Nobody likes waiting in airport security lines. Many people are looking for ways to get through security faster, like with Global Entry, which gets you into the faster TSA PreCheck lines at U.S. airports.
However, you may have to wait months before you can get at interview at the nearest Global Entry center. It may be hard to get an interview, but some enrollment centers accept Global Entry interview walk in interviews when you are arriving from an international flight.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to get a walk-in interview, where to get it and how to get your Global Entry fee reimbursed with the best cards for Global Entry.
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What is Global Entry?
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency program that allows low-risk travelers expedited clearance through customs upon returning to the U.S. through select airports. To qualify, you’ll have to complete a Global Entry application and have an in-person interview. Once you’re approved for the program you can breeze through customs by heading to the Global Entry kiosks and scanning your passport or U.S. permanent resident card, scanning your fingerprints and then completing a short U.S. customs form.
The Global Entry application fee is $100, but you can get that reimbursed with any of the top credit cards with Global Entry fee credits.
Benefits of Global Entry
Not only can Global Entry save you from waiting in long lines to clear U.S. customs, but you’ll have access to TSA PreCheck expedited security benefits. I’ve found that nothing improves my mood at the airport more than entering the short TSA PreCheck line and not having to remove my belt or take out my laptop when going through the checkpoint.
Plus, Global Entry is valid for five years (just like TSA PreCheck) and you can renew a Global Entry membership up to one year before it expires.
COVID-19 temporarily closes enrollment centers
Per the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website, Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers will be temporarily closed until at least July 6, 2020. This means all public access Global Entry enrollment centers are unavailable, as well as mobile enrollment events.
If you’ve already submitted an application and been conditionally approved to the program, you’ll need to reschedule your appointment to after July 6, 2020, by logging in here.
The good news is that the Enrollment on Arrival program is still operating. If you’ve been conditionally approved, you can finish enrolling the enrollment process when arriving on an international flight at any participating airports.
It’s also worth noting that applicants now have 485 days to complete enrollment from the date you were conditionally approved. Additionally, benefits will be extended extend for up to 18 months for members who apply for renewal before their current membership expires.
How to qualify for a walk-in Global Entry interview
First you must apply for Global Entry and receive conditional approval before scheduling an interview. With many U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents assigned to the southern border, many locations are scheduling Global Entry interviews months in advance.
If you can’t secure an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center nearest to your home, you can try to schedule an interview at a center farther away or you might be able to get an interview on arrival from an international flight at select locations listed below.
Here is how you qualify for an interview on arrival:
- You must already have received conditional approval
- You must be returning from an international trip
- You’ll need to bring your passport, documents providing evidence of residency: a driver’s license with your current address, mortgage statement, rental payment statement, utility bill or a permanent resident card (if applicable)
When you arrive, follow signs directing you to the Customs and Border Protection officers for your Global Entry interview.
What’s the difference between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry?
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are very different.
TSA PreCheck gives you an exclusive lane when passing through most domestic airport security checkpoints. You won’t have to remove toiletries or your computer from your bag. You won’t even need to take off your shoes, jacket or belt. It’s a fantastic upgrade to the entire airport experience — and it’s far more convenient than Global Entry to enroll. Read our TSA PreCheck enrollment review.
Just as TSA PreCheck speeds along your domestic travel, Global Entry speeds along your international travel, as you won’t have to wait in the immigration line. Anyone who travels abroad even a couple of times each year could end up saving hours at customs when re-entering the U.S. Plus, Global Entry comes with TSA PreCheck.
How to get your Global Entry fee reimbursed
When you apply for or renew Global Entry you pay a $100 fee, but you can be reimbursed if you pay with certain credit cards, such as:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
- United℠ Explorer Card
- Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
- Bank of America®️ Premium Rewards®️ credit card
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business, Capital One Venture and Capital One Spark Miles has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The best credit cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck have annual fees, but cards like the United℠ Explorer Card and Capital One Venture card have the annual fees waived for the first year. You can get Global Entry for free if you open either card to pay your fee, and that’s in addition to the rewards you can earn. For example, the Capital One Venture currently has an offer for 50,000 bonus miles (worth at least $500 in travel) after you spend $3,000 on the card in the first three months of account opening.
Many of these cards have made our list of the best credit cards for travel and have perks that easily make it worth paying the annual fee because they have benefits above and beyond a Global Entry fee credit. If you want airport lounge access, free checked bags or just a big introductory bonus, you can get those perks (with many of these cards) on top of your Global Entry fee reimbursement.
Remember, you can use your Global Entry for someone else’s application
If you’re like us, you have multiple cards in the above list. If you’ve got more than one Global Entry credit, you can pay the application fee for a friend with your eligible card and be reimbursed. The credits aren’t just valid for your application.
Global Entry enrollment centers that accept walk-ins
These Global Entry Enrollment Centers accept walk-ins. However, you might have to wait — sometimes only minutes and other times hours — there’s no guarantee you will be seen at all.
Domestic airports
Alabama
Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
- 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Tuesday – Thursday)
Mobile Regional Airport (MOB)
- 8:00 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday)
Alaska
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
- 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- During international flight arrivals
Arizona
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX)
- 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- During international arrivals, Terminal 4
Tucson International Airport (TUS)
- 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. (Tuesday – Friday)
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Saturday – Sunday)
California
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m (Monday – Friday)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
- During international arrivals, Terminal 4
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- During international arrivals
Orange County John Wayne Airport (SNA)
- During international arrivals, Terminal C
Colorado
Denver International Airport (DIA)
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m (Monday – Friday)
- During international arrivals
Connecticut
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
Florida
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Monday – Saturday)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- 8 a.m – 4 p.m (Monday – Friday)
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
- 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
Miami International Airport
- 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Georgia
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
Hawaii
Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
- 6:45 a.m. – 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. (Monday – Friday, appointment only)
Illinois
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday – Friday (Enrollment on arrival available at Booth 58 if returning from foreign)
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- During international arrivals
Indiana
South Bend International Airport (SBN)
- 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Monday – Wednesday)
Kentucky
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- 9 a.m – 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Wednesday)
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. (Thursday)
Louisiana
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
- 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Tuesday – Thursday)
- During international flights
Maryland
Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
- 2:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- During international arrivals
Massachusetts
Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS)
- 7 a.m. – 3 p.m (Monday – Friday)
Michigan
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday – Wednesday, Friday)
- 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Thursday)
Minnesota
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
- During international arrivals (Terminals 1 and 2)
Mississippi
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT)
- 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Wednesday – Friday)
Missouri
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
- 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (Monday and Friday)
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Nevada
Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)
- 8 a.m – 2 p.m. (Monday – Wednesday, Friday)
- 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Thursday)
Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
- During international arrivals
New Jersey
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
New Mexico
Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ)
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport
- 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
- During international arrivals, Federal Inspection Area
North Carolina
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
Ohio
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- 9 a.m – 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Wednesday)
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. (Thursday)
Columbus John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
- During international arrivals
Oregon
Portland International Airport (PDX)
- 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- During international arrivals, Booth 11
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Monday – Thursday)
- 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Saturday – Sunday)
- During international arrivals
Pittsburgh International Airport
- 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Sunday – Thursday)
Tennessee
Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Monday – Wednesday)
Texas
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Saturday – Sunday)
- During international arrivals
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- During international arrivals, Terminal D
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- 8 a.m – 4 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Monday – Friday, requires boarding pass in Terminal E)
- During international arrivals
Houston William P Hobby Airport (HOU)
- 7 a.m – 9 p.m (international concourse, main terminal)
San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Saturday)
- 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Sunday)
- During international arrivals, Terminal A
Utah
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
Virginia
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
Washington
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
International Airports
Aruba
Aruba Queen Beatrix International Airport
- When arriving from an international flight
Bahamas
Grand Bahamas International Airport
- During international departures
Lynden Pindling Nassau International Airport
- During international departures
Bermuda
L.F. Wade International Airport
- 6:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Canada
Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- 4:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- 4:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YYC)
- 5 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Montréal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- 4:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW)
- 4:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)
- 5 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Ireland
Dublin International Airport
- 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday)
Shannon International Airport
- During international departures
United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi International Airport
- During international flight processing
Bottom line
Many Global Entry Enrollment Centers accept walk-ins upon arrival from an international flight, though some have special conditions. Bring a book, because you might have to wait.
But if you have a Global Entry center nearby, or are traveling through an airport on the way back to the U.S. from an international trip, it’s worth checking for a walk-in appointment if you’d otherwise have to wait months to schedule an interview.
Let us know about your experience obtaining a Global Entry interview as a walk-in.
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Featured image by Jacob_09/Shutterstock.
Any updates from anybody on Boston Logan International taking walk-ins ?
does logan allow walk ins
Did you find out?
Can I walk in appointment for an interview at San Jose Airport? I have conditional approval for my renewal of Global Entry but I need to get an interview
@Michael Freitas – were you able to get walkin at SJC?
Does it require an international flight? Or can I walk over from Tijuana and get a walk-in appointment? I’ve been waiting 9 months for an appointment.
We are flying into Honolulu on Saturday, planning on getting our interview then. However, I saw something about “by appointment on Saturday”, so I am concerned.
We are currently ‘stuck’ in South Korea until Saturday and the time difference is 19 hours with Hawaii behind. I am going to try calling to find out for sure.
Have you got to be ‘returning’ to the USA? Can you do a walk in when visiting USA?
Hilton aspire doesn’t credit the global entry fee, your article needs a small correction
Someone should please update/correct/edit this article to indicate that this is ENROLLMENT ON ARRIVAL information.
This does NOT refer to the enrollment centers where you make appointments.
You are confusing and disappointing so many people with this article.