How long for TSA pre approval check?

[luvgoing2disney]

My DW has the TSA pre approval check and I am going to get it for myself. She actually did not apply---one trip the approval was just already on her status, so we have no knowledge how long the process takes. Anyone have an idea?

 

[rwdavis2]

Your wife will have to apply if she has not already. So will you. TSA had been assigning pre check at random for a while. Just because she had it once does not mean she will get it again unless she pays the $85 and applies for it. Other wise after you go in for the finger prints and id check it takes 1-2 days for tsa to issue your Known Traveller Number.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

Your wife will have to apply if she has not already. So will you. TSA had been assigning pre check at random for a while. Just because she had it once does not mean she will get it again unless she pays the $85 and applies for it. Other wise after you go in for the finger prints and id check it takes 1-2 days for tsa to issue your Known Traveller Number.

That may be correct but she has had it our last four flights. She has a business trip in a couple of weeks so we will see if she still has it for that trip.

 

[Tinkermommy]

Just because she gets it often doesn't mean she is in the program. I have gone on numerous flights in a row and gotten it then suddenly I don't.

I travel often and get it quite regularly but I am still going to apply for Global Entry which also gives you Pre_check.

 

[Eastern]

You fill out the online application and pay a nonrefundable fee, then it takes about a week to get a notice to schedule appointment. In NJ, I was not able to make an appointment until a month later. It is really busy at the EWR Global Entry office. Once you go for the appointment, your precheck number is ready that day via email, but you have to wait to get the card, about a week, and then activate it. I got Global Entry because it was only $15 more. The programs are described on the GOES site.

So it took me about 6 weeks start to finish. ymmv

 

[TechieRose]

Piling on...you cannot assume that you will to continue to have pre-check even if you have in the past without the Known traveler number. As an example after some of the serious security issues abroad they pulled back all Pre-Check for individuals without known traveler numbers. I have NEXUS since I live close to Canada and wanted to go across the border easily. You have to submit the application on the site and then once approved you have to go in for the interview. I actually had to schedule multiple months out for my interview before I could get approved. It really seems to depend on how major of a city you are trying to schedule the interview in.

 

[mom2travel]

Just because she gets it often doesn't mean she is in the program. I have gone on numerous flights in a row and gotten it then suddenly I don't.

I travel often and get it quite regularly but I am still going to apply for Global Entry which also gives you Pre_check.

Same. Both my DD and I have it randomly (and never at the same time!). I could have it 4 trips in a row and then not again for a while. Applying for global entry is on my to-do list

 

[Carriemel]

I work for TSA.

I can safely assure the OP that you must purchase PreCheck for 85 dollars for 5 years, or the global entry for 100 to be guaranteed to get it every time. Just because you receive it one, two, three times in a row, is not a guarantee that you will have it every time. The only way you can be assured of getting it every time is with the purchase of PreCheck. You may have lucked out for those few consecutive times, but I will all but promise you won't have it every time.

 

[Albort]

You fill out the online application and pay a nonrefundable fee, then it takes about a week to get a notice to schedule appointment. In NJ, I was not able to make an appointment until a month later. It is really busy at the EWR Global Entry office. Once you go for the appointment, your precheck number is ready that day via email, but you have to wait to get the card, about a week, and then activate it. I got Global Entry because it was only $15 more. The programs are described on the GOES site.

So it took me about 6 weeks start to finish. ymmv

ymmv most definitely... i got mine in 10 days start to finish... :]

a week def for background check. i thought Precheck doesnt require an interview... i could be wrong.

 

[ibob52]

TSA Pre https://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/apply

Global Entry https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

 

[luvgoing2disney]

Ok sounds like a double pre check is on the list for us. Thanks!

 

[low-key]

I often get it, even though i never applied for it, they do it randomly ? I thought it was cause Im sexy

 

[fly girl]

You probably know, but just in case -- even if you have Pre-Check they do randomly select people to go through regular screening. It's a bummer when you are the "chosen one."

And for some bizarre reason whenever we go to Orlando, TSA pre-check line is twice as long as regular. Last three times we went to the regular line because of it. The TSA agent asked why we were not in pre-check line, a quick point to the lengthy wait and they nodded their head in agreement with our choice.

 

[low-key]

I think if its has been predetermined that you have stinky feet you should automatically get pre check

 

[Eastern]

ymmv most definitely... i got mine in 10 days start to finish... :]

a week def for background check. i thought Precheck doesnt require an interview... i could be wrong.

As I said, I got Global Entry since it was only $15 more. Some Global Entry processing centers may be less busy than Newark. The links posted above describe the differences.

It's expensive for what you get, but the last several times we flew, the precheck line moved so much faster than the regular line. Regular checkin was terrible in EWR. It is good at some cruise ports as well.

 

[ariel71]

I think it was maybe 10 business days between my application and the first available appointment at the location near me and then another 5-7 business days or so between the appointment and the issuance of my KTN. When O'Hare is your home airport, the equivalent of $15/year is well worth it.

There are lots of threads about PreCheck - head over to the Transportation forum and do a search.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

Thanks for the thread advice. i had mot even thought of going over there as it is not one of the boards I have ever gone to! Good advice

 

[longboard55]

we just did this, you make an appointment at the TSA office, which was at out local airport, , and they said 3-7 days. We have been getting precheck most of the time but not everytime. Our last trip we did not and waited a long time so we went ahead and applied. $85 for 5 years. Now since I was in the waiting room for a while, I did learn this does not apply to interntational and for that card you need to go to customs. If you have the international card it covers TSA precheck as well but TSA has nothing to do with international so don't ask.

 

[tvguy]

If you got Pre-Check and did not apply for it, it was basically a free trial. It is their way of marketing it to get more people to spend the money to sign up.
Last 4 trips I took I was part of a party of 4, and at least one of us got Pre-Approval, but never all, and never the same person. It did save the person with Pre-Approval a few minutes, but they had to wait for the rest of us so it really didn't matter. It sure didn't seem to be worth the money to me.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I've been lucky enough to get it every time I've flown since the pre-check was first offered, without applying/paying for it. I know it's a fluke, but I'm appreciating it while I have it. Someone suggested that it's because I fly to/from Washington DC every 4-6 weeks, I'm in a wheelchair, and that Jet Blue has something to do with the approval. Again, I doubt it. DH's Washington contract expires the end of July and he's not renewing it, so I won't be going up there so often, so I'm not even going to bother to apply.

Queen Colleen