Global Entry is one of the best government programs around, especially for travel. It has made re-entering the US a breeze for me over the last 10 years and it is something that I missed when CBP had closed the Global Entry kiosks for many months due to Covid. But, the hardest part of getting Global Entry – or renewing it – right now has to be the final step, the interview. Here is how you can do your Global Entry interview without an appointment.
The Global Entry Interview with Enrollment on Arrival
If you are renewing your Global Entry, you can do that anytime within a year of when it expires. If you were like me the first time I renewed it, you may be lucky enough to just have it renewed without any interview. However, this most recent renewal, I had to do an interview.
If you are new to the Global Entry program, you definitely need to do an interview. In either case, scheduling an interview at your preferred location may be difficult. I have heard of some people not finding an appointment slot for almost a year! While there are some locations that will take you as a walk-in, that is certainly not all and waiting for an appointment slot to open can be a pain, especially if you need to travel to one of those locations.
Enter the Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) Option!
Fortunately, the CBP has a nice option where you can go through your interview when arriving back into the US from an international trip. This option requires no appointment at all and is available at a long list of locations (see that list below).
Note – this is not available on domestic connections! It is only available when going through CBP or Pre-Clearance upon return from an international trip!
My Experience Using the Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival
I recently had the opportunity to use this method to renew my Global Entry. Remember that this is only for applications who are conditionally-approved for Global Entry! You can check your status any time through the GOES website.
When I arrived at Newark International Airport from Europe, I proceeded to the Global Entry kiosks. This was my first time using the kiosks and not needing to answer any questions at all – just a photo and I was done! I asked the nearby CBP officer where I was to go for the interview on arrival. He directed me to a booth staffed by an officer that was not currently receiving people entering the US but was just for interviews.
The word “interview” is actually not a valid descriptor for what I went through. I went to the window and said I was here for my Global Entry renewal interview (note that if you are doing this for the first time, you may have a longer interview). I handed the officer my passport and driver’s license (more on this below). He entered some information, scanned the passport, and then proceeded to take a new photo (my current photo is over 10 years old) as well as my fingerprints (I cannot remember for sure but I think I did my fingerprints with ink in the old fashioned way before).
Within 2 minutes of walking to the window, I was told “you are all set for the next 5 years!” and I was on my way! It was incredibly simple and over before I knew it! No questions were asked at all and I was on my way! Just 5 days later, my Global Entry card arrived in the mail as well.
What Do You Need to Do the Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival?
This is direct from the CBP:
What do I do when I land in the international terminal? Follow the signage directing you to CBP officers who can complete your Global Entry interview during your admissibility inspection. In addition to your entry document (e.g., your passport), you will need documents providing evidence of residency. Examples are driver’s license (if the address is current), mortgage statement, rental payment statement, utility bill, etc. This is not required for minors.
It may be possible to simply do the interview when you are getting processed upon entry if you do not currently have Global Entry – I don’t know since I used the Global Entry kiosks.
Which Locations Offer Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival?
Here is the up-to-date list of the locations currently offering the Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival:
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Abu Dhabi international Airport (AUH)
- Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix in Oranjestad, Aruba (AUA)
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport (MWI)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Detroit Metropolitan International Airport (DTW)
- Dublin Airport (DUB)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston
- Halifax International Airport (YHZ)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (JFK)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK)
- McCarren International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Luis Munoz Marin International Airport San Juan (SJU)
- Lynden Pindling Nassau International Airport (NAS)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport(SJC)
- O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- OrlandoSanford International Airport (SFB)
- Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
- Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
- Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Shannon Airport (SNN)
- St. Georgeâs Bermuda International Airport (BDA)
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston
- Winnipeg James Armstrong international Airport(YWG)
Bottom Line
The Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival could not be an easier or more simple way to complete your interview for the Global Entry process. I had been in a bit of a hurry so almost skipped it this time so I was very pleased and surprised that it took less than 2 minutes to take care of!
If you are conditionally approved for Global Entry, definitely try to take advantage of this on your next arrival into the US at one of the above locations! It is far better than trying to schedule an interview and it will likely be much quicker during the actual interview as well!
Sometimes the wait time can be long as only one CBP officer might be doing the interviews. I had to wait 45 mins at LAX so remember to be patient in case of long waiting times. Someone who wasn’t as patient decided to throw a fit at the CBP officer and you can guess it didn’t go well for them aftewards.
Same story in SFO. Pre-pandemic, you and 500+ other pax arriving on a flight and many want their GE interviews. Your waiting time will vary greatly and it seemed like there was only one person doing the interviews.
Very helpful explanation. Thanks!
Happy to help! Thanks!
I tried that CBP in DFW for my son. The problem is we returned on a Saturday and the CBP office is only open M-F dayshift hours. DFW CBP office is not open on the weekends. I verified this by asking one of the homeland security officers that was on duty overseeing the returning passengers to the USA.
Really?! I am surprised since they are supposed to handle this right there at arrival. I guess DFW must handle it differently. So sorry that happened to you both!
I agree with Michael. We arrived at DFW on a Saturday, and were directed to the GE office, but the agent who sent us there realized his mistake, called out to us, said they were closed, also said he was clocking out for the day, and “they” wouldn’t pay him overtime to stay and do the interview. “Sorry”, he said.
So, we went home, and I scheduled for two days later in Douglas, Arizona. No waiting, no fuss, got the new cards 5 days later.