Global Entry - My Application Experience

I lived in the United States for 6 years or so and always enjoy going back, but the immigration process is a right pain... At worst it can take a couple of hours to shuffle your way to the front of the queue to be questioned by a grumpy man with a gun...

But there is a better way! You can register for the US's Global Entry programme and if you are accepted, you can jump the immigration queue on arrival. And you can jump it quite spectacularly too....

In this video I'll explain the entire process and walk you through it. Plus I'll share how long the process took....

And now I have it, I LOVE IT!!!!

Links:

⭐ #GlobalEntry #USAEntry #MattsPlanet ⭐

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⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
2:45 - What is Global Entry
3:25 - Stage 1 - UK Clearance
5:02 - Stage 2 - The US Application Process
9:00 - And Then You Wait....
9:54 - Stage 3 - The Interview
11:13 - My Interview Experience
16:03 - Crossing i's and dotting t's

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. This video may not be copied or reproduced without written permission.

[TheNutcracker]

Here's an additional data point for Matt and anyone else interested:

Completed UK clearance process on 17 April 2024. Received UK access code and approval on 18 April 2024, and completed the US application process same day. Received Conditional Approval on 19 April 2024.

End to end process took 58 hours total. I do not have a trip to the US booked at this time either.

[martynmahmoud]

I’m also a UK citizen. I applied for mine in Feb 2022, got my conditional approval in March and got it full in April when I visited BOS. At BOS immigration, I arrived in the usual visitors queue and once the agent processed me, I politely asked where I could go for the global entry interview and he just processed it all himself there and then within minutes and I was on my way 🎉

[mddesilva]

Very handy video. I’m British and live in Doha, qatar. The whole process from start to approval post interview took less than a week. Fortunately we have an interview centre in the local airport.

[holibobs]

Thanks for the video Matt. I applied on Monday. I got the UK ref number on Tuesday and was conditionally approved by the US authorities today.

[gdywsrn]

"You really nailed it! Your response was 100% correct."

[matthewcalver]

Very informative Matt, thank you. My wife and I applied for Global Entry Tuesday and just received Conditional Approval today, that’s 2 days. Gobsmacked tbh I was expecting it to be so much long 😅

[mazarinrichelieu]

My friend failed her UK background check and never had a conviction or anything in her life - utterly bizarre. She did apply with a new passport though so maybe her previous visits weren’t recorded and it was assumed she had never visited before? It put me off risking an application. Glad you secured it though; must be brilliant to board a plane and not have to worry about long queues or questions on the other side.

[martinhathaway]

After watching your video on Wednesday afternoon I applied for Global Entry, almost on a whim. Despite the website stating a 4-6 month processing time, I received my conditional approval on Saturday morning of the same week! I'm now looking forward to using your advice of opting for the Enrollment on Arrival interview. A very practical and helpful video. Thanks.

[whatbensees]

I’m ready to ask for an interview in 7 weeks when I head to Nashville. Perfectly timed video! Many thanks!

[HannahMannah]

Massive thanks Matt. Applied for UK bit on Friday, received code Monday and GE approved subject to interview today. So hopefully I can get this granted when I land at SFO later this week

[peterhastings]

Good info Matt. and GE is a good thing to have. I had a good example of this in January when I flew into SFO with my sister (who doesn't have GE). We were at the pointy end of our BA flight, so were nearly the first off but it looked like an EVA flight had arrived a few minutes earlier, so there was already a queue at immigration. Being a good brother, I joined the regular queue, while all the time watching the empty GE lane! Although it was probably only a 20 mins delay, the CBP agent raised his eyebrows and said 'you've got GE haven't you, why are you here, should I fail you!' as a joke!


My interview experience was different. When I applied in 2019, there was great annoyance the the waiting time was around 70 days. As it happened, I was flying into JFK almost exactly 70 days after my application. I found out that there was a CBP office in T4 there, so I headed over before my next flight. I explained the I hadn't been able to access emails since I left and that I was expecting approval shortly. My passport was taken and I was dumped into a waiting room and called 30 minutes later where two agents asked me a few questions and took my photo and fingerprints and then said 'you're good to go'. I had to ask them if that was it!

Another tip is that your GE expires 5 years after your next birthday (not when it was approved) - and you can apply for renewal 12 months before the exipiry date. As I understand it, if your renewal is approved, the extra 5 years is sdded to the original expiry date.

[GwenMarsh]

Thanks for the very informative & excellent video 👍. My GE ran out early last year but didn't renew as I wasn't back travelling then. But I am now & applied this May. Although I travelled to the US in August, am still waiting for conditional approval. I'm returning back again in 3 weeks. I really missed not having GE when I had to queue for over 2 hours at JFK passport chech! Fingers crossed I hear back from them soon. 🙏

[stevecraven]

Matt. thanks again for the advanced link. Once again very informative. I remember the first time I applied for this. It was when it was 2016/17. I was very apprehensive as I know Americans can be quite anal about this sort of thing, security and all. I didn't like the idea of having to book an interview in the USA and as you stated they were not easy to come by. I did get a Global Entry Pass, but it was rather weird how I got it. I had done all the pre checks in the Uk you mentioned payed my money, but when I went to book an interview they were few and far between.
To cut a long story short I was going to book one whilst I was in the USA, but I arrived into America (can't recall which airport) but it was quiet. As I approached the security desk I had all my docs to hand and just asked the officer how I went about gaining Global Entry for fast track. Much to my surprise He did it for me there and then. No hassle, no major questions.
It has since run out and as I don't travel to the USA as often as I did (sometimes 3 trips a year) I won't look to apply again. But it was an excellent work around for those long queues.
Thanks again.
Steve.C. YNWA

[philsam]

I'm very tempted by Global Entry thanks for the detailed look, I'm nervous about having to go the US for an interview and being from the UK.

[rtb]

Very informative video, Matt. TSA Pre is huge if you travel to the US. Lets say you take a holiday to Las Vegas but your port of entry is DFW or JFK - with your GE, you speed through immigration at DFW or JFK. With TSA Pre, you speed through security to make your onward connecting flight. You'll also speed through security for your flight home. With flight delays what they are these days, not having to unpack your carry-on or remove shoes is a godsend when you are trying to connect off an international flight.

[spg]

Really useful video. Have been debating applying but needed some assurance that one wouldn't end up in a red tape labyrinth.

[TheSickyNicky]

Worth noting that when you renew Global Entry, you CAN use the machines and then go to the global entry interview afterwards. At least, that's what happened when I renewed last year. It was conducted by one of the staff at the immigration desks within a couple of minutes.

[davidglickman]

My initial application was back in 2015. My interview was at Nashville Airport and I remember having a long chat with the officer about the previous night's country music concert at the Grand Old Opry! I have since renewed my application on-line which was a really straightforward and quick process. Been a couple of years since I have last entered the US and am looking forward to a quick and easy entry when I finally return in May with a trp to Madison WI. Not habing to worry about potentially huge immigration lines makes the trip so much less stressful.

[richardedwards]

I love your videos, thanks for them. Got Global Entry last year and it is amazing, so quick. The interview on arrival was a bit of a wait while the queue died down but no matter, worth the wait. It is a great scheme AND the added TSA pre check is a great bonus. The process from start to finish took a while though, about 4 months.

[TheJassal]

Great video Matt, I had been waiting to hear your experience on this for some months now. I have had a great experience from my GE and was inspired by watching your previous videos ☺️