ABZSimy

Happy to share my recent experience as a UK citizen living in the US. The UK background check code came within a few hours of application, and I submitted the GE application within the same day. I got my conditional approval notification about 7 weeks later (September-November 2021). I completed the Enrollment on Arrival process at Houston IAH. It was straightforward, but just took a while. The process was such that I had to join the regular immigration line for visa holders first. I was admitted by a CBP officer as usual, but I also mentioned that I wanted to complete the EoA interview.

After I had been processed, the officer escorted me over to the dedicated booths for EoA (at IAH there are 2, immediately next to the airline crew line at the far end of the hall). There were maybe around 8 or so people in front of me, and I had to wait about 30 minutes to get to the front of the GE EoA line. The "interview" took about 10 minutes. I was asked hardly anything, and it was more a case of the CBP agent tapping into his computer. When asked if I had any questions, I asked exactly what the process was for using the GE kiosks as this was not proactively explained. The GE EoA desks at IAH close at 8:00 PM I believe - I was one of the last to be let through that day.

I was assigned a PASS ID or "Known Traveler Number" with my conditional approval, but you cannot use it until you've completed enrollment. I was able to use GE a few weeks later, and my experience was flawless. Walked straight up to one of the kiosks. Only had to line up with the camera for a biometric photo and the system immediately recognized me. It prints two receipt slips for visa holders (make sure to take both). I then followed a dedicated lane to a GE CBP desk (no wait), handed over one of my slips, and I retained the other. I was asked if I was bringing any food in, and that was it. No passport stamp or check. TSA PreCheck is also a nice perk. The US airlines frequent flier programs allow you to save your KTN to your profile so that it automatically gets added to your bookings. However, for non-US airlines, you typically have to enter the KTN to each booking, as they don't have a place to save the number on your FF profile.

choosethedrew

I’m a UK based UK passport holder and I applied on 4th March. I have heard nothing from CBP and it is still ‘pending review’ when I log in. I hope you get dealt with faster.

Josette

I applied on 21st January 2022, my partner applied 10th Feb. He was conditionally approved 2 weeks ago and I’ve still got absolute silence. I’ve really upset someone haven’t I?

benjc24

I reached out to CBP via the online webform as mine is still pending after about 4 1/2 months, as I was wondering whether some of the previously reported issues about "missing information" from the UK Home Office applied to my application.

Here's the (generic) response:So it looks like a 4 month wait time is quite average at the moment.

endoman

Both myself and mrsendo have been waiting since 13 Feb, both UK passports. Next visit to the US is in 3 weeks time, was hoping to do enrolment on arrival , hope they get a bit of a shift on with it!

Tafflyer

I applied on Feb 28th and as of today have still heard zilch. This appears to not be a very efficient process. I‘m really getting it for TSA Pre since this is the only way for non US residents to get that.

nomad.imt

I applied for GE as a UK citizen, just wanted to give you some reference points:

Me and my partner applied on 21st and 22nd May respectively, travelling to the US on 21st June (tomorrow).
I was planning for the worst after reading through the post.
However, we got our conditional approval through this morning (20th June).

I also read a number of occasions here where conditional approvals were given just before travel so I'm not sure whether they prioritise with applicants' travel date

Jzlerner

​​​​​​My story:
UK citizen. Applied on 18th May. UK background check came in after about an hour. Still waiting for conditional approval. I was born in Jerusalem and travel to Israel frequently which may raise some flags with the whole Middle East situation. I'm flying into JFK in exactly a week. Very much hope I'll have the same luck as you and conditional approval a day or two before.

Can I ask, did you receive an email confirming the status change or you checked back manually? Was this a first time enrollment or a renewal. Also, assuming you are planning to do entry on arrival interview tomorrow please let us know how this goes and the steps/process involved.

Thanks
Edit: forgot to ask, I can't remember if they ask for next visit to US in the application. Do they do this to know when you're coming? Or do they know based of ESTA/airline info?

choosethedrew

Thanks, this is interesting and there does seem to be a pattern emerging here. My own situation will test this to the extreme, as I applied in early March but am next entering the US in early September - 6 months!

nomad.imt

It just said there is a status change in the application.

I'm a first time enrollment.
I do intend to do Enrollment on Arrival and flying into SFO. Will share my experience on here.

I don't think they ask when the next visit is in the application.
They may have in it record if you applied for ESTA. Think they have arrival but I can't remember now.
I doubt they'll get info from airline.

Jzlerner

Thanks for the info. Just one point that I've picked up, ESTA is a 2 year long validity, no specific entry dates. The entry dates are provided to the US CBP by the airlines who then verify a valid ESTA is in effect. So I'm assuming that's how they know you're coming because the form and esta doesn't detail which dates

The truth is seeing as you have to do an interview anyway and can't use it first time you land, there isn't any difference to having conditional approval now or the day before you fly. So it probably does make sense for them to shelf your application and deal with the upcoming entry ones and then get back to yours at a later date.

benjc24

Yep, so the airlines would provide your “Secure Flight” data to DHS at 72 hours before departure which is probably at this point where the application gets flagged for them to review and approve as well as the usual checks for valid ESTA, or whether SSSS appears etc.

It’ll be interesting as I applied in January to see whether I end up hearing nothing until August and then conditionally approved just before my flight. I guess it is fairer to deal with those who have imminent travel first.

endoman

Still nothing through for us, fly in 2 days, looks like we will be waiting until next visit in October.

Jzlerner

Seems to be that people are receiving the conditional approval literally a day before their flight. Would you be able to update us tomorrow?

endoman

Yep, conditional approval now granted the day before the flight for both of us.