How quick is GE activated after interview?
 

I have GE. My bride does not. I bat 100% PRE. In the 3 or 4 times she has traveled with me since I got GE, including a trip to Europe, she has also gotten PRE. Don't know why, though she has her own UA MP account.

We are going to Europe this Spring. I'd like to get all her GE paperwork done and have her interview scheduled for the airport office on the day of our departure to Europe. We fly out of IAH but live about 80 miles away. The airport office is the closest but is in Terminal E AIRSIDE, so we can't do the interview unless we are flying somewhere. If she does her interview a couple of hours before we depart for Europe is she likely to be in the system by the time we return about two weeks later?

Secondary question: Anyone have experience with just dropping in at the IAH Term E office to do an unscheduled interview? When I did mine a couple years ago, mid morning on a weekday, there were no other applicants around while I was in there. Looks like they'd be happy to accommodate a drop in.

Thanks!

I received my card about 5 days after the interview. But I did use the KTN number before that and got Precheck. So I think you'll be ok. I'm assuming it's active when you receive the email confirming approval after the interview. Which is usually the next day.

There is no need for the card. IIRC, I got approved immediately and the CBP officer put a "CBP" sticker on my passport at the end of the interview. The sticker is not of any use at all. I don't know if they are doing that anymore.

The question isn't how long from interview, but how long from approval. Approval can be anywhere from instant, e.g., you have an approval email by the time you leave the interview to forever.

As others note, you don't need the card, all you need is the KTN.

I would just try a walk-in. But, it's also worth noting that while it can look as though everything is booked for months, people cancel all the time, so there are often slots 1-2 days out. If you can be flexible, it's easy.

Earlier this year I walked in to the GE office at CLT and got lucky that there was a no show, so I got my GE interview a little early. I flew to MTY that day through Dallas and came back 2 days later. GE was active when I came back. The CBO officer that interviewed me said its effective as soon as you get your final approval email. Typically same day. ymmv of course.

Up until the time I was approved for GE I had been batting ZERO with PRE for almost a year. When I did my interview, the officer pulled up my info and said "Well, here's your problem: You name is in the system as John Smith Smith instead of John Q Smith."
(not my real name) Somehow, my last name was also entered as my middle name so when I was checking in for a flight, my name didn't match the TSA name for PRE. (or something like that.) Anyway, from that moment on I've been 100% PRE.

I'll get my bride's application going. Hopefully, we can get the interview and approval well ahead of time.

My officer told me that I was "good to go" as of right then. I got to test it about a week later when I flew home from that trip and got PRE for the first time.

There's no gate-pass procedure for IAH? Odd.

This thread suggests there's one landside as well:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/texas...rview-iah.html


But are you aware of the CBP satellite office in downtown?

http://www.fly2houston.com/GEdowntown

Unless it has changed recently, the only way to do an interview at the IAH office is be flying in or out that day and be airside.

Yes, I know of the downtown office. We live about 80 miles west of Houston and avoid going downtown if at all possible. So, I'd like to time my wife's interview with a flight and, since she doesn't fly very often, our departure for Europe may be the only chance to do that. That's why I would like to see her GE be up and running by the time we return two weeks later.

GE Approval Letter
 

I applied for GE on 7/14 and received my "status changed" email this morning (Sunday!). One anomaly is that I could schedule an appointment (blue link button provided), but there is no letter in my Inbox. The wording on the appointment confirmation reads:

You have scheduled an interview for your conditionally approved Trusted Traveler application. If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment online, you must do this at least 24 hours prior to your interview date. Any changes within 24 hours of the appointment or after the date has past must be done by contacting the enrollment center directly.

I could and did schedule my appointment through the provided link. I looked over Mrs. GoSpurs letter which she did receive a link for and the only number or reference that it provided was the pass ID which I already have from my application.

Should I be concerned?? I'm aware that none of the phone numbers or email addresses for CBP ever receive an answer, so I appeal to this learned body.

Was told the same by my CBP officer.