I still suggest you go in for the interview. Don't give them a reason to later disqualify you.

Moderator's Action
 

A recent post about NEXUS renewal denial, which discussed the reason as opposed to the appeal process, was moved to the Global Entry Revocations [merged threads].

TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator

Global Entry Denied after interview (no arrests)
 

Hey there,

I am really shocked with what happened. Had my conditional approval 2 weeks after initial Global Entry application, interview 2 days after conditional approval. Interview was very short, basically the officer just went over the rules with me and sent me on my way saying that I would get an approval that same day. I did not get any emails..

2 days later I checked my account and saw that the status changed to Denied. There was no denial notification, no letter, no email, nothing. Just a status change. I called my enrollment center and they told to wait for the denial email. I haven't got anything so far. I don't even know the reason. The was no indication whatsoever that I might have been denied. No arrests, no issues. Anyone has any advice? I have already submitted a FOIA request.

Also, I am a green card holder.

I feel your pain. My GE denial in 2013 was equally baffling -- I'm a US citizen myself, and I've never had the slightest brush with the law or customs, anywhere -- and I never got an answer as to why I was denied. My working theory is that I inadvertently tripped some kind of algorithm that denies GE to people who move a lot. By a combination of coincidence and moving for work I had eight addresses in ten years, all of which had to go on the application form. I eventually resigned myself to a combination of standalone TSA PreCheck, for which I was immediately approved, and Mobile Passport Control, which at some airports still allows travelers to skip the line à la GE, though that's changing.

May I ask which country you moved to the US from? Given the current administration, that may have some bearing.

If you were a citizen I'd recommend a letter from your Senator or Representative requesting an explanation, though as a Green Card holder I think a FOIA request is your best bet. Just be prepared for it to be rejected again and again. For example, did you have it notarized? When I submitted one there was no mention in the rules that notarization was required, but it led to a rejection nonetheless.

As for me, I've settled down a bit and had only two addresses since my denial, so I'm thinking of applying again in 2018. :)

If you were denied after being told by an Officer at your interview that you were approved, it means that the Officer was overruled by a supervisor. You should eventually receive a letter explaining in broad and likely useless terms, the reasons for denial. Don't know how long ago you called, but give it 30 days and call back.

FOIA typically won't help much because what you receive will likely have the critical information redacted. But, it may shed some light on the situation. Be prepared for a good 9-12 months.

Forget Members of Congress. If you have a delayed passport or somesuch, a call from a Congressman's office can move things along. But, I would be shocked if a Member got in the middle of a GE denial for someone he doesn't know really well and for a really long time.

Out of curiosity, what is your nationality and how long have you been a LPR. How long to citizenship? A lot here may be due to an inability of CBP to verify information in other countries where you have lived. But, hard to tell without specifics.

You may be shocked, but I know from personal experience it happens. Note that I never suggested that a congressperson would or should lobby for an individual’s GE rejection to be overturned, only that such a letter can quicken the pace of uncovering the rationale behind the rejection.

Part of their job is constituent services, and I know from others it's been the question from Congress that got CBP to take another look at a case. Now, of course, depending on the reason another supervisor might not make the difference, but it might...

I am from Eastern Europe originally, have been a green card holder for a few months now. Do you think that might be the issue?

also, another question, will GE denial affect me entering the US in any way?

This is unclear. Many people who have had it revoked - different than denied - report frequent if not constant secondary inspections for a period.

Although a U.S. citizen and maybe some other key differences, I traveled very extensively for many years after having been denied (before eventually being approved years later) and never had a single problem.

Bosnia? Serbia? Macedonia? Bulgaria? Turkey? Chechnya? Could be the reason.

As one who was denied and subsequently approved, do you have any specific advice for someone who is considering reapplying?

As I mentioned upthread, my denial was in 2013, and I’m thinking of reapplying in 2018. I’ve had zero law enforcement or customs issues throughout my life, nor have I visited any countries on terror alert lists, which is why my denial was puzzling.

No, none of those. I am from Ukraine.

When you were denied, did you get any letters/notifications at all? Did you try calling them and asking?

I was notified of the denial by letter. I did try calling the station chief where I’d had my interview, but she was rude and unhelpful. After a few rejected FOIA requests I finally wrote to the ombudsperson politely asking for a review, and several months later that too was denied without explanation.

I would not overthink this. Ukraine might or might not be an issue. The recency of the green card might be an issue and a combination of the two might be more of an issue.

Something popped out between the time the Officer told you that you were approved and the time that action was reviewed, apparently later in the day.

This could well be the absence of verified information, sometimes a problem with other nations, rather than negative information.