SFO Global Entry Interview ~20mins
 

I did mine at SFO and it took about 20 minutes. About 15 minutes of it was reviewing some information about my travel habits and about 5 minutes of going through a mock exercise on learning to use the GE machine.

This has been one of the best rate-of-return things I've signed up for as I have saved many hours breezing through customs. (I also believe if you have GE, Canada will reciprocate with free Nexus. I'll look into this further for my next stop through YYZ).

Nope; you have to pay the $50 for NEXUS even if you already paid the $100 for GE. If you had done the NEXUS first, the $50 fee is all you would have had to pay as NEXUS members can use GE kiosks.

does anyone have experience with not being able to schedule an interview within the 30 days? unfortunately, I will be busy the next. 30 days but of course as it would be, I am able to do the interview any time literally after 30days from now. thanks in advance.

My understanding you have to login in GE system and schedule an appointment within 30 days and then you have 30 days to schedule from that date.

oh so you can schedule a date for after your 30 days window?

As long as you do the scheduling within 30 days of conditional approval, you can select any date that is available. Most centers open their calendars four months in advance.

as long as you schedule within 30 days of approval. At least it was like that for me.

sweet, thanks!! appreciate it!!

We just did two 'interviews' (together) in 20 minutes at ORD.

One piece of advice: have something official with your current address. She didn't update her driver's license yet, and had to pull up a statement on her phone to confirm address.

If I have a 2 hour UA layover in ORD, which I think means I will be in Terminal 1, does this give enough time to get out, do the interview, and go back? Seems like it would cut it close so I'm hesitating to make an appointment in case I'm delayed but thinking of giving it a shot if things work out that day.

I did mine on a 2 hour layover in SEA and almost had enough time to catch an earlier flight out. Obviously SEA is a bit different than ORD, but the actual interview shouldn't take more than 20-30 minutes...if that.

Just wanted to nudge this thread back to the top...
It's been a few months since the last post and am just wondering if anything has changed. I'm scheduled to have my interview at CLT at 10:20 and am booked on an 11:20 flight. Judging by what others have said, I should be ok. But I just wanted to double check, since things might have changed since the last post.

It took me 15 minutes at ORD in 2011.

I was asked no questions, unless you consider "May I see your passport and driver's license, please?" to be a question. I watched the video while the guy did something with the computer, then he took my picture. My wife and I could not have been in there more than 15 minutes together.

I just had my interview at LAX. I arrived at 7:59 for an 8:00am appt. I was called in 2 minutes later. The agent asked me about 20 general questions, took my picture and fingerprints and sent me on my way. No video, no kiosk demo, just out the door. Took about 4 minutes total. My approval email was waiting for me when I got to work 10 minutes later.

Showed up 90+ minutes early to my appointment at the Niagara Falls border location. Was handed a printed out PowerPoint presentation to read over, signed a form stating I read it, got my photo/prints done, and was out in less than 10 minutes....probably closer to five actually. Besides the CBP agent, I was the only other one in the entire office. Hard to believe they consider it an interview.

Mine took about 10 minutes. No kiosk. No video. Not even a whole lot of questioning. Thought I was going to get a lot of questions about places I traveled to internationally in the last couple of years! The agent who interviewed me was super nice (and I think he was cute too) :), so I enjoyed the interview. ;)

That said, when I got out of my interview, there were a couple of people outside waiting. So it could take longer/shorter depending on other people appointment. I showed up only a couple of minutes ahead of my scheduled time, and it started a bit earlier. I do know there was another person after me that had to wait a bit - he has the same appointment slot as me. He didn't start until 10 minutes after his appointed time, so it depends.

Processing time after Interview
 

Wanted to post my experience.

I submitted my application through the UA program and received the Conditional Approval notice within 2 - 3 weeks. My interview was this past Friday(4/12) at SJU. I arrived 20 mins before my scheduled interview but the CBP officer was kind enough to take me in for processing since she was available. I have to say, I had one the best experiences with dealing with a CBP officer to date. She was kind, friendly and knowledgeable. I handed over my documents and was asked a few questions regarding my international trips from the past 5 years. I mentioned all as listed in the application excluding Canada since the application says travel excluding U.S.A, Mexico and Canada. We shared some laughs and talk about some general topics.

Later, she took my photo and fingerprints and showed me how the GE system works. She described everything in detail and helpful to answer all of my questions.The whole experience was a pleasant one. As she was finishing up, she told me she needs some additional checks and there shouldn't be any problem and will be approved in a day or two.

It's been a couple of days and I don't see any changes to my goes account nor did I receive any email. The status says "Inteview Scheduled" same as before.

I wanted to know how long does it actually takes from interview\checks to approval email?

I did mine yesterday. Less than 10 minutes. Super easy. One thing to note, the "Status" on the website still says "Interview Scheduled" but below that there is now a section for "Program Memberships" which has "Approved" and an expiration date.

Can they interview SO and I simultaneously?

I did mine on Friday, at the center in DC. The most time-consuming part of the process was finding the GE office inside the building; took less than 10 minutes to get called in once I was there, and about the same to complete the interview and fingerprinting. Flew back home today (took an extended Valentine's weekend) with Pre.

For those who may be taking the same route: get dropped off at the Reagan building, notice all the doors with signs saying you can't use them, walk around until you see the covered walkway behind the restaurant. There'll be a door in the covered walkway that you can use. Go in, get metal-detected, then head left down the long hallway to the next metal-detector station. Past that, take another left, past the reception desk, and the GE office is on the left.

I did mine this afternoon at the center at the Ronald Reagan Building in DC. It took me longer to find the office than it did to get processed (wish I'd seen ubernostrum's directions first!). There was no line and I was in and out in less than 5 minutes. I hadn't even made it back to the Metro station when the approval e-mail came through.

Approved
 

Application sent Feb 2
Conditional approval Feb 10
No interviews in HNL until Mid March, but flying through IAH Mid Feb so I scheduled my interview there in Terminal E.

For the 1st time in years all my flights were early,so I arrived in IAH about 1.5 hours before my interview time, so I found office and though I'd give it a try to see if I could get in early.
1 couple walking out, and 1 person watching video. I asked CBP officer if he could see me early . He looked threw his computer and said to have a seat in waiting area and if the scheduled people don't show In next few minutes he'd take me..
A few minutes later he asked me for my letter,passport,and ID and went into his computer .then he asked me to come sit down..

I had posted earlier ,I was worried about a few"incidences" 25+ years but included ..couple of misdemeanors ,and a DWI all in the 80's....

He asked me if I had ever been arrested,I said yes and told him details , and he laughed..me too because it is funny college prank story, that does not show up so funny on record...he told me usually 1 maybe 2 misdemeanors and chances were 50/50 approval.
It all depended on my fingerprint run with FBI..he took my photo,and did my fingerprints and said here we go............. A minute later he looked at screen,looked at me and said,"are you sure you have been arrested?"

I said 100% yes...he looked at screen again and said nothing is coming up on you...he said that is good but he had to call superior ...phoned superior ,he looked at it , told my CBP officer to run my SS number ,full name and birthdate too...
The officer asked me if I had ever been in Indiana, I said absolutely not, and he said OK there is just another name coming up using name and BD but SS not match ...so nothing came up and superior said I am good to go...
He told me to sit down and watch video, and before video is finished I get confirmation email...CBP asked me if I had any questions ,I said no ,he said you are approved have a great day....15 minutes total.....

Grats! With all of that and only 15 mins, that's fast!

I'm also going to IAH Term E in 2 days. Is it pretty easy to find? Anything tricky I should know?

I just renewed at the Otay Mesa Sentri office. This is one of the border crossings between San Diego and Tijuana. We had to wait 45 minutes beyond our scheduled time for our appointment. Then, despite it being a renewal, the interview took more than one hour. We were told there is no such thing as a renewal, that it was the same as the first time applying. We got our approval the next day.

I actually had to ask a United Customer Service rep...

I arrived in Terminal C Terminal E is connected but as soon as I got to E I did not see Ruby's so I asked..Turns out you walk a little ways into E and take a Left at Ramp headed to Terminal D and you will see Ruby's straight ahead. CBP office is on right before you get to Ruby's ..small office clearly marked.

Not a lot of traffic my day, also no one else came in during my whole time until I was walking out.

My CBP officer was pretty laid back, asked me about living in Hawaii, and like I said, he cracked up when I told him what happened in the 80's to me..My fault I know, but Live and Learn..

Good to know, thanks!

1K, my wife and I would like to apply but I wanted to confirm that scheduling the interview at the Otay office for first-timers is possible. Once we are conditionally approved is the M.O. to then contact the Otay office via phone (since it's not on the GE website) to schedule? Thanks!

This may be a silly question but do I get my luggage first (large) or do I do the interview first then go get my luggage?


I land at 6pm and my interview is at 6:40pm. It doesn't say what gate or terminal I land at yet.

Is IAH you final destination? If it is you would need to do the interview 1st since the CBP office in Terminal E is in the secure area of the airport(ie. past security)
...
But I believe there is another CBP office at IAH that you can do without clearing TsA...

IAH is my final destination. I would've left my GE documents in my luggage had i not known! Thanks!

Just had my interview @ LAX today (its inside the TBI terminal, very easy to find just as you walk into the building make a uturn, its between the 2 main entrances).

The interview was hardly that, they just confirmed the info I had put into the website, took my picture, and my fingerprints and that was it. Maybe took 10 minutes tops?

What is this video you speak of?

ps. I was applying for Global Entry

It was a video on how to use the Global Kiosk....did they show you "live"?

Actually no, I think they were in a hurry as there was a line of appointments waiting to be seen.....

I'm sure the kiosk is easy enough? *chuckle*

Questions About Global Entry Interview Process (Moved from UA Forum)
 

got a GE interview this week at IAD...how long do they generally take?

Usually 15-20 minutes. Sometimes 25-30.

perfect. good to know. thanks.

My GE interview lasted maybe 10 minutes. I was probably at the GE office < 15 minutes total, including waiting time.

Got conditional approval and went to book the interview for September when I'll be in Las Vegas (I live in Mexico) and Las Vegas is completely blocked while other airports aren't. How long do the interviews take as I can probably do a walk-in at DFW if the interview doesn't take too long or is it possible they'll open up appointment bookings in September?

Also, do they do the interviews on Sundays? (never mind on this, I found the Wiki.)