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My Experience with Global Entry interview on arrival/ Enrollment on Arrival

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Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival

I recently flew back from the United Kingdom and finally had the opportunity to do my Global Entry Interview on Arrival. This is also known as the “Enrollment on Arrival” which is a program designed for those who are conditionally-approved for Global Entry, but require an in-person interview. I originally got Global Entry back in September of 2014 and have encouraged any-and-everyone I know to sign up.

I’d highly recommend reading our full breakdown of Global Entry here.

My Global Entry was up for renewal in September of 2019, and during the renewal process I, unfortunately, didn’t land an automatic renewal. Long story short, it required me to complete an interview to get fully approved. Almost 2 years later…Here’s how it went.

It’s been 2 years for a couple of reasons…

  • When you’re conditionally approved you can continue to use the kiosks ( I believe this is usually 6 months, but Covid has created multiple extensions )
  • Last week was the first time I’d flown back into the country since January of 2020

Who can do Enrollment on Arrival or Interview on Arrival

Straight from the horse’s mouth:

What is Enrollment on Arrival? Global Entry applicants who are conditionally-approved can complete their interviews, the last step of the Global Entry process, while they are clearing through United States Customs and Border Protection or Pre-Clearance.

Where can I complete my enrollment on arrival or interview on arrival?

Enrollment on Arrival is now available at the following locations:

  1. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  2. Abu Dhabi international Airport (AUH)
  3. Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix in Oranjestad, Aruba (AUA)
  4. Baltimore/Washington International Airport (MWI)
  5. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
  6. Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
  7. Calgary International Airport (YYC)
  8. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
  9. Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
  10. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
  11. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
  12. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  13. Denver International Airport (DEN)
  14. Detroit Metropolitan International Airport (DTW)
  15. Dublin Airport (DUB)
  16. Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
  17. Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
  18. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  19. Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
  20. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston
  21. Halifax International Airport (YHZ)
  22. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  23. Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
  24. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (JFK)
  25. John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
  26. Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
  27. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  28. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
  29. Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK)
  30. McCarren International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas
  31. Miami International Airport (MIA)
  32. Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
  33. Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
  34. Luis Munoz Marin International Airport San Juan (SJU)
  35. Lynden Pindling Nassau International Airport (NAS)
  36. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
  37. Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport(SJC)
  38. O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago
  39. Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  40. OrlandoSanford International Airport (SFB)
  41. Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
  42. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
  43. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  44. Portland International Airport (PDX)
  45. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
  46. Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
  47. Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
  48. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  49. San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
  50. San Diego International Airport (SAN)
  51. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  52. Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
  53. Shannon Airport (SNN)
  54. St. George’s Bermuda International Airport (BDA)
  55. St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
  56. Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  57. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
  58. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
  59. Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
  60. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
  61. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston
  62. Winnipeg James Armstrong international Airport(YWG)

Check the CBP.gov website for an updated list of participating airports.

Which credit cards reimburse the fee?

Here’s a list of cards that will give you a statement credit when you use them to pay for Global Entry.

How was my experience at Chicago O’Hare?

I recently flew in from London ( Mid July 2021 ) and completed my Enrollment on Arrival after I landed. As a point of reference, I had a fantastic flight using 57.5k Alaska miles to fly on AA’s 787-9.

a person wearing a face mask in an airplane

Pictures are prohibited so here is the play by play

As an FYI, while you’re conditionally approved, you can continue to use the Global Entry kiosks – I thought I needed to see an agent, but was told that it was unnecessary and to simply go through the Global Entry kiosks, then proceed to the interview.

  • I proceeded to an agent who instructed me to hop in line for enrollment on arrival – if you stand with your back to the Global Entry kiosks, the line was queued along the wall, the furthest to the left
  • I was 3rd in line and I waited for roughly 25-30 minutes
    • There was a family that took roughly 20 minutes
    • The couple who was in front of me took about 5-7 minutes minutes
  • When it was my turn I simply handed the agent my passport, my ID ( which wasn’t used ), and my old Global Entry card.
    • I was interviewed – pretty much have you ever been arrested, is everything still accurate
  • In total, the interview was 5 to 7 minutes
  • I was approved

Here is what the CBP requests you bring to your enrollment on arrival

In addition to your entrydocument (e.g., your passport), you will need documents providing evidence of residency. Examples are driver’s license (if the address is current), mortgage statement, rental payment statement, utility bill, etc. This is not required for minors.

After I was approved, everything was handed back to me, and I was told I’d receive a new card in the mail + a new number. However, as far as the system is concerned, I.e. how its linked to my passport, I’m good to go with Global right now. The biggest reason I even need the number is because of TSA Pre and loading my trusted traveler number on my loyalty accounts so it auto-populates at booking.

I would budget 30 to 45 minutes for the process. I thought it would be 5 or 10 and I’d breeze through, but parties with multiple members may take longer. Luckily my arriving flight was early and we had extra time to spare otherwise, had it been a tighter connection, we would have been in a pickle.

Overall – super easy and I’d highly recommend if you qualify/ need to.

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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1 Comment

  • John July 20, 2021

    I wonder why you got a new number? I have renewed twice now, and kept the same number throughout.

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