Same for me. Applied in early Feb. Says application pending review. This is my 2nd renewal. I just checked that my first renewal also went pending review, but I didn't have to go in for a 2nd interview. I don't recall it taking this long for approval the first time. My travel patterns (countries visited) hasn't changed much, though the frequency has increased (until Covid-19).

I also have a REAL ID now, so I don't think that makes a difference.

For what it's worth, I applied for renewal on Oct 14th 2019, still waiting (221 days). Lots of global travel as I (used to?) travel for work. I've completed SF86 processes in the past, so you'd think this would be an easy decision..

From everything I can surmise DHS does not look into if one has/had been issued a Security Clearance in making a GE decision, most likely they just don't have access to those systems. However, if you received clearance I would assume chances are high that you will get GE.

I have seen some such applicants’ initial GE applications come back as conditionally-approved within well less than even 48 hours but then when it came to the renewal applications the same applicants would get stuck in pending review status for multiple months despite there being no obvious, substantial change in the applicants’ background and travels and the clearance level was at least maintained. For my travel party members in such circumstances — this year and last year — who got conditional approval status for the renewal applications, a bunch of the “interviews” weren’t for any purpose but to recapture photo and fingerprints since literally nothing was asked when doing “the interview” as part of the enrollment on arrival process.

In other words, having any kind of security clearance level guarantees neither:

(A) that your renewal application gets out of pending review status quicker than some other applicants of an otherwise comparable background; nor

(B) that your renewal application skips the conditional approval stage, even as some other renewal applicants of an otherwise comparable background get to final approval directly (ie, without being in the conditionally approved stage for any time during the renewal application).

My renewal went stunningly well...

I returned from London (UK) and landed in Orlando, FL en route to Detroit, MI. The Customs Agent noticed the CBP sticker in my passport and asked why I didn't use the Global Entry line instead. I explained that I had already scheduled the interview appointment for the upcoming next week or so (can't remember all of the details exactly, this was a while back) since I had been out of town on business.

He indicated that GE had an "Enrollment on Arrival" procedure at MCO - then closed the line to the booth, and then did the interview right there. I had my new card show up in the mail literally in a matter of days afterwards!

Totally awesome...

I just applied for renewal today. I'll expire in March 2021, so we'll see how long it takes.

If this is your first renewal. chances are pretty good that you will receive final approval without the need for an interview.

In case that you are flagged for an interview, you will continue to receive Global Entry benefits pending the final approval of your renewal application for up to 18 months after your current expiration date. For additional information, please refer to the following thread:

It seems that DHS has gotten its act together with regard to renewal reminders. Over the weekend we received an email message with the subject, "Program Expiry" that said (in part) this:

It seems t:p be giving about a 6 month warning.

The slight majority of first-time GE renewals which I saw last year and earlier this year involved getting conditional approval and having to clear the “interview”. Many of these first-time renewals had to do the “interview” without any questions being asked and were done with just a face-photo and fingerprints-scan recapture. For first-time GE renewal applications that were pending review in the latter half of March, April and early May this year, the chances to skip the conditional approval stage were higher.

Just was approved today. No interview required. It was my first renewal. So about 24 hours or so for renewall.

My expected conditional approval date (assuming a 250 to 270 day processing cycle) will be sometime in late June or early July. If worse comes to worse as far as interview availability goes, I will probably to an interview on arrival.

Applied for renewal yesterday. We will see how long it takes. No plans for international travel.

Conditional Approval after 24 hours - System wants me to schedule an interview now. Seeing Sept dates for SFO

I reapplied in June 2019. Mine expired in August 2019. Was waiting and waiting and finally got a response of "you need to schedule an interview" in January. I scheduled for the first available near me....which was June. I'd hoped to do interview on arrival after a trip in March, but it was closed because of COVID. And now my June interview has been cancelled, and there are no interviews available within a 4 hour drive of me (Seattle) and of course I currently have no overseas travel plans due to the virus. If it weren't for that, I'd totally just plan a trip around an interview somewhere else! But that's not a good plan right now. Suggestions for if I don't get an interview slot in the next couple months before the year extension of expiration happens this August??

The current extension is 18 months, so you have until February 2021 to complete your interview.

Please refer to the following thread: