Global Entry Interview...time required?
#16
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
Btw, the agents at JFK office were extremely nice and a pleasure to deal with.
#17
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BNA/SAN
Programs: DL PM 1.5 MM , Hilton Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 754
I just recently got my passport for a trip to Bahrain on November 4th. I tried to sign up for the San Diego area but they were booked until Feb 2012. Ended up booking a late afternoon appointment for Nov 2nd at LAX and driving up there.
Due to leaving early to avoid traffic I got there a little over 2 hours early, one of the interviewers was just finishing up and told me to give him 10 minutes and he'd see me. No video, but a few questions, got the stamp, showed me how to use the kiosk then told me I'd be in the system in time for my return on the 11th and that was it. Also told me if I hurried I might be able to miss the heavy traffic going back down to San Diego.
Had I not been able to drive to LAX, I was planning on my next trip through Atlanta having a 2-3 hour layover and scheduling my appointment then.
Due to leaving early to avoid traffic I got there a little over 2 hours early, one of the interviewers was just finishing up and told me to give him 10 minutes and he'd see me. No video, but a few questions, got the stamp, showed me how to use the kiosk then told me I'd be in the system in time for my return on the 11th and that was it. Also told me if I hurried I might be able to miss the heavy traffic going back down to San Diego.
Had I not been able to drive to LAX, I was planning on my next trip through Atlanta having a 2-3 hour layover and scheduling my appointment then.
#19
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 677
At JFK they would. I was doing my interview, while a gentleman showed up and inquired how to set the appointment. The agent asked him if he had all the papers with him, and then she told him to wait till we're finished. Of course, if they'd been busy at the time it could've been problematic, but you have nothing to lose by trying.
Btw, the agents at JFK office were extremely nice and a pleasure to deal with.
Btw, the agents at JFK office were extremely nice and a pleasure to deal with.
#20
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Los Angeles, AA Plat 2MM, DL GM
Posts: 131
Amex organized a special Global Entry approval event at a Beverly Hills hotel this weekend. Platinum card holders were invited to register online with the Global Entry website, and once we had our preliminary approval we could visit the hotel for our Customs interview and fingerprinting, saving us a trip to LAX.
Everything was handled very professionally by both Amex and the Customs people. They even supplied coffee and snacks while we waited.
I really appreciate that American Express did this, and I would encourage them to offer similar programs in other cities.
Everything was handled very professionally by both Amex and the Customs people. They even supplied coffee and snacks while we waited.
I really appreciate that American Express did this, and I would encourage them to offer similar programs in other cities.
#21
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
Amex organized a special Global Entry approval event at a Beverly Hills hotel this weekend. Platinum card holders were invited to register online with the Global Entry website, and once we had our preliminary approval we could visit the hotel for our Customs interview and fingerprinting, saving us a trip to LAX.
Everything was handled very professionally by both Amex and the Customs people. They even supplied coffee and snacks while we waited.
I really appreciate that American Express did this, and I would encourage them to offer similar programs in other cities.
Everything was handled very professionally by both Amex and the Customs people. They even supplied coffee and snacks while we waited.
I really appreciate that American Express did this, and I would encourage them to offer similar programs in other cities.
But like others have said, my interview took about 15-20 minutes. Most of the time was spent showing me the kiosk and explaining the rules. The only real questions I got were, what is my name and why do I travel so much?
#22
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,857
Amex organized a special Global Entry approval event at a Beverly Hills hotel this weekend. Platinum card holders were invited to register online with the Global Entry website, and once we had our preliminary approval we could visit the hotel for our Customs interview and fingerprinting, saving us a trip to LAX.
Everything was handled very professionally by both Amex and the Customs people. They even supplied coffee and snacks while we waited.
I really appreciate that American Express did this, and I would encourage them to offer similar programs in other cities.
Everything was handled very professionally by both Amex and the Customs people. They even supplied coffee and snacks while we waited.
I really appreciate that American Express did this, and I would encourage them to offer similar programs in other cities.
#23
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA ExPLT, Bonvoy Titanium, Amex PLT, Hertz GLD, National EX
Posts: 332
Amex organized a special Global Entry approval event at a Beverly Hills hotel this weekend. Platinum card holders were invited to register online with the Global Entry website, and once we had our preliminary approval we could visit the hotel for our Customs interview and fingerprinting, saving us a trip to LAX.
Everything was handled very professionally by both Amex and the Customs people. They even supplied coffee and snacks while we waited.
I really appreciate that American Express did this, and I would encourage them to offer similar programs in other cities.
Everything was handled very professionally by both Amex and the Customs people. They even supplied coffee and snacks while we waited.
I really appreciate that American Express did this, and I would encourage them to offer similar programs in other cities.
#24
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: Hertz President's Circle, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 317
SFO
I scheduled an interview at 10:30 and have a noon flight on AA. Is the interview location inside the airport and if so which Terminal. Wanted to get an idea of how much time I'll need, since I will be traveling with the family. Thanks in advance.
#25
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: DL MM, Marriott LT Titanium, AA EXP, Avis Chairmans
Posts: 1,399
I live in SAN, but did my interview in LAS before a flight back to SAN. I showed up 30 minutes early, they said no problem, and took me in. Watched a 5 min video, don't remember answering any questions, signed a form, they took a surprise photo of me (look like a mini alien on my ID) and was out the door in 10 minutes. No kiosk demo. Could not have been eaiser, but finding the office took a little hunting.
#26
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: DL MM, Marriott LT Titanium, AA EXP, Avis Chairmans
Posts: 1,399
#27
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BNA/SAN
Programs: DL PM 1.5 MM , Hilton Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 754
I live in SAN, but did my interview in LAS before a flight back to SAN. I showed up 30 minutes early, they said no problem, and took me in. Watched a 5 min video, don't remember answering any questions, signed a form, they took a surprise photo of me (look like a mini alien on my ID) and was out the door in 10 minutes. No kiosk demo. Could not have been eaiser, but finding the office took a little hunting.
They put a sticker in the back of my passport, but no one looked at it at JFK on my first trip after getting it.
#28
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,970
The sticker is not used in normal operation. The purpose of the sticker is if you are at a port of entry that supports GE, but when it's temporarily unavailable, the sticker gives you front-of-the-line privileges in the regular lines if you show it to the line-minders. The sticker doesn't do anything at non-GE ports of entry, or at a GE port when it's working normally.
#29
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,890
The office is land side outside the secure area by 5g. The interview is quick but it was full of people with appts. You won't have time with your flight schedule They need to take fingerprints and show you how to use the machine and put a sticker on your passport I did it a couple of years ago they didn't have videos at the time.
#30
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAS - where you can get married and divorced in the same 24 hour period. Perfect for the woman who's saving herself for marriage and the man who wants a one night stand.
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, UA, AA, AS, WN kettle, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,613
We flew to YVR (closest to LAS) to get GE and NEXUS.
It took about 30 minutes for Canadian and US interviews, they were in the same office, just at different windows. NEXUS gets us into Canada and will allow driving across the border in the express NEXUS lanes.
Same price and same application to get both.
It took about 30 minutes for Canadian and US interviews, they were in the same office, just at different windows. NEXUS gets us into Canada and will allow driving across the border in the express NEXUS lanes.
Same price and same application to get both.