GlobalEntry interview

[GilliC]

If you've done the application interview/appointment for Global Entry, how long did it take?

I'm planning a trip to the US in early November, but neither city that I'm visiting has a Global Entry office. I was considering booking a long connection at one of the larger airports, and trying to squeeze the appointment into my layover. Is this feasible? How long do you think I'd need the layover to be?

[sunshinedaydreams]

I've been considering applying for the GE, and have read a lot of reviews on the interview process. For Dulles, it seems that the average interview takes approx. 30 minutes. I'd probably budget up to an hour to be safe, though.

[frlcb]

It was less than an hour in Atlanta, probably less than 30 minutes actually

[basilosaurus]

H said his was really fast. 5 minutes for questions, 15 for filling out paperwork and waiting.

But I wouldn't hedge my bets on everywhere being as quick. Also, he's already got security clearances, so that may have sped it up.

[calimae]

I had mine in SF a couple of years ago and I was the only appointment at the time. Probably 20 minutes total for the questions and paperwork.

[GilliC]

So do you think a 2½-3 hour layover would be enough? I was thinking I would need 4-5, but I really don't want to spend a day hanging around the airport.

[wanderlustfoodie]

I did the interview at JFK several months ago. In and out in 15 minutes, most of which were just learning how to use the kiosk. It's really easy.

[wise_rita]

I decided to revisit this issue since last time I checked into it Minneapolis-St. Paul (my main US airport) didn't support it.

JFC, have you SEEN the hours of operation for the interviews? www.globalentry.gov/enrollmentcenters.html

What a joke!

It's probably not worthy it for me, anyway, since half the time I have dead weight with me (a.k.a. a non-American citizen).

[osumelissa]

I think I was at Dulles for between 45-60 minutes, but there were three other people there for an interview at the same time. We watched the five minute movie. I think I was the last of us to get called for an interview (there were only two CBP officers working at that time). My interview went quicker than the other guys since I only had one passport (one guy had a stack of passports) and I work for Homeland Security already.

Definitely a 2-3 hour layover should be fine. Just check the hours they do the interviews.

[GilliC]

Sept 5, 2012 7:56:42 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

I decided to revisit this issue since last time I checked into it Minneapolis-St. Paul (my main US airport) didn't support it.

JFC, have you SEEN the hours of operation for the interviews? www.globalentry.gov/enrollmentcenters.html

What a joke!

That's because they know that half of Minnesota has a Norwegian background, and thus a family history of smuggling stuff through customs!

After all the headache getting my flights booked, I scrapped my long weekday layover just so that I could get tickets at all, but I have a long Newark layover before CO38. I figured I was out of luck since it's a Saturday, but what do you know? Newark's office is open 12-19 every day of the week! Saturday interview for me! Neener, neener!

And that layover is 4 hours, so hopefully I'll be good. ...As long as I don't show up to the interview drunk. (I have stories from the Newark lounge. They involve business travelers, tequila shots, and making use of an airsick bag on my next flight even though there was no turbulence. No kidding.)

[GilliC]

Sept 5, 2012 18:57:34 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Another thing to consider is whether or not you normally bring luggage. You can get through immigration really quickly and then sit around waiting for your bag and not save much time over all.

I already have this problem a lot when I fly through Newark, because the Oslo flight seems to come in at a less busy time, so if I'm near the front of the plane I can make it through immigration 10 minutes before my luggage (even with priority handling).

However, I figure it's worth it for the times when it's busy or the times I fly into a bigger airport where the line is 30-45 minutes long. Especially since a lot of places ban all electronics while you're in line! I'd much rather breeze through immigration and then sit in the baggage area watching a movie on my iPad instead of standing in line trying to balance a book while dragging my hand luggage through the line.

I probably still wouldn't have bothered, but United's new platinum privileges include reimbursing the application fee, so I figured I might as well take advantage of it before I lose my status!

[wise_rita]

Really good point about the luggage, I hadn't thought of that!

You bet your ass I check luggage. I tend to live in the most fricking expensive countries on earth, so I need to bring my empty suitcases.