Waiting time for global introductory applications in 2025: How long does it take?
It’s been a frustrating few years for travelers applying for global entry, a fast track airport service that helps passengers accelerate through passport control after international flights.
First is the Covid-19 pandemic, which fuels the backlog of numerous applicants waiting to schedule in-person interviews, a requirement to join the program, which is operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. Then, as international travel demand surged, an unprecedented wave of new passengers applied to join.
But logging in to dates can get a little easier.
“Average enrollment times do drop,” Matt Davies, executive director of CBP Acceptability and Passenger Programs, told TPG.
How to apply for a global entry
Travelers applying for global entries must go through a multi-step process.
First, they apply online through CBP’s Trusted Traveler Program Dashboard. Last fall, the program’s tuition fees rose to $120 for five-year membership – although some travel credit cards would pay it back. (Remember that the TSA Precheck lane of Global Inbound Membership Random Airport Security provides access.)
After applying online, members (usually quickly) clear the first barrier to approval, namely “conditional approval.” CBP leaders told me last year that within two weeks, one in five applicants were applied.
But this is the second step – having face-to-face interviews with CBP agents – the biggest get-together for travelers looking to quickly clear the application queue over the past few years.
Read more: Global entrances have received high-tech “booting” upgrades at 7 airports in the United States
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One big reason: pure volume.
In 2019, CBP saw 3.2 million people joining its trusted traveler program at the time, which included services to accelerate travel between the United States and/Canada and/or Mexico (but most applications are globally entered).
Last year, a whopping 4.5 million passengers applied for the programs.
This year, CBP told TPG to be at least 4.2 million more.
Sometimes, this obsession with applying makes landing interview seats challenging for travelers, especially those with fewer windows in their own calendar.
Global entry into waiting time
So, what is the waiting time for global entry today?
If you log into CBP’s Trusted Traveler Program website, you will see the agency’s estimated waiting time other Speed up travel planning. This includes only a few days of waiting time, i.e. an independent TSA Precheck membership.
But for global entry?
“Times vary,” the website said.
Global introductory application waiting time
However, CBP leaders provided some clues when talking to TPG this month: The agency registered on average for 52 days.
“We see that more than 50% of applicants are going through it,” Davies told me, standing within the passport control facility at Fort Dallas Worth International Airport (DFW). “Some of it depends on the applicant actually schedules them for an interview or a trip.”
One thing that can help speed up interviews waiting: CBP is the applicant who sees some of its non-global entrance procedures “even up” – presumably the applicant related to the decline in travel from Canada to the United States
This may free up more agencies for interviews.
What to do if you can’t find a global entry interview date
At the same time, what else can travelers do?
Arrival in Global Admissions Registration
If you are conditionally approved for global admission but have not scheduled an interview, there is another way to skip the longest boundaries.
CBP provides registration for arrivals, which allows you to interview after an international flight controlled by a passport, at dozens of airports offering entry to the world.
Travelers who I hear from using this option usually say it’s a quick and seamless process.
Additionally, two major East Coast airports have already driven new admissions leave While waiting for an upcoming flight, applicants can choose to conduct global entry interviews at the airport.
This service is available at Miami International Airport (MIA) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington.
Check out the first Monday of the month
Historically, CBP released a new interview appointment on the first Monday of the month at 9 a.m. local time, so please remind you to check the slots on your phone.
We should note that there are also some third-party services scans to help you pin your time, but there may be fees – so your best bet may be exhausting your own attempt at finding slots, first.
Visit the interview location while traveling
Sparse options close to home? If you are a frequent family traveler and know you will have some downtime on the go, check if you can access the appointment anywhere.
You can use this CBP tool to search for date time.
Some pockets in the country can have more usability than others.
Another wave is coming?
Looking ahead, CBP expects another global portal application wave – especially for renewals.
Following the historic signing of the program between 2021 and 2025, the unprecedented wave of travelers may regain membership in the coming years as membership runs over the five-year cycle.
Fortunately, renewals today are often a more seamless process than the first application, and often do not require face-to-face interviews.
After submitting an online renewal in the fall of 2023, all my approved visas arrived within a few days. My wife had a similar experience last spring.
CBP is working on new processes to transfer the vast majority of existing members through a rapid renewal process.
“We wanted to get to a very fast point, it was seamless, easy, and really only in the most extreme cases, other than submitting an application before being able to continue with membership,” Davis told me.
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