Wow, given how much time I spend on FlyerTalk I was somehow completely oblivious of this program. I guess since my international gateways are EWR and JFK which were only recently added to the program and I don't frequent this particular forum.

That said, I got an "Important information for international travelers" email from Continental this morning highlighting the program. While there have been some reports of quick approvals, I'm probably being overly optimistic in hoping that the application that was completed today will be approved and I can schedule my interview tomorrow before my flight to Brazil...

Hmm...so after reading this massive post, I signed up for NEXUS last night. My application is still under review (grr!), and hopefully in the next few days I will be approved so I can fly up to Toronto and get the fingerprint and IRIS scan done. I got a little confused while reading, and I didn't see anywhere on the website that said how many days you had to schedule your interview?

My best friend, who will also apply for his in the next couple of days, are going to go up there during our Thanksgiving holiday. Anyone know if that is pushing it out too far?

Guess I'll have to start flying through ATL more often.

I am about to submit my application for Global Entry, I have not yet authorized payment. If for some reason my application is not approved, would I get a refund of the $100 fee?

My understanding is no, it's a non-refundable application fee.

Wirelessly posted (goingaway's phone: BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.231 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Read much? Fee is non-refundable

I did apply and paid $100 fee.
When one buys a NON-REFUNDABLE ticket from an airline, generally they get a full refund if the airlines cancels the flight. Shouldn't the same system apply to the application?:confused:

Why don't you take that question to the folks at Global Entry?

Let us know what they say.

Actually JFK was one of the original stations. I did my interview there in the spring.

Seems like apples and oranges here. If you don't get approved, it's because of something in your record that showed up in the vetting process to deny your application. How is that similar to an airline cancelling your flight?

Or possibly some incorrect information in their database--which (from postings in this forum and elsewhere) has been known to occur. I would in effect be guilty until I proved myself innocent.

Hey - let's all hope you have the chance to prove your theory one way or the other ... :D :rolleyes:

Go to www.globalentry.gov. Click on Global Entry Program Overview. Read that page. Specifically the part labeled "Fee". It's there in black and white, end of story.

Hmmm...not sure how I missed it...though I guess since spring I've only been through JFK C&I once, in mid-May.

When you buy an airplane ticket, you are paying for the transportation. When you pay a Global Entry application fee, you are paying to apply. A better analogy would be an application fee for a tourist visa or for college admission. If you are denied the visa or rejected from the school, you don't get a refund of the application fee.

When I applied about a month ago, and recently a coworker, we both got "conditional approval" to schedule an interview within 24-48 hours of submitting the application online. I was pleasantly surprised.

Looking at the interview slots, they are pretty much wide open. There's just not that many people applying for this program. Interviews appear to be only Mon - Fri. When I went to ORD for my scheduled interview, the guy behind the glass was kind of surprised, had to go in the back and wake somebody up. :D

The interview was no big deal, they just reconfirm some of the info already on the application, and ask you some boilerplate questions. Nothing to be nervous/worried about.