The Global Entry fee has gone up and is now $120 for the application (which is nonrefundable), you have to wait to be approved (which sometimes takes forever), you then have to schedule an interview (which is sometimes 6+ months down the line) and then go in person for the interview (which is never convenient). Is it worth it?
What is Global Entry?
Global Entry is a program run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows pre-approved, low-risk international travelers to expedite their entry into the United States by bypassing long lines at passport control and using dedicated kiosks at participating airports; essentially providing faster customs clearance when arriving in the U.S.
NOTE: This is only for when entering the U.S.
What does Global Entry cost?
Global entry has a $120 (this is a recent increase from the previously $100) nonrefundable application fee that does not guarantee being approved. If you are approved, you will need to renew and pay the $120 again after 5 years. Split into cost per year, that’s $20 per year. Now, is that worth it to you?
How does Global Entry work when going through customs?
When going through customs with Global Entry, you will look for a sign that specifically says Global Entry. It will often be small and off to the side away from where most of the travelers are directed to go.
You will walk up to a kiosk, put your passport face down on the scanner and look into the camera. Within 15-30 seconds, it scans your passport and then the screen directs you to proceed to the CBP officer.
There will be a CBP officer there who will either say your name to which you confirm you are that person and they waive you through or they ask you if you have anything to declare.
The entire process usually takes 2-5 minutes and there are rarely any lines.
Is Global Entry worth it? Cost and barrier-to-entry considerations.
Due to work, I travel internationally about 3 times a year. Ever since Global Entry, I have not had a single customs experience entering into the U.S. take longer than 5 minutes. Ever.
Customs lines can be notoriously long especially at peak lines and can take up to several hours. I am personally a very anxious traveler. While I do like to get the airport with time to spare so that I’m not having a panic attack if getting to my gate is delayed for whatever reason, I personally don’t like spending time anywhere other than a lounge in the airport longer than I need to. Global Entry means that I can get to the baggage claim faster which means, depending on whether it’s a layover, I can get to the baggage claim faster to recheck my bags, go through security again and then get to a lounge before my next flight.
Also, Global Entry includes TSA Precheck. That means that in addition to flying through customs, you can now get in the shorter security line all for the same price. While you’re at it, I’d highly recommend getting Clear. Read more about my thoughts on Clear here.
Eventually, it gets down to two things: 1) time and 2) quality of life while traveling.
$20 per year is less than 1 month of Netflix and will save you an immense amount of time at some point if you travel internationally. My opinion? From a cost perspective it’s totally worth it.
Okay but what about all the other steps of getting Global Entry? Isn’t that a hassle?
Let’s take a look what getting Global Entry entails:
Submitting the online application
Waiting for the application to be conditionally approved
Scheduling an in person interview at the closest location (often your airport)
Going to the in person interview
Step 2 is probably the most time consuming part of it and it’s the one thing you have no control over.
After completing my fair share of Global Entry for execs I’ve supported, I’d say this usually gets approved quite quickly if you don’t have an extensive travel history. It can take quite a while if you have traveled a lot in the last 5 years and even longer if you have traveled to certain countries within those last 5 years. So if you have, and I’m sure you can imagine which countries would be flagged, you can be waiting on the spectrum of months. Example: I completed this for one exec and his family – his wife and two daughters were approved within, I want to say, 1-2 weeks. He, however, took something like 2-3 months to get conditionally approved.
Step 3 can be the next most time consuming step. More often than not, where a Global Entry interview is nearest you either isn’t close or is very far into the future. For the latter, one thing that has always worked for me is constantly checking the site to see if there have been cancellations – usually there have been. And you can inch closer to the current date. I’ve also checked at crazy hours like midnight or 4AM which was actually when I got the best / soonest appointment times. As for the former issue of an interview not being close to you (because they are only offered in certain and not all airports), one workaround can be that when you are returning to the states from international travel, you can do a walk-in appointment for Global Entry as long as that airport offers Global Entry interviews. You’ll still have to go through the normal customs line that time to get through but once you’re through, there will usually be a door or a sign with a large placard saying Global Entry Interviews.
The interview itself is really quite short. You answer a series of yes or no questions that for most Americans will be no brainers, they take your picture, you will need to bring some documentation with you and then you’re done! Global Entry is now linked to your passport so they may send you a card like they used to (which is when I got mine) or they now may not.
So now from a barrier to entry perspective, is Global Entry worth it? My answer would still be yes. A bit of a hassle up from but it is a security based program. Again, I think the long term return pays off in dividends and it’s absolutely worth it.
Read my Global Entry: How to Get It & How It Works learning here.
Wondering about TSA Precheck vs. Global Entry? Read my opinion here.
So TLDR, should I get Global Entry or tell my executive get it (which probably means do it for them)?
YES. It is totally worth it.
Make the investment for yourself and tell your executive they absolutely must have it – it’s a game changer.
Again, there does need to be the need of traveling internationally and going through US customs but it’s highly likely that even if you aren’t traveling internationally, your executive is. Tell them they should get it if they haven’t already and lay out for them everything they need to get it done if not complete it for them. They’ll thank you later.
And remember, if you or your executive don’t already have it, you should also get Clear. Read about that here.
Have any learnings about Global Entry that you’d like to share? Would love to hear them! Share them in the comments below.
