Trying to book my appointment for my interview and when doing so it shows that IAH appointments are booked through March 1st, but when I try and book an appointment for any time after that, it does not show any availability and I looked through the end of the year. Is it really this impossible to get an appointment? There are literally no appointments available at any airport in Texas through the end of the year if the scheduling system is to be believed.

I have an inbound intl flight on the 1st and was hoping to do it then but I can not see any options for that or a virtual interview. Anyone have any experience on navigating this system?

We did this a year ago at DFW. We just kept checking online on a regular basis, and finally found some openings. I don't know why they show everything booked online like they do.

What the above poster said, just check back every couple days and try in the mornings. There was nothing available when I started looking in November, and magically after Thanksgiving Break there was availability. Wife and I went to DFW last week and it takes 10 minutes.

chick79 said:

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You can also do global entry upon your return flight internationally. You don't need an appointment for that.

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That is what I thought but I didn't see anywhere mentioning that. Unfortunately my flight lands at 0500 or so so I doubt that will be an option this go round.

Went through this last year. As others have said, just keep checking back. Eventually an appt will open. Just have your log in information ready (you have to be logged into your account to book the appt). They appts disappear very fast.

Alternatively, when I was there year a little over a year ago, the staff told me that they take walk-ins on Mondays and Fridays. They squeeze you in when someone no-shows. The line when I went for my morning appt was already pretty long with walk-ups, but if you get there early and are one of the first in line they should be able to take you (someone will no-show).

That might work if you have an international flight that arrives early on a Mon or Fri. Just hang out at the airport for a few hours.

I arrive next Thursday. This system is such a joke.

I would just walk up when your flight gets in. You are already there. Worst they can say is no, go away.

Yea that is the plan, but may not have too big of a window depending on my drivers schedule. I'll play it by ear. I was uncertain if i was missing something though because no appointments available all year at any intl airport seems absurd.

I thought I was missing something when I went through this, too. Nope - just our fine federal government at work!

There used to be an option for multiple bookings (like a family). Is that still the case? If so, do that but just book one person. It had a ton of availability at IAH where singles had none. I got my family done start to finish in less than a eeek from filling out the forms.

For me, I just did it on a return flight. Would have been quick but their computers were down and they had to reboot. Overall it took 15 minutes with that issue.

TXTransplant said:

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I thought I was missing something when I went through this, too. Nope - just our fine federal government at work!

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And there are people that argue we need MORE government intervention in our daily lives. I don't understand the cognitive dissonance people must have to realize the piss poor performance of all govt programs but then clamor for more.

No longer available and it now appears practically impossible to get a full family in because they want you to log in separately to find a day with the requisite number if appointments available

Mother ****ers!!! That sucks.

I've heard of services that run a program that scans the availability of specific airports and alerts you to appointment openings. Not sure what the website is (or who even told me about it), but I do know it's out there. Obviously it's not free but I don't recall it costing too much. I didn't use it because I was already coming back into the country and did it that way.

Yep ill swing by on my way back in to the country but I doubt they will be open. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. Thanks all.

Sea Speed said:

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Yep ill swing by on my way back in to the country but I doubt they will be open. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. Thanks all.

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Per the GE website under Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival, it should be open at 5am

Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) is CBP program that allows Global Entry applicants who are conditionally approved to complete their interviews upon arrival into the United States; including those entering the United States via a designated CBP Preclearance location. The EoA program eliminates the need for a Global Entry applicant to schedule an interview at an enrollment center to complete the application process.
When landing in an international terminal follow the signage directing you to CBP officers who can complete your Global Entry interview during your admissibility inspection. If you require assistance for your Global Entry interview because of a disability, immediately inform the interviewing CBP officer of your need for a reasonable modification or auxiliary aid or service to participate in the interview. For your planning purposes, please understand that if you use EoA and are requesting a modification, aid, or service at that time and an effective modification, aid, or service is not readily available, the interview may be scheduled for a later date.
To complete the interview via EoA, you must be in possession of the following documents:

• A valid passport. If you travel using more than one passport, please bring them all to the interview so that the information can be added to your file.
• 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.
• A permanent resident card (if applicable).

Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)Location:
International Arrivals, Terminal E
Hours of Operation:
5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Contact Information:
(281) 230-4818

I went through this a couple years ago. I actually checked often, definitely not daily or weekly, but nothing opened for over a year. So my application actually expired and I had to do a new one, and of course I had to pay the fee again, though I think my CC covered it again.

Second time still took several months. Very efficient process.

Well I completely missed that. Thank you eternally.

I went through this months ago and couldn't get the 3 appointments that I needed. I used http://www.appointmentscanner.com and got them all done within a week. It's $29 for a month and the appointments get texted to you all day…. Super easy. I can't recommend paying the $29 for the site enough.

Couldn't find an opening for two at IAH last year . Finally got one in Austin. One on a Saturday one the next day. When we went they would not do both on the same day even though they had time. Said they were not allowed to do it so we drove over 100 miles to get to Austin two days in a row

amg405 said:

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I went through this months ago and couldn't get the 3 appointments that I needed. I used http://www.appointmentscanner.com and got them all done within a week. It's $29 for a month and the appointments get texted to you all day…. Super easy. I can't recommend paying the $29 for the site enough.

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If it doesn't work on re entry I'll be doing this. Thanks a ton.

After seeing this thread, I realized I needed to check my Global Entry Expiry date to see if I should start early.

I had 6 months left, so I submitted a renewal application. I figured it would take 4-6 months and probably have to interview again. I was fully approved, in 24 hours. Don't even have to interview. Completely shocked.

It's annoying kids have to have it too, can't tag along like tsa pre

txam92 said:

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After seeing this thread, I realized I needed to check my Global Entry Expiry date to see if I should start early.

I had 6 months left, so I submitted a renewal application. I figured it would take 4-6 months and probably have to interview again. I was fully approved, in 24 hours. Don't even have to interview. Completely shocked.

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Must be a '92 thing. Wife and I both just renewed in the last month and both of us were approved without an appt.

Everyone I personally know who just renewed had it go through automatically, no appointment needed….except me.

I did mine in San Antonio because it was impossible to do one in Houston

I followed the Global Entry Interview Scanner on Twitter and got an appointment. They post openings for all locations

chick79 said:

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You can also do global entry upon your return flight internationally. You don't need an appointment for that.

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This is how my wife and I did it. Took no time at all.

I never got an appointment, neither did my wife. I did mine at IAH with no appointment at the TSA office between terminal D and E inside security. They take walk up interviews from 9 to 4. There is another outside security in terminal E. Or, as mentioned above IAH will do the interview when you return from an international trip at customs. Just not sure about the availability at 5am.

In line this morning and when it was my turn for global entry interview the guy looked at me and said "no" and called someone up from the refugee line. Jfc. That is the kind of service the us taxpayers who pay EXTRA for something deserve! I would be mad if it wasn't so absurd.

All in it took an extra 30 minutes due to the line otherwise the "interview" was around 5-7 minutes.

The only "bright side" to this ridiculous process is that, it's so onerous that it probably deters a lot of people from getting Global Entry - which hopefully just means shorter lines for us when we use it.

As a side note, we went through customs at ORD last summer, coming back from Italy. It was a hot mess. We were getting alerts from the United app saying it was going to take 2 hours to get through.

There was NO line at the Global Entry kiosks. I went through and told my son (who was 18 at the time and doesn't have GE), "See you on the other side." While I was futzing with the kiosk, an agent pulled him out of line, checked his passport, and waived him through. He actually got through faster than I did. I can only assume they agent saw us together and was being nice/helpful trying to keep us together.

Oh and FYI anyone wanting to do the interview at IAH, you go through the normal customs line and they check you in as usual, then you tell them you need to do your global entry interview and they send you to another line for the conditional interviews. The 2nd line is right next to booths 1 and 2.

It was approved on the spot and will be good to use immediately but takes 48 hours to get the email and a month to get the card. You do not need the card to use global entry.

Good info. I am taking a friend with me to BKK in May and she needs to do hers on return in SFO. I am going to call and see if similar situation.