Hi there, it's Ernest from Trip Astute. In this video, we're going to review a quick
tip on getting your Global Entry approved using a process known as
Enrollment on Arrival.
(light chiming music)
One of the biggest frustrations with Global Entry is
completing the final step of the process which involves having an interview with
Customs and Border Protection. I covered a tip in our Global Entry video where I
recommended that folks constantly scan for new appointment times on the CBP
website. I know a lot of folks, including myself, were surprised when they received
their conditional approval only to find out that the earliest available
interview slot was four months away. Plus, once you get an appointment, you're often
stuck with an inconvenient time. I know that getting to the airport during a
work day can be tough. especially here in Los Angeles. So last summer,
CBP started piloting an option called enrollment on arrival at five airports
and it's since grown to 39 locations. The program basically allows you to complete
your interview when you return from an international trip once you receive your
conditional approval for Global Entry. That's where your application and
background check are approved and you're just waiting to complete the final
interview. All you have to do to take advantage of the program is to follow
the Enrollment on Arrival signs when returning from an international flight.
The CBP officer will then complete the interview as you go through the normal
customs and entry process. It's that simple and you don't need anything other
than your passport and one other form of official ID when going through the
interview. Your conditional approval for Global Entry should be recorded with
your passport number, so you won't need to provide any documentation showing
your status. For those of you that might be on the fence about getting Global
Entry, I highly suggest getting it even if you don't travel internationally very
often. That's because Global Entry includes TSA
PreCheck which makes going through the security line on both domestic and
international flights so much easier. In fact, TSA PreCheck costs $85 and Global
Entry costs $100, so for only $15 extra, you're getting the ability to expedite
your entry back into the US. Again, I recommend checking out our video on
Global Entry to learn more about the program. Also, if you have a premium
travel credit card you can often get reimbursed for your enrollment fee.
Lastly, if you're looking for a free way to expedite the entry process from an
international trip, check out the Mobile Passport program. I still think that
Global Entry is better, but there are some compelling situations where Mobile
Passport might work better for you, like if you're traveling with a group where
not everyone has Global Entry. This includes families traveling together who
can't use Global Entry because their kids aren't enrolled in the program. As
always, here are some tips to keep in mind for those of you that may be
interested in the Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival. Number 1: You
don't need to make an appointment. This program is meant to be used on a walk-in
basis. This means that no appointment is necessary or even allowed. It's really as
simple as just finding the right lane at customs. Number 2: You have one year to
complete your interview once you're conditionally approved. You
obviously want to get your interview completed sooner so you can take
advantage of the benefit, but keep in mind that you can wait up to 365 days
after your conditional approval to complete the interview. This is helpful
to know in case you want to time your interview with an upcoming international
trip. Number 3: Give yourself extra time if processing through Canada. You'll
notice that there are six airports in Canada that can complete the Enrollment
on Arrival interview. That's because you go through US Customs on the Canadian
side rather than in the US. This means that if you're traveling from Canada to
the US and you want to complete your interview, give yourself extra time since
you'll need to board your flight after you go through the process. In fact, this
goes for any flights from Canada to the US. I've only missed a flight once in my
entire life and it was from Montreal to Los Angeles. The customs and immigration
control line was really long and I didn't make it to the gate in time. So
give yourself a buffer. Have you tried the Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival
program? If so, please share your experience below. We hope you enjoyed
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travel safe and travel smart.