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The Street

Michael Tedder

There's a New Hack that Lets You Get Global Entry Quicker

Global Entry

Global Entry is the frequent flier’s best friend.

If you are returning from an overseas trip, Global Entry will allow you to enter a separate line where you can waltz through customs in a matter of minutes, a process which can sometimes take hours if the lines are long enough and customs agents have a lot of people to attend to.

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Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) trusted traveler program that expedites your return from international flights. The application process involves filling out the required forms online, submitting to a background check, and paying the $100 application fee.

(Credit cards such as Capital One will cover this fee with some promotions.)

From there, you have to schedule an in-person interview at the airport, and don’t forget to bring proof of residence like a bill. After that, you will have to wait to get approved.

Once you are approved, you will receive a special number you can enter every time you book a flight, and as a bonus, you will also be approved for TSA PreCheck, which will allow you to enter a quicker security line for domestic flights that often takes less than five minutes to complete.

However, because of the pandemic, there’s been a backlog of preliminary approvals, following a seven-month pandemic scheduling pause. Right now the current processing time for Global Entry is taking up to 18 months, and one of the biggest holdups is securing an interview.

But if you filed an application, paid the fee, and underwent a background check and have received preliminary approval, which means you are ready for an interview, and if you have international travel coming up, then you are eligible to complete Global Entry on arrival. This program allows people returning to the United States from an international trip to complete their interview with Customs and Border Control in select airports, no appointment needed.

How To Do Global Entry on Arrival

In order to do the Global Entry on Arrival program, first off bring your U.S. passport, and if you have more than one passport, bring ‘em all. You will also need proof of residency, usually a bill of some kind. (Minors are not required to have this, by the way.)

If you are in an airport that has Global Entry on Arrival, head to the immigration center and look for an Enrollment on Arrival office. From there, an agent will ask you a few questions, such as what countries you’ve visited recently and will take your fingerprints.

After the interview, which will take about 10 minutes, you will receive your Global Entry Card, which includes your membership number, in about a week. So this hack might not save you time on your upcoming trip, but it will be helpful for all international trips henceforth.

A Global Entry Card is good for five years.

The following airports offer the Global Entry on Arrival program:

Austin-Bergstrom (AUS)

Abu Dhabi (AUH)

Baltimore/Washington (MWI)

Bermuda L.F. Wade (BDA)

Boston Logan (BOS)

Buffalo Niagara (BUF)

Calgary (YYC)

Charlotte Douglas (CLT)

Chicago Midway (MDW)

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG)