Originally Posted by
seawolf
As you are doing a renewal, you keep your GE benefits include Pre past your expiration later this year. Just do an interview on arrival.
Yeah, I'm certainly going to try that. But given this Kafkaesque system, I suspect there will be some inexplicable reason why the Customs folks couldn't possibly interview me upon my arrival.
Originally Posted by
KARFA
For renewal most people do not need an interview. If you have been selected for an interview it is typically because something in your renewal application has triggered it - usually on of the countries you have listed in your travel history over the last 5 years. I suspect in my case it was the inclusion of Cuba that promoted an interview.
There is no winning involved, and the interview is usually pretty straight foreword part of the renewal process. If you find this all too much trouble, just let GE lapse and go back to using the normal lines.
You give them too much credit. Five years ago, my wife and I needed renewals and had the EXACT same travel history. I needed an interview, she didn't. This time, we both need interviews.
I do suspect it's possible that, if you visited a lot of countries, and some of them sound sketchy (maybe China?) you're more likely to be required to have an interview. Although my wife visited such countries 5 years ago. Much of the selection may be random, like at TSA checkpoints.