interview day! #Regrets Once you’re approved, your Global Entry is valid for five years.

How to get a Global Entry Interview

• Look for an appointment in the Customs and Border Patrol Global Entry appointment scheduling tool. If your closest airport doesn’t have any appointments available, consider if there are any other airports within reasonable driving distance that you’d be willing to go to. For example, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is my primary airport, but I was able to secure an appointment sooner at nearby Sanford International Airport (SFB).
• You can also consider completing your Global Entry interview upon arrival back into the U.S. from abroad. The Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) program allows conditionally approved applicants to complete their interviews upon arrival at participating airports in the U.S. from international destinations. Note that this is a first-come-first-served process and you may end up waiting a significant amount of time to complete the process.
• The fee-based app Appointment Scanner checks for last-minute interview cancellations and sends alerts when appointments open up at your desired airport. So if your schedule is flexible enough that you can head to a last-minute appointment and you don’t mind spending a little cash, Appointment Scanner can save you several months of waiting time.

How to Use Global Entry

When you land in the U.S. and approach the Immigration area, look for signs that say Global Entry. Global Entry kiosks vary, but after scanning your passport you may get your photo taken or the machine may simply scan your face. Additionally, you may have to digitally scan your fingerprints. The kiosks are very user-friendly and will talk you through the exact steps you need to take. Once you’ve completed those steps, you’ll continue to the CBP officer.

Upon my recent arrival at Miami Airport I had to scan my passport and the kiosk scanned my face. The kiosk then directed me to continue to the CBP officer. The officer looked at me, glanced at his iPad (presumable comparing my face to a photo), and waved me through before I even came to a full stop in front of him.

How to Use TSA PreCheck®

One of the other major benefits of Global Entry is that it includes TSA PreCheck®. It’s worth noting that you can apply for TSA PreCheck® on its own and the interviews are easier to get, but if you travel internationally, Global Entry is definitely worth the extra cost and effort. The cost difference between the two is minimal: $78 for TSA Pre-Check® versus $100 for Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck®). But if your travel credit card benefit covers the fee it’s really a non-issue.

So how do you use TSA PreCheck®? Before your flight, you’ll need to log in to your airline’s website and add the Known Traveler Number (sometimes referred to as your KTN) that you received upon Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® approval to your profile or to your flight itinerary. This varies by airline, but it’s been a fairly straightforward process with the carriers I’ve flown. Once that’s done, the TSA PreCheck® logo will appear on your boarding pass whether it’s a mobile or a physical boarding pass.

When you arrive at airport security look for the TSA PreCheck® line (hint: they’ll be much shorter than the regular lines). The agent will verify your passport and ID and you’ll proceed through security without having to take off your shoes or remove your laptop or liquids from your bag. Let me tell you, it’s a game-changer!

What Credit Cards Offer Global Entry Credits?

Before we go any further, I’ll say this: use credit responsibly. Travel credit cards aren’t actually beneficial if you carry a balance and pay interest. With that out of the way two of my favorite travel credit cards, the Capital One Venture X and the American Express Platinum have Global Entry credits.

The Venture X card provides a $100 credit once every four years that can be used for Global Entry or TSA Pre Check®. The card does carry a $395 annual fee, however between the Global Entry benefit and other benefits the card offers like a $300 annual travel credit, it basically pays for itself if you’re even a semi-regular traveler.

The current sign-up bonus will get you points worth a minimum of $750 once you meet the initial spend requirement. Learn more here.

The American Express Platinum card is another annual fee-based card that offers Global Entry credits. The annual fee is steeper, coming in at $695 per year, but can be offset by the myriad credits the card offers, including Global Entry. A few notable ones are: $100/year statement credit from Saks Fifth Avenue (be sure to use Rakuten for cash back when shopping Saks online) and a $15/month credit for Uber and Uber Eats (use code eats-lorib3124ue at checkout for $20 off your first order).

Both cards will get your airport lounge access, which is a nice way to kill the time you would have otherwise spent in airport security lines. Fill up on free food and drink before your flight to get the most bang for your buck!

Happy travels!

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