How to get a same-day walk-in appointment at these Global Entry enrollment centers

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No one 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 walk-ins 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.

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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.

Why you should get 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.

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®
• Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®
• Bank of America®️ Premium Rewards®️ credit card
• Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
• Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
• United℠ Explorer Card

The top 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

Alaska

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)

• On arrival from an international flight

Arizona

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

California

John Wayne Airport (SNA)

• 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

• 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Tom Bradley Terminal)
• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Terminal 2)
• 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Terminal 4)
• 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Terminal 7)

Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)

• 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

• 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

• 6 p.m. – 2 a.m.

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

• 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

San Francisco International Airport

• 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Terminal G)
• 9 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Terminal A)

Colorado

Denver International Airport (DIA)

• Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Florida

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

• 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Terminal One)
• 5 a.m. – 12 a.m. (Terminal Four)

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

• 6 a.m. – 12 a.m. (Airside One)
• 6 a.m. – 12 a.m. (Airside Two)

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)

• 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Tampa International Airport (TPA)

• 9am – 10pm

Miami International Airport

• 4 a.m. – 11 p.m. (North Terminal, Concourse D)
• Open 24 hours (South Terminal, Concourse J)

Georgia

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

• 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. (E Concourse)
• 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. (F Concourse)

Hawaii

Honolulu International Airport (HNL)

• 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Illinois

 Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

• On arrival from international flights

 Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

• 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday – Friday (Enrollment on arrival available at Booth 58 if returning from foreign)

Kentucky

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) 

• 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. (daily)
• 11 p.m. – 1 a.m. (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday)

Louisiana

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

• On arrival from an international flight

Maryland

Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)

• 2:15 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Michigan

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

• 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (McNamara Terminal)
• 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (North Terminal)

Minnesota

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)

• On arrival from an international flight (Terminals 1 and 2)

Missouri

Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

• 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.

St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)

• 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.

New Jersey

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

• 5 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Terminal B)
• 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Terminal C)

New York

John F. Kennedy International Airport

• 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. (Terminal 1)
• 24 hours (Terminal 4)
• 6 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. (Terminal 5)
• 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (Terminal 7)
• 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (Terminal 8)

Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)

• Seasonal international flight arrivals with varying times

Nevada

McCarran International Airport (LAS)

• 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

North Carolina

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

• 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Ohio

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

• On arrival from international flights

Oregon

Portland International Airport (PDX)

• 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

• 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Texas

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

• On arrival from international flights

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

• 5 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

• 5 a.m. – 12 a.m.

San Antonio International Airport (SAT)

• 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)

• 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Utah

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

• 12:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Virginia

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

• 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Washington

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

• 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

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.