CBP Suspends Global Entry Enrollment Until July 6 Due to Coronavirus

September 4, 2020 Update – The CBP announced Trusted Traveler enrollment centers will reopen on September 8. This means you will now be able to schedule an in-person interview at your nearest enrollment center to complete the Global Entry application process.

Those looking to complete their Global Entry interview will have to wait a little while longer.

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced Trusted Traveler Enrollment centers will remain closed until July 6, 2020. The statement came via the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and this extends two previously announced closures of enrollment centers. Before Tuesday’s announcement, the CBP closed enrollment centers through May 1 and then through June 1 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This includes Global Entry mobile enrollment events.

While enrollment centers remain closed, enrollment on arrival (EOA) interviews will continue. To be eligible for EOA, you must already be conditionally approved for Global Entry. You must also arrive from an international flight at an eligible United States airport.

What is Global Entry?

Global Entry is one of five United States Trusted Traveler Programs. It allows approved applicants expedited entry through customs upon returning to the United States via land, air, or sea. There is a $100 application fee, but several credit cards provide full reimbursement. Additionally, it includes TSA PreCheck. See our complete Global Entry guide for more information.

Should I Make An Appointment Now?

The CBP says it is continuing to monitor the situation, but it could postpone the reopening date again. As COVID-19 continues to expand in some areas, it is attempting to protect its employees from infection. According to the El Paso Times, 326 CBP officers and border agents had contracted COVID-19 as of early May.

In the meantime, conditionally-approved applications should use the online scheduling tool to make an appointment on July 6 or later. Applicants will receive updates via email and through their Trusted Traveler accounts.

If you do make an appointment and the CBP pushes the date back again, you can simply cancel or reschedule it. Global Entry appointments were notoriously difficult to get before the pandemic, so we recommend scheduling one now if you see a desirable date after July 6.

What About TSA PreCheck and Other Trusted Traveler Programs?

NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST enrollment centers will also remain closed. TSA PreCheck enrollment centers appear to be open for interviews. This is likely because the Transportation Security Administration runs PreCheck. The CBP runs the four other programs, including Global Entry.

The TSA reports over 620 of its agents have tested positive for COVID-19. Regardless, it has not announced plans to shut down its enrollment centers.

Enrollment Timeframe Extended

Before the pandemic, applicants had 365 days to complete the application process from the date of their conditional approval. With enrollment centers closed, applicants now have 485 days to complete the process. If enrollment centers do not open on July 6, expect the CBP to further increase the number of days.

Current members up for renewal also get more time. Those who apply for renewal for their Global Entry membership will have their benefits extended by 18 months.

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

According to a recent survey by The Vacationer, more than 56 percent of participants will not feel comfortable traveling internationally for more than one year. While we love Global Entry’s many benefits, there is no pressure to complete the enrollment process as soon as possible.

Customs lines will be shorter than usual for the foreseeable future with fewer people traveling. As a free alternative, download the Mobile Passport app for expedited entry through customs if the lines happen to be longer than expected.

Featured Image via U.S. Customs and Border Protection