Global Entry Interview Availability Warning

[soniam]

DH and I just signed up for Global Entry. There's an interview center here in Austin, but they don't show any availability. I don't know how for out that is though. The site just says no availability. The problem is that you have to schedule the interview within 30 days of receiving approval, but not conduct the interview. San Antonio had a few available appointments on weeknights requiring travel during rush hour, when we looked yesterday. Those are all gone now It almost seems like this is a scam. The government gets your $100 but doesn't make any appointments available. Be sure to search to see how your interview site works. You can't actually see available appointments though, until you pay and get initial approval I see a lot of availability in bigger cities, like Dallas and Houston, but that's not easy for us to get to on a whim with jobs and a child.

 

[ibob52]

Do they accept walk-in's .. without a appointment.

I did TSA PreCheck in San Diego .. I had a appointment but the place was totally empty.

The process was simple and quick .. kind of like getting a license renewed.

Fill out a form .. Hand them a I.D. .. Get a picture taken .. Pay with a credit card.

I do realize Global Entry is a better deal for some .. but I do not have plans of going out of the country.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Are you that it isn't a scam?

You don't normally have to pay to get an interview.

Edit t o add. Thought this was about Global data. Oops

 

[supersnoop]

When I signed my daughter up in March, the earliest interview appointment was four months out. But appointment times open up all the time. We ended up getting one just a month out, on a Saturday, and at AUS, our home airport. Keep checking DFW, Houston, and San Antonio. Something will pop up.

 

[georgina]

Do they accept walk-in's .. without a appointment.

I did TSA PreCheck in San Diego .. I had a appointment but the place was totally empty.

The process was simple and quick .. kind of like getting a license renewed.

Fill out a form .. Hand them a I.D. .. Get a picture taken .. Pay with a credit card.

I do realize Global Entry is a better deal for some .. but I do not have plans of going out of the country.

Global entry requires a 30 minute interview, much more involved than getting TSA precheck. My DH would like to do it, but they don't list our home airport as an interview location; nearest one is a 5 hour drive away!

Did some more digging, a closer airport does have interviews, but very limited hours (like 11 AM to 2 PM). I can see how appointments would be hard to get.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

We just completed our journey to get Global Entry and can verify that it is not a "scam". Setting up the interview, however, can seem to be very daunting.

The important thing is to schedule an interview -- anywhere-- within the first 30 days, even if it's not one you expect to keep. Book as far out as possible at a location with lots of availability. We live 4 hours from an airport with interview locations and had 2 dates at 2 airports which we planned to visit within the next 6 months.

By refreshing the website to book an interview every 5 minutes or so during business hours, we landed a time for my husband on the perfect date in April. One down, one to go.

I then booked an available date in August for myself. I kept checking, however, and 2 days before our trip, I was able to change my appointment to one 2 hours earlier than my husbands. Success!

We actually showed up about half hour earlier than my appointment and were told they would take us when they had time. We were both done before the time of my appointment!

Best of luck to you. -- Suzanne

 

[soniam]

Do they accept walk-in's .. without a appointment.

I did TSA PreCheck in San Diego .. I had a appointment but the place was totally empty.

The process was simple and quick .. kind of like getting a license renewed.

Fill out a form .. Hand them a I.D. .. Get a picture taken .. Pay with a credit card.

I do realize Global Entry is a better deal for some .. but I do not have plans of going out of the country.

It's not apparent if Austin takes walk-ins. We can't find anything on the web, and they don't answer the phone. DH is going to try to go over one day next week to see if they do take walk-ins, since the airport isn't very far from us.

When I signed my daughter up in March, the earliest interview appointment was four months out. But appointment times open up all the time. We ended up getting one just a month out, on a Saturday, and at AUS, our home airport. Keep checking DFW, Houston, and San Antonio. Something will pop up.

Both Austin and San Antonio list nothing. DFW and Houston have availability, but they are 3-4 hours away, which isn't easy to do. If DFW and Houston had been the only places listed, then we probably wouldn't have signed up

We just completed our journey to get Global Entry and can verify that it is not a "scam". Setting up the interview, however, can seem to be very daunting.

The important thing is to schedule an interview -- anywhere-- within the first 30 days, even if it's not one you expect to keep. Book as far out as possible at a location with lots of availability. We live 4 hours from an airport with interview locations and had 2 dates at 2 airports which we planned to visit within the next 6 months.

By refreshing the website to book an interview every 5 minutes or so during business hours, we landed a time for my husband on the perfect date in April. One down, one to go.

I then booked an available date in August for myself. I kept checking, however, and 2 days before our trip, I was able to change my appointment to one 2 hours earlier than my husbands. Success!

We actually showed up about half hour earlier than my appointment and were told they would take us when they had time. We were both done before the time of my appointment!

Best of luck to you. -- Suzanne

Thanks. We did schedule one for Houston in late July and are continually checking. DH is actually going to go to our airport to see if they take walkins. It just makes me angry that they aren't forthcoming about the actual appointments until you have paid them Plus, I don't think they are funding it to have enough agents at all locations. We scheduled appointments in Houston for late July and keep checking back. We have 3 trips this summer, and I was hoping to use for at least one of them. However, that seems unlikely now

 

[supersnoop]

Global entry requires a 30 minute interview, much more involved than getting TSA precheck.

I've only done Global Entry, but it didn't seem like the interview took that long.
"Have you ever been arrested?"
"Have you ever been caught by customs."
"Don't smile for the camera."
"Put your fingers on the scanner."

 

[supersnoop]

nearest one is a 5 hour drive away!

DFW and Houston have availability, but they are 3-4 hours away,

When I scheduled my interview, I checked some locations where I had a layover during a flight. Schedule a longer layover and get it done during a trip.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

When I scheduled my interview, I checked some locations where I had a layover during a flight. Schedule a longer layover and get it done during a trip.

I agree. Or schedule it at your destination airport.

I wouldn't bother having your husband head to the airport to find out if Austin has walk in appointments. Instead, I would keep checking back and when he gets an appointment, go with him. If they take walk ins, you can all knock is down in one trip. If they don't, at least it is 1 down, 2 to go. -- Suzanne

 

[Huff]

Can anyone explain why I have TSA Precheck? I never once signed up for anything. Just started showing up on all my tickets. If I log into my SW account it shows me as TSA Precheck approved but I also end up with precheck when flying other airlines as well. Futhermore, seems that every time I book tickets and fly with others their tickets also are TSA Precheck. Not complaining but for the small amount of flying I do precheck is all I need.

 

[soniam]

When I scheduled my interview, I checked some locations where I had a layover during a flight. Schedule a longer layover and get it done during a trip.

I agree. Or schedule it at your destination airport.

We looked into that, since we have 3 upcoming trips. We were a little concerned about doing it during a layover or at our destination, if the flights are delayed. Plus, some of the traveling is on weekends, holidays, or early, when they aren't open. One trip is to Indianapolis, which doesn't have a center. Maybe our July WDW arrival day would work. MCO seems to have a lot of availability. Plus, that's far enough out, that we may still be able to get Austin.

I wouldn't bother having your husband head to the airport to find out if Austin has walk in appointments. Instead, I would keep checking back and when he gets an appointment, go with him. If they take walk ins, you can all knock is down in one trip. If they don't, at least it is 1 down, 2 to go. -- Suzanne

We will definitely keep checking back to see if even one of us can get one. Heck, I am checking right now I guess I just don't feel hopeful from some the stories I have read on the internet. Jeez, and people thought FP+ and ADRs were hard to get I keep wondering if I can find out when they release new times. I just can't seem to determine the rules like I do with WDW

Thanks for all of advice and moral support.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Can anyone explain why I have TSA Precheck? I never once signed up for anything. Just started showing up on all my tickets. If I log into my SW account it shows me as TSA Precheck approved but I also end up with precheck when flying other airlines as well. Futhermore, seems that every time I book tickets and fly with others their tickets also are TSA Precheck. Not complaining but for the small amount of flying I do precheck is all I need.

You don't have official Pre Check, you are getting it because it is randomly given out. TSA has said they are going to decrease this practice to encourage people to officially sign up, but I don't know if they have.

OP, keep checking for appointment openings; they open up quite frequently. Or try another location.

 

[alliecat523]

Can anyone explain why I have TSA Precheck? I never once signed up for anything. Just started showing up on all my tickets. If I log into my SW account it shows me as TSA Precheck approved but I also end up with precheck when flying other airlines as well. Futhermore, seems that every time I book tickets and fly with others their tickets also are TSA Precheck. Not complaining but for the small amount of flying I do precheck is all I need.

If you have status on certain airlines you get this for free as a perk.

 

[alliecat523]

OP the larger airports do have more staff and therefore more appointments. I did mine at ORD and still had to book a month out but things do open up quite frequently. Keep checking!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I've only done Global Entry, but it didn't seem like the interview took that long.
"Have you ever been arrested?"
"Have you ever been caught by customs."
"Don't smile for the camera."
"Put your fingers on the scanner."

Heck that was a better interview than I had. They handed me a sheet of questions and told me to write the response. Based on the format and amount of space to respond it was evident that this was a listing of questions they were suppose to ask. Then they took my photo and finger prints and sent me on my way LOL! (Renewal was even easier, did it all online!)

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Here's my family's recent timeline for Global Entry application (originally posted on flyer talk):

Recent processing time for my family of 4 (2 under 10)

All of us applied on 3/2/16

All conditionally approved on 3/8 and 3/9 I applied in the afternoon, wife and kids in the evening

Interviews scheduled online for 3/18 at Dulles. 3 of us at 6 PM, 1 at 6:15. Called Dulles enrollment center after using GOES to schedule interviews to check if this how they wanted to handle a family of 4 and they said my set-up was fine.

There were available interview times at Dulles that week, but the next available at the downtown DC enrollment center was three weeks out, and it was a couple months out at BWI.

We arrived 45 minutes early for 3/18 interview. Waited 10 minutes or so to be called in. My wife was listed as guardian (or whatever) on the application, so they took her and my kids at once. I was taken by same agent after he completed the other 3. He said approval of my youngest (age 5) might take longer because his fingerprints might not be legible. Not sure what that means for us going forward.

3 of us approved on 3/18. Wife's came immediately, older child and me came at 9 PM or so
Youngest child approved 3/21 in evening.

3/25: Wife's card arrives in mail; 3/26, next 2; 3/28 youngest one's arrives

4/16: Used GE Kiosks in Nassau

 

[bumbershoot]

I've only done Global Entry, but it didn't seem like the interview took that long.
"Have you ever been arrested?"
"Have you ever been caught by customs."
"Don't smile for the camera."
"Put your fingers on the scanner."

Sounds like DH's interview.

And the thing is, they know the answers already. So it's really just about how you act as you answer them. And if you say anything different than what they know already.

 

[soniam]

@GrnMtnMan I thought children under 12 didn't need to have separate applications. I better go check again. Maybe that was only for TSA precheck.

EDIT: Just checked and TSA Precheck is good for 12 and under. GE requires everyone to be enrolled. We won't be traveling internationally for a while, so I guess we'll go through this again with DS Luckily, he can mooch off of our memberships in the US until then.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you feel done wrong by, write your Congressional Representative. 5 will get you 10 that an aide will call you and tell you that the Representative's office will be able to expedite getting you an appointment at the office of your choice.