I thought I would pass this along, things I learned, even though it was in 2020. I tried applying for a 'Global Entry' pass (in 2020), and everywhere I looked - every airport around me where they book appointments for the 'interview', was booked solid. KC, St Louis, Denver, Mpls, even DFW. For months I tried, no luck, THEN I got lucky, booked a date, and got my pass. HERE is what I learned, how it works: Each location marks ALL of them as 'booked' for months in advance - but they are not really booked. What I was told when I got my pass is, each location (airport) 'opens them up' on different calendar dates. In my case, when I booked at KC Airport, they 'opened up the dates' on the 15th of the month, and the last day of the month - and I just happened to check on a 15th, and I snagged one. I was lucky - two days after I did 'the interview' they closed the KC office because they were sending the TWO Border Patrol agents that ran it to the border to help with the illegal immigrant problem. Maybe things have changed, my point is, if you are trying to get a Global Entry Pass and run into this issue, just keep checking every day... PS - the 'interview' was a joke, all they really did was take my fingerprints, I was there for five minutes at most.
Maybe a 'renew' is different from a first-time application? As I said, maybe things have changed. Mine does not expire until mid-2025, but I know I can renew it up to a year in advance. Folks, another thing to look at is your Credit Card - mine pays for a TSA Precheck or a Global Entry fee every five years.
Mine expires next year. Yes AMEX will pay it. Also United 1K will offer free Clear yearly service which I have also. It does help if you have a long Pre-check line of people waiting. But, one thing surprised me about CLEAR the other day. I've used clear before and they take you to the front of the line. But I had pre-check before this last flight on Condor Air. The boarding pass didn't have Precheck on it. So I do the Clear thing and after all that, they just put me in the line for non-precheck. I'm like -- so why did I just go through all of this to stand in another line? I didn't argue because the line was pretty short. But I really questioned the purpose of Clear. Clear is not "pre-check". ALSO I had to renew my passport quickly in a couple of weeks. I'm shocked at how much it costs now to do expedited service. All told with the Gov fees about $1000. If you do it the slow way that might take 2-3 months its like $300 all in. So check your passport. If its going to expire in 6 months of your trip they might not accept it. Mine was going to expire in 2 months so I pushed getting it before the trip.
Couple personal perspectives. We had Clear. Then the lines were longer than First Class or TSA pre. Bob, at LAS we see 30-40 people in the CLEAR line. For our Global Entry, we had to go to Charlotte, 3 hours away. We couldn't get an appointment as Whisky noted, so I called. Found out they "DUMP" their openings the 1st of very month. We got our appointments that way, Interview was 5 minutes. We just had our passports renewed and did not pay for expedited service and got the new ones back in 3 weeks.
Bob, I agree with Keith, you wasted a lot of money. I renewed my passport through normal channels in February and it only took 6 weeks. A friend of ours got hers in 4 weeks renewing in March. The pandemic backlog has disipated. As far as Global Entry, it is useless for us. I could travel outside the US with carry on, but there is no f'ing way my wife can do that. We always fly first class or business if first is not available. So we are first to customs, go through as fast as and even faster than Global Entry and first to the baggage carousel. They always put a"Priority" tag on our checked luggage. I think that signals the baggage handlers to fudgettaboudit. So people at the back of the plane and without Global Entry get their bags the same time we do. Unless you have just carry on, or you are in coach, Global Entry is not a time saver.
I needed it in 10 days. Got it in six. My own fault for forgetting. I knew it was coming up but didn’t want to take a chance traveling to Europe with a passport expiring in 2 months. Yes a waste— but my own fault still the State Dept fees were $190 alone.
As an old expression goes, lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. Got it, we've all been there!
Yes, ALWAYS make sure your 'known traveler ID number' or whatever it is called is printed on ALL of your tickets. If it is not there you CANNOT write it in. Back in 2016, one of the ladies that was going to Europe with us - noticed her passport was expiring - but she noticed it just 10 days before were were flying out. So she did the expedited thing with someone in San Francisco (we are in Omaha) that 'stood in line' for her to get it renewed, but in the meantime they said she would not get it in time to make the flight we were all on, so she cancelled her flight and booked another one, that alone cost her a small fortune. Also, I think her costs for the expedited Passport was something like $350. ANYWAY, after doing all this, getting the flights changed for her, we are at her house loading up her husband to go to the airport, and yes, as we are standing there, Fed/Ex pulls up - with her new Passport....
When you get a new passport or a new global entry card, be sure to go online and enter the new # on the global entry website, otherwise the g.e. kiosk won't work.
My wife and I have our Global Entry interviews next week near LAX. Where do I go online to enter my KTN after we get our cards? Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
I had to contact my senator, my application got denied a few years ago, then has been stuck for reapplication for a year, after I messaged senator, application got conditional approval within two weeks
https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/ Then update your account with your passport #. It may already be populated, but you'll need to do it manually when your passport is renewed.
I also had to do the expedited passport that they said would take 2-3 weeks, it took 7 and missed a trip to Canada so was a waste of money. Anyone looking for expedited, do it as quickly as possible.
Actually, I Had thought of that and had already verified it, why the hell I said 'I had not that of that', I have no idea... ANY place you book tickets thru, for example, if you book thru United thru Expedia, American thru Kayak, Delta thru Hotwire, make sure whoever you booked with AND the airline has your KTN, and after you book, go back in a day or two later and make sure your KTN is on ALL of your tickets, EVERY connecting flight...
The new kiosk is even faster and easier! Anyone that travels should have this! I have had it since easy 2000's (as I used to spend about 200+ days abroad for work). As people have said, make sure you enter your KTN on all bookings and in your profiles. Super easy. This last trip to Italy in April, coming home took 5 seconds with no passport or prints, just facial imaging if I remember correctly (was exhausted). That was in Newark. You can also add your plate for us in the south to go and come from Mexico in the special line when driving!
My wife and I had our in person GE interviews yesterday. We had to go to La Cienega Blvd near LAX. We arrived an hour early due to no traffic going there. They took us right in and 5 minutes later we were walking out. It was a few basic questions, fingerprints and a picture. The location was very easy to find with huge signage and a lot of parking. Last night we both got our approval emails and are waiting for our cards I the mail. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
There is Clear, and there is also Clear Pre Check, which is for those with both Clear and TSA Pre (a MUCH shorter line). If you look at the latest Clear app, they are now offering TSA clearance as part of their services. Bring your passport to a clear station and they will get you TSA pre as well. I didn’t have time to research it, but it appears our government has allowed Clear to offer these services. Check the Clear app for more information.
Correct. Because I always had pre-check they took me to the front of the pre-check line. But I can see the advantage of Clear. I've been in O'hare and the line can be ridiculous, especially on a Friday or a holiday. So clear will take you to the front of that line and pass up maybe 100 people. So it can save you time. But is not pre-check.
I forgot to mention: When I did my GE 'interview', their fingerprint machine would not work. I got it to work. I was not going to come back 200 miles again (each way) just to do fingerprints. I don't recall them asking me anything other than how long I lived at my current address...
