Originally Posted by
science_guy
The question: When does one get TSA Precheck approved when applying for Global Entry? My concern is that if you don't get TSA Precheck until Global Entry is approved, and if there is a long delay in getting Global Entry then they would miss having TSA Precheck for upcoming flights.
TSA Precheck comes with a Global Entry program membership, so it is only available after final approval for Global Entry. Some people apply for TSA Precheck in advance of Global Entry since it is generally a much faster approval time. If there would be value in spending an additional $85 for TSA Precheck while waiting for Global Entry approval, your kids can apply for both programs.
In their cases and absent additional information, I would recommend just applying for Global Entry and waiting it out. Now, if you came back and said their travel patterns have recently changed such that they'll be flying every week versus previously a couple of times per year, that would favor getting a TSA Precheck membership while they wait for Global Entry approval.
It's possible that their conditional approvals could come back quickly, but it would still require an in person interview to complete enrollment for an initial applicant.