Global Entry Application Question - Updated

[ny96]

I want to apply for global entry so I have it in time for the holidays. The only problem is that I lost my wallet a few weeks back and had to apply for a new ID which happened last week. I have the temporary paper printout license and all the rest of my docs. The DMV said my ID should be here within 2-3 weeks. If you were me would you apply today or should I wait until I have my ID in hand?

Update: I got the preapproval and was able to make an appointment for Mid December at the Long Beach Airport. So I’ll miss being able to use it for holiday travel, but I don’t have to wait too long for an appointment.

Update 2: I had to reschedule the appointment, but was able to book one for 2 days later at the location near LAX. I had my interview last week, got almost instant approval, and got my card in the mail today.

[sometimesrunner]

I would apply now. You don't get to choose your appointment time in the application process, they have to review your application first. You can always hold off on the appointment if you don't have your ID yet.

[wanderingback]

Yes I agree with applying now. I was just talking with a group of people who said they had friends apply recently and it's been many many months and they haven't gotten appointments yet. So I don't know if there's some backlog at the moment, or if it's specific to their situations, but it was several people telling the same story. So you might not get it in time for the holidays, so I'd just try sooner rather than later anyway.

[steamboat185]

I’d apply now. When I had my interview the first appointment I could get was several months out. I was able to reschedule closer, but it takes a few days to even get the tentative approval to schedule an appointment.

[ribollita]

Depending on your airport, you may be able to apply now and do your interview upon arrival from an international destination. That’s what we did!

[goldengirlz]

You don’t need your driver’s license — only your passport and proof of address (which could be a utility bill.)

[goldengirlz]

Nov 11, 2019 16:25:15 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Yes I agree with applying now. I was just talking with a group of people who said they had friends apply recently and it's been many many months and they haven't gotten appointments yet. So I don't know if there's some backlog at the moment, or if it's specific to their situations, but it was several people telling the same story. So you might not get it in time for the holidays, so I'd just try sooner rather than later anyway.

This may be geo-dependent. But if OP is in NY (per her SN), I wouldn’t be surprised if that were one of the busiest jurisdictions.

I applied for DD not too long ago (she got her card this week!) and there were plenty of appointments within a few weeks at SFO. Their site does warn that there could be delays though.

[mrsd2006]

Go ahead and apply. It can take months to get an appointment.

[ny96]

Thanks everyone. I was waiting to apply until now because I was under the mistaken belief that with my Sapphire Reserve card we could get a global entry application covered yearly and my husband did it last year on 11/10 but I read the fine print and it’s every 4 years. I went ahead and applied anyway because I can’t take another trip where my h complains that we have to wait in line because I don’t have it. When he applied last year he had his interview the week of Thanksgiving (we are in LA). I realize wait times may have changed, but I hope I don’t have to wait months.

[gogadgetgo]

When my husband tried to apply for global entry (in LA), there were no appointments until fall 2020 due to lack of staff in the LA office. He would have had to travel to San Diego to get his done. Just an FYI you might not be able to get it locally

[mich1]

I recently had to reinterview for my Nexus card earlier this year. I got invited for an interview in April, and the first available interview date was in July.

[ribollita]

Nov 12, 2019 10:56:10 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Thanks everyone. I was waiting to apply until now because I was under the mistaken belief that with my Sapphire Reserve card we could get a global entry application covered yearly and my husband did it last year on 11/10 but I read the fine print and it’s every 4 years. I went ahead and applied anyway because I can’t take another trip where my h complains that we have to wait in line because I don’t have it. When he applied last year he had his interview the week of Thanksgiving (we are in LA). I realize wait times may have changed, but I hope I don’t have to wait months.

I believe the LA interview office closed (but now I see has recently reopened at low capacity), but as I mentioned above, you can do your interview upon an international flight’s arrival at LAX immigration without an appt.

[tres3]

when we applied we ended up going to Dallas because we could get appointments a lot faster than Nashville (Nashville was a 9 mos wait Dallas was 6 weeks). I would apply now.

[dutchgirl678]

I just applied online yesterday. It said there is a significant backlog in interview appointments but you can go to one of 49 airports upon arrival from abroad and get an interview without an appointment if you have conditional approval.

[ny96]

I just updated in the original post. The process ended up being really fast and relatively easy.