No one likes waiting in airport security lines, especially lately!
Although there’s been recent good news that Congress has approved funds to add more TSA screeners, many folks are looking for ways to get through security faster. Like with Global Entry, which gets you into the faster TSA PreCheck lanes at US airports.
However, you often have to wait months before you can get at interview at your nearest Global Entry center. But did you know many enrollment centers accept walk-ins without a reservation?
I’ll share the current walk-in policies of most enrollment centers.
Centers That WILL Accept Walk-Ins
Link: Addresses of Global Entry Enrollment Centers
These centers said they will accept walk-ins. However, you’ll probably have to wait — sometimes hours — and there is NO guarantee you will be seen.
Arizona
Nogales, Arizona Enrollment Center
- Very welcoming to walk-ins, though you may need to wait
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
- Expect a long wait
Tucson International Airport
- Come after 5:00 pm and they will try to fit you in
California
San Francisco International Airport
- Only accepts 6 walk-ins per day, and you must be in line before 8:00 am. Most start waiting in line very early. You can expect to wait anywhere between 45 minutes and 7 hours.
District of Columbia
Washington, DC, Enrollment Center
Florida
Miami International Airport
- Come after 6:00 pm for shorter wait
West Palm Beach, Florida, Enrollment Center
- Only accepted between 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm daily
Georgia
Atlanta Port Office, US Customs House
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Minnesota
Grand Portage, Minnesota Enrollment Center
- Walk-ins are often seen. Call ahead for best availability.
Warroad, Minnesota Enrollment Center
New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport
North Dakota
Pembina, North Dakota Enrollment Center
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh International Airport
Puerto Rico
San Juan – Luis Munoz Marin International Airport
Qatar
Doha, Qatar, Enrollment Center
Texas
Laredo, Texas, Enrollment Center
San Antonio International Airport
- Must call ahead to be placed on the wait-list schedule.
Centers That MAY Accept Walk-Ins
At these centers, you’re less likely to be seen as walk-in. It might just depend on the officer’s mood!
Idaho
Boise Enrollment Center
Maryland
Baltimore / Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Massachusetts
Boston – Logan International Airport
Michigan
Detroit Metropolitan Airport
- Needs managerial approval. Try early Friday morning around 6:00 am to 8:00 am.
Sault Saint Marie, Michigan Enrollment Center
- Must have a future appointment scheduled with this site to be considered.
Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri, Enrollment Center
- Needs managerial approval
Montana
Sweetgrass, Montana, Enrollment Center
New Jersey
Newark Liberty International Airport
New Mexico
Albuquerque International Sunport Airport
- Depends on cancellations
North Carolina
Charlotte – Douglas International Airport
- Depends on cancellations.
New York
Champlain, New York, Enrollment Center
- They may take you early if you have an appointment that very same day
Texas
Hidalgo, Texas, Enrollment Center
- Must have a future appointment scheduled with this site to be considered
Houston Central Library
- Rare, but possible
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport
- Inside terminal E, requires boarding pass
- Policy states no walk-ins, but they often make exceptions
Washington
Seattle – Tacoma International Airport
- Must have a future appointment scheduled with this site to be considered
Centers That Will NOT Accept Walk-Ins
Alaska
Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport
Arizona
San Luis, Arizona Enrollment Center
California
Calexico, California, Enrollment Center
Los Angeles International Airport
Otay Mesa, California, Enrollment Center
San Ysidro, California, Enrollment Center
Colorado
Denver International Airport
Florida
Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando – Sanford International Airport
Tampa International Airport
Hawaii
Honolulu International Airport
Illinois
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Kentucky
Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport
Michigan
Detroit, Michigan, Enrollment Center
Port Huron, Michigan, Enrollment Center
Minnesota
Minneapolis / St. Paul International Airport
Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri, Enrollment Center
Nevada
Las Vegas McCarran International Airport
New York
Bowling Green US Customs House
Niagara Falls, New York, Enrollment Center
Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio, Enrollment Center
Port Clinton, Ohio, Enrollment Center
Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport
Oregon
Portland International Airport
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia International Airport
Rhode Island
Warwick, Rhode Island Enrollment Center
Tennessee
Nashville Enrollment Center
Texas
Austin – Bergstrom International Airport
Brownsville, Texas, Enrollment Center
Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport
El Paso, Texas, Enrollment Center
Utah
Salt Lake City International Airport
Seattle, Washington Enrollment Center
Washington
Birch Bay Enrollment Center
Seattle, Washington, Enrollment Center
Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Enrollment Center
Vermont
Derby Line, Vermont, Enrollment Center
Cards That Offer Free Global Entry
Global Entry costs $100 and is valid for 5 years. But the fee is refunded if you pay with one of these cards:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN
- The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®
- Citi Prestige® Card
With these cards, you’re eligible for the fee reimbursement once every 5 years.
Bottom Line
Many Global Entry enrollment centers will accept walk-ins, though some have special conditions. Bring a book, because you’ll probably have to wait!
But if you have a Global Entry center nearby, or are traveling through an airport with a location, it’s worth checking for a walk-in appointment if you’d otherwise have to wait months for a spot.
Let me know about your experience obtaining a Global Entry interview as a walk-in!
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Any updates from anybody on Boston Logan International taking walk-ins ?
Did you find out?
Apparently this isn’t monitored in any way, nor is it updated. The 2016 info is pretty useless.
Currently they don’t allow walk ins at jfk.
Anyone have any information on Tampa International Airport TIA for walk-ins?
No walk-ins at JFK today.
Wasted a lot of time.
If you wanna try, don’t ask any officer. Just sign the sheet and wait. Who knows?
JFK told me when I arrived that they no longer accept walk ins
because of the influx of so many applicants coming in as walk-ins, seattle now does not take walk ins on a regular basis.