Anyone do this recently? I can't get a TSA-pre appointment anytime soon, so I just went ahead and submitted a GE application.

But, neither GE interview location in Houston has any appointments available.

If you've submitted a new application recently, how hard was it to get an interview?

I flew to Albuquerque one weekend to do mine. But also you can do an interview without an appointment when you return from a trip outside the country assuming that the interview station is open.

Yeah, problem with doing it at arrival is we probably won't travel internationally again until next summer.

Even if I'd applied by then, I wouldn't have been able to do it on our return trip last month because we arrived after the office would have closed.

This may have been a $100 boondoggle.

I really want TSA-pre, but there is minimal availability of those in my area right now, too. Which is why I submitted the GE application. I figured if I have to wait, I'd wait and get both. But it looks like the GE wait might be much longer.

Austin airport has the same problem. No appointments. None of the airports in TX have any.

I was in Hunt for camp pick up for my kids and made the 2 hour drive to Del Rio for my interview last Monday. I received my Global Entry card this week.

Earlier this year my dad was looking to get Global Entry on a short-ish notice. He would check at midnight or 1:00 am, and he found new appointments would be added then occasionally.

Your mileage may vary, but it could be worth a shot.

So, I just checked the website again and there was an appt at IAH on Sept 23.m, which would have been perfect. I selected the only time available and hit done, but it just took me back to the main page without asking for any information. So, I don't think I was able to book the appointment. And of course now it's gone.

But at least I know appts open up.

A BUNCH (literally hundreds) of appointments have also opened up in Dallas. But something is wrong with the website because I can't click on/select any of the available times. My mouse cursor changes to a red circle with a line through it whenever I try to click on any of the available times. I've checked multiple dates and it's the same thing.

Have you tried the San Antonio airport? They had a ton of openings last month for pretty much every day as my wife had to renew hers. I still have six months left for mine so I need to renew mine.

My wife said it was super easy. Just five-ten minutes.

I would def fly somewhere and get the first opening I could if I was travelling internationally. You don't want to let that one expire.

My last international flight was a few weeks ago into Atlanta and that was the biggest line I have ever seen to clear customs. We would have missed our connection home without GE.

No appointments there. But it wouldn't matter. The website isn't working for any appointments anywhere. I've tried multiple locations in TX and other states. It simply won't let you select an interview time. I've tried on both my computer and my phone.

Ugh. This is SO frustrating!

TXTransplant said:

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No appointments there. But it wouldn't matter. The website isn't working for any appointments anywhere. I've tried multiple locations in TX and other states. It simply won't let you select an interview time. I've tried on both my computer and my phone.

Ugh. This is SO frustrating!

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Do you have your conditional approval yet? If Not, it may not let you select an appt until you have that done.

I don't have to be logged in to make an appt. You don't/can't book an appt through your application account (at least not that I can tell). Maybe that will change when I get pre-approval?

There is no way to tell the scheduling website that you have conditional approval. It's literally available for anyone to view.

So, I was pre-approved and it's clear now that you do have to schedule an interview through the application website, after you are pre-approved (this was not clear when I applied). Which means you have to be logged in to your account. There is essentially an invitation link to schedule.

However, I've tried twice today to schedule appointments that came open at IAH, and both times there were "errors" processing my appointment when I hit submit. So, I still have nothing scheduled.

This is a super PITA because you have to be logged in to book an appt, but the system logs you out after so many minutes of inactivity. If you have to log back in when an appt becomes available, chances are it will be gone by the time you get back in.

Edit: 3rd time was the charm. I got an appt for Sept 16. I missed out on earlier dates the two other times I tried. Availability seems to be totally random at IAH. I guess it's people cancelling.

Glad you got an appointment. I had an interview in Houston then moved to San Antonio to get a earlier date to accommodate my one out of country trip this year, much like you.

Took me logging in everyday for a month to get a better time.

In my experience using the CBP app is just as fast as Global Entry.

Nobody knows about it but it works really well and never spend more than 10 min in line.



Of course I was denied GE based on past indiscretions.

Nothing is worse than a long wait in passport control after an overseas flight home.

tommyjohn said:

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In my experience using the CBP app is just as fast as Global Entry.

Nobody knows about it but it works really well and never spend more than 10 min in line.



Of course I was denied GE based on past indiscretions.

Nothing is worse than a long wait in passport control after an overseas flight home.

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But CBP app doesn't get you TSA Pre to get through security on domestic flights.

CoolaidWade said:

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Have you tried the San Antonio airport? They had a ton of openings last month for pretty much every day as my wife had to renew hers. I still have six months left for mine so I need to renew mine.

My wife said it was super easy. Just five-ten minutes.

I would def fly somewhere and get the first opening I could if I was travelling internationally. You don't want to let that one expire.

My last international flight was a few weeks ago into Atlanta and that was the biggest line I have ever seen to clear customs. We would have missed our connection home without GE.

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We just renewed all for of ours (two adults, two teens. We did not need an appointment or have to go in for it. It was all online and approved. I was pleasantly surprised I didn't have to jack with appointments and having to go in person for our renewals.

I read this thread quickly and didn't see this mentioned but if flying back into IAH you can do the interview upon return from your international trip without an appointment. I know this won't help people trying to get TSA pre before other upcoming flights but it is an option.

GLOBAL ENTRY ENROLLMENT ON ARRIVAL

If you already have TSA pre does that speed up the GE process?

Vernada said:

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If you already have TSA pre does that speed up the GE process?

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I'm fairly certain the answer is no.

Tabasco said:

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Vernada said:

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If you already have TSA pre does that speed up the GE process?

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I'm fairly certain the answer is no.

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The GE "process" other than getting an appt scheduled is blindingly fast for a government bureaucracy. You usually get conditional approval within a couple of days of applying, and I had my KTN within about 5 minutes of finishing my interview. I wasn't even back to my car in the airport parking lot before I was approved. Right now it is just the wait for an appt that makes it slow, and having TSA pre won't help you get an appt faster.

Glad some appointments are available. Need to recheck. I'm just doing a renewal and finding an appointment has been brutal. Saw Miami allowed walk ins so was going to do that but ended up not having enough time.

This is pretty ridiculous. I signed my parents up and booked them appts at DFW in October. Ill keep checking Houston IAH, but not sure why there so few open spots. The interview takes less than 5 minutes.

I got my wife signed up a few months ago, and her GE interview at IAH is at the end of the month. If she misses it, I will never again feel bad about leaving her in the normal security line while I breeze through.

David Happymountain said:

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This is pretty ridiculous. I signed my parents up and booked them appts at DFW in October. Ill keep checking Houston IAH, but not sure why there so few open spots. The interview takes less than 5 minutes.

I got my wife signed up a few months ago, and her GE interview at IAH is at the end of the month. If she misses it, I will never again feel bad about leaving her in the normal security line while I breeze through.

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Yeah, worst part, IMO, is how do you have a virtual option but literally zero available appointments, ever. It makes no sense. If you aren't doing it anymore, just remove it.

Just keep checking. Basically anytime you are working at your computers have the website up. Appointments can come up at any time. Unfortunately, the appointments themselves will be on random days/times, but if you're flexible, just obsessively check it.

Tabasco said:

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CoolaidWade said:

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Have you tried the San Antonio airport? They had a ton of openings last month for pretty much every day as my wife had to renew hers. I still have six months left for mine so I need to renew mine.

My wife said it was super easy. Just five-ten minutes.

I would def fly somewhere and get the first opening I could if I was travelling internationally. You don't want to let that one expire.

My last international flight was a few weeks ago into Atlanta and that was the biggest line I have ever seen to clear customs. We would have missed our connection home without GE.

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We just renewed all for of ours (two adults, two teens. We did not need an appointment or have to go in for it. It was all online and approved. I was pleasantly surprised I didn't have to jack with appointments and having to go in person for our renewals.

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How long did this take, mine expired in Feb and I renewed in March and it's still PENDING.

I just renewed GE for the 2nd time a few weeks ago
First renewal required another appointment and interview
Second renewal I received email approval notice within 24 hours

Not sure how renewal is determined but I was traveling internationally frequently first go round

Tabasco said:

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CoolaidWade said:

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Have you tried the San Antonio airport? They had a ton of openings last month for pretty much every day as my wife had to renew hers. I still have six months left for mine so I need to renew mine.

My wife said it was super easy. Just five-ten minutes.

I would def fly somewhere and get the first opening I could if I was travelling internationally. You don't want to let that one expire.

My last international flight was a few weeks ago into Atlanta and that was the biggest line I have ever seen to clear customs. We would have missed our connection home without GE.

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We just renewed all for of ours (two adults, two teens. We did not need an appointment or have to go in for it. It was all online and approved. I was pleasantly surprised I didn't have to jack with appointments and having to go in person for our renewals.

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Ditto. We just both renewed last week and it took about 5 minutes to complete the online form because they added a few new fields. Got reapproved 2 days later via notice through email. Got my new card on Monday.

Blown away. Can we get the GE people to run rest of government?

YouBet said:

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Tabasco said:

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CoolaidWade said:

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Have you tried the San Antonio airport? They had a ton of openings last month for pretty much every day as my wife had to renew hers. I still have six months left for mine so I need to renew mine.

My wife said it was super easy. Just five-ten minutes.

I would def fly somewhere and get the first opening I could if I was travelling internationally. You don't want to let that one expire.

My last international flight was a few weeks ago into Atlanta and that was the biggest line I have ever seen to clear customs. We would have missed our connection home without GE.

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We just renewed all for of ours (two adults, two teens. We did not need an appointment or have to go in for it. It was all online and approved. I was pleasantly surprised I didn't have to jack with appointments and having to go in person for our renewals.

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Ditto. We just both renewed last week and it took about 5 minutes to complete the online form because they added a few new fields. Got reapproved 2 days later via notice through email. Got my new card on Monday.

Blown away. Can we get the GE people to run rest of government?

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lol; not read the rest of the thread?

Seriously…between the lack of appointments for both TSA pre and GE, I thought I was being punked!

htxag09 said:

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YouBet said:

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Tabasco said:

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CoolaidWade said:

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Have you tried the San Antonio airport? They had a ton of openings last month for pretty much every day as my wife had to renew hers. I still have six months left for mine so I need to renew mine.

My wife said it was super easy. Just five-ten minutes.

I would def fly somewhere and get the first opening I could if I was travelling internationally. You don't want to let that one expire.

My last international flight was a few weeks ago into Atlanta and that was the biggest line I have ever seen to clear customs. We would have missed our connection home without GE.

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We just renewed all for of ours (two adults, two teens. We did not need an appointment or have to go in for it. It was all online and approved. I was pleasantly surprised I didn't have to jack with appointments and having to go in person for our renewals.

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Ditto. We just both renewed last week and it took about 5 minutes to complete the online form because they added a few new fields. Got reapproved 2 days later via notice through email. Got my new card on Monday.

Blown away. Can we get the GE people to run rest of government?

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lol; not read the rest of the thread?

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Maybe just the renewal people then. They are on the ball.

Mine is a renewal and I've been waiting to find an appointment for months. Finally found one but it's not until September. ArmyAg97 did his renewal in March and is still pending.

So yeah, some renewals are going through smoothly and able to bypass the interview. Some are not. And in typical government fashion, nobody knows the method of determining who requires an interview or not. But if you need an interview, it's probably worse than even renewing a DL. And, again, in typical government fashion, some applications are getting stuck in no mans land and it's impossible to call anyone to get an answer.

htxag09 said:

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Mine is a renewal and I've been waiting to find an appointment for months. Finally found one but it's not until September. ArmyAg97 did his renewal in March and is still pending. So yeah, some renewals are going through smoothly and able to bypass the interview. Some are not.

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Its online.

Why are you doing it in person?