Global Entry people -- three more questions

[Deleted]

I filled out my application on Wednesday night, and I just got the letter saying I've been approved to schedule my interview, which will be tomorrow.  So quick!!!

Three questions:  

1.  How long did your interview take?  (I guess, how long did the interview part itself take, but also did you have to wait around before the interview?)

2.  How long does it take from interview to getting GE status?  Will I have to wait for something in the mail or whatever?  

3.  I'll be flying (domestically) in mid-October.  My flight is booked already.  If the answer to question 2 is "not long," will I be able to add my trusted traveler number to that reservation so I can use precheck for that flight?  I'll be traveling with my two cousins who are already GE members, so I'm sure they'll appreciate if I can go through quickly too.

Thanks!

[Deleted]

I was able to get an interview for tomorrow afternoon! I'm shocked at how quick all of this went. Go feds!

Anguilla is the dodgiest entry on my countries visited list, so I can't imagine they'll have much to ask me

[Deleted]

Wow, that's impressive. Originally, I had to wait 3 and a half months for an interview, but I called the office to beg for a sooner one because we were moving out of the country in about 2 months from the time the preliminary acceptance letter came.

My interview took less than 5 minutes. They never even asked about the countries that I visited. I waited at the place longer than the interview took.

You'll get the sticker that goes in your passport before you leave the office. The cards and everything else came within a week or so. Once I had the interview the whole process was super quick.

GE is awesome. You're going to love it.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the info, guys. Glad to hear it is a painless process.

Now if only I could go back in time and get it two weeks ago so I wouldn't have had to deal with the ridiculous, ridiculous passport control line at JFK on Monday night...

[Deleted]

Sept 6, 2013 16:18:52 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

FYI I believe they discontinued the stickers in the passport book so if you don't get one, don't freak out.

That answers my follow-up question, which was going to be what I do about the sticker when I renew my passport next year

[GilliC]

My interview wasn't really an interview. I can't really recall that they asked me anything. Mostly they just made me watch the "How GlobalEntry Works" video, and then asked if I had any questions.

v, I just got a new passport because I changed my name. I asked at my interview what I would need to do because I knew it was coming. They told me to come by the office (without an appointment) so they could update my record in the system. I would ask at your appointment just to be sure they have the same policy at that office.

For me, I got my new passport at the embassy, so when I arrived in the US my passport wasn't in the system. I'd asked about this too, so I knew that I could just go to the agent overseeing the kiosks and while I'd still have to go the normal route with the written customs form, I wouldn't have to wait in the queue. In the end I did have to wait a few minutes while he found someone to cover for him while he processed my form, but I did indeed get to jump the queue!

[SJ]

My interview took less than 15 minutes. They asked about a few destinations, but it was pretty laidback.

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone! Interview took like ten minutes, and almost all of that was explaining how it works and chit-chatting with the very nice DHS guy.

[sushi]

Sept 6, 2013 16:25:59 GMT -5 v said:

Sept 6, 2013 16:18:52 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

FYI I believe they discontinued the stickers in the passport book so if you don't get one, don't freak out.

That answers my follow-up question, which was going to be what I do about the sticker when I renew my passport next year

I'm pretty sure H just has a card, no sticker. His interview was about 5 minutes, but he's also military with many clearances. 

Glad to hear it was quick and painless. Happy travels!

[GilliC]

Sept 8, 2013 17:09:54 GMT -5 sushi said:

Sept 6, 2013 16:25:59 GMT -5 v said:

That answers my follow-up question, which was going to be what I do about the sticker when I renew my passport next year

I'm pretty sure H just has a card, no sticker. His interview was about 5 minutes, but he's also military with many clearances. 

Glad to hear it was quick and painless. Happy travels!

Apparently the card is only for land crossings. You don't need to even carry it when you fly, because the kiosk will just scan your passport and know it's registered. I totally didn't realize this at my interview, and only found out when I went back for my name change. Apparently if I want a card with my new name I have to get it through the website. I was confused about whether I needed the card before my next international trip, and the guy explained it was only for land border crossings, so I didn't actually need to show it to anyone at the airport.

[Deleted]

Sept 8, 2013 17:55:11 GMT -5 GilliC said:

Sept 8, 2013 17:09:54 GMT -5 sushi said:

I'm pretty sure H just has a card, no sticker. His interview was about 5 minutes, but he's also military with many clearances. 

Glad to hear it was quick and painless. Happy travels!

Apparently the card is only for land crossings. You don't need to even carry it when you fly, because the kiosk will just scan your passport and know it's registered. I totally didn't realize this at my interview, and only found out when I went back for my name change. Apparently if I want a card with my new name I have to get it through the website. I was confused about whether I needed the card before my next international trip, and the guy explained it was only for land border crossings, so I didn't actually need to show it to anyone at the airport.

The guy told me like 15 times in our ten-minute conversation that the card is only for land crossings.

I thought it was funny that he kept emphasizing that because I live hundreds of miles from a border and don't drive

For air arrivals, everything is stored electronically so you don't need a card or a sticker.

[GilliC]

Sept 8, 2013 18:03:56 GMT -5 v said:

Sept 8, 2013 17:55:11 GMT -5 GilliC said:

Apparently the card is only for land crossings. You don't need to even carry it when you fly, because the kiosk will just scan your passport and know it's registered. I totally didn't realize this at my interview, and only found out when I went back for my name change. Apparently if I want a card with my new name I have to get it through the website. I was confused about whether I needed the card before my next international trip, and the guy explained it was only for land border crossings, so I didn't actually need to show it to anyone at the airport.

The guy told me like 15 times in our ten-minute conversation that the card is only for land crossings.

Haha! Maybe you had the guy I talked to a few weeks ago, so he was making an extra effort to clarify! (You didn't do the interview in Newark did you? )

[Deleted]

Sept 8, 2013 18:07:31 GMT -5 GilliC said:

Sept 8, 2013 18:03:56 GMT -5 v said:

The guy told me like 15 times in our ten-minute conversation that the card is only for land crossings.

Haha! Maybe you had the guy I talked to a few weeks ago, so he was making an extra effort to clarify! (You didn't do the interview in Newark did you? )

JFK!