Last updated: January 2026
We get this question more than any other: "I just applied for Global Entry — when will I actually have it?"
The honest answer is it depends, but after watching tens of thousands of applicants go through the process, here's what we've seen.
The three waits
Getting Global Entry means sitting through three separate waits, back to back.
Wait #1: Conditional approval (2–8 weeks). After you pay $120 and submit your application on the DHS Trusted Traveler Programs site, a CBP officer reviews your background. Most people hear back in 3–4 weeks, but it stretches to 8+ weeks during busy periods — especially January through March, when everyone's New Year's resolution is "travel more."
One thing that consistently causes delays: mismatched info. If your middle name is on your passport but not on your application, expect extra weeks. Double-check everything.
Wait #2: Getting an interview appointment (the hard part). This is where people get stuck. You've been conditionally approved, great — now you need to sit down with a CBP officer at an enrollment center, and the next available appointment might be months away.
How bad is it? At popular locations like JFK, LAX, and O'Hare, we regularly see wait times of 60+ days. But here's what most people don't realize: smaller centers often have appointments within a week or two. More on that below.
Wait #3: The interview itself (~10 minutes). This is the easy part. Show up with your passport and a photo ID, answer a few questions about your travel, get your fingerprints taken, and you're done. Most people walk out in under 15 minutes wondering what they were so nervous about.
The enrollment center trick
The single biggest thing you can do to speed up the process is pick a less popular enrollment center.
Wait times vary wildly — we're talking 5 days at one center versus 90 days at another, sometimes in the same state. A few examples from what we're seeing right now:
- Eisenhower Park on Long Island often has appointments this week, while JFK is booked out two months
- The Chicago Field Office downtown runs way shorter than O'Hare
- Nashville and Kansas City rarely exceed a two-week wait
Our locations page shows real-time wait times at every center. It's worth checking centers within a few hours' drive — the interview takes 10 minutes, so even a road trip beats waiting three months.
Catching cancellations
Here's the other thing: appointments cancel all the time. Someone books an interview at DFW and then realizes they can't make it. That slot goes back into the system and someone else snags it — often within minutes.
That's what Global Entry Alerts does. We check every enrollment center every few minutes and text you the moment a slot opens up. 85% of our users book their interview within 10 days of signing up, even at the busiest locations.
You can also try checking the TTP scheduling page manually a few times a day. Cancellations are random though, so it's a bit like refreshing a sold-out concert ticket page.
A note on Enrollment on Arrival
If you fly internationally into certain airports, you might be able to skip the appointment entirely through Enrollment on Arrival (EoA). The idea is that you do your interview right after clearing customs.
It works, but don't count on it — not every airport offers it, the hours are limited, and the lines can be long after a busy international arrival. Think of it as a nice bonus if it happens, not a plan.
The bottom line
Start to finish, most people go from application to completed interview in about 4–8 weeks. The conditional approval part is mostly out of your hands. The interview scheduling part is where you have leverage: be flexible on location, watch for cancellations, and sign up for alerts if you want to automate the hard part.
We've helped over 25,000 travelers skip the wait since 2020. Sign up here if you want in.