Global Entry Application & Interview Process for San Diego Wanderlusters
Applying for Global Entry:
Below is the snippet of the instructions provided on the US CBP website.
Good Reads on the Application & Interview Process:
OneMileataTime – Global Entry Kids Edition
LaJollaMom – More specific to San Diego
Good Reads on Global Entry Renewal Process:
Good Reads on Credit Cards that offer Fee Credits for Global Entry:
Our general observation is Amex Credits are much quicker(2-3days) than Citi. Citi provides credit at the end of the billing period. Here is some data point from us.
Our Experience:
Family of 3. Two Adults (Indian Citizens, Green Card) & one Preschooler(US Citizen).
Two Adults – Amex Platinum Credit. One Card Holder & other is a Additional User.
Preschooler – Citi Prestige Credit.
Created my GOES account 09/28/2015. Finished my application on 04/19/2016 & paid the fees. The Credit reflected on 04/21/2016.
Created my Spouse’s GOES account 10/05/2016. Finished my spouse’s application on 04/28/2016 & paid the fees. The Credit reflected on 04/30/2016.
Created our Preschooler’s GOES account on 04/27/2016. Finished our Preschooler’s application on 04/28/2016 & paid the fees. The Credit reflected on 05/10/2016.
Conditional Approval Email for me received on 04/25/2016
Conditional Approval Email for my Spouse received on 05/02/2016
Conditional Approval Email for our Preschooler received on 05/04/2016
I scheduled my Interview Appointment on June 30th end of April even before I applied for my spouse & our Preschooler hoping that I could align their appointments with mine as well. Once I goth their conditional Approval, I was able to schedule their Interview Appointment on June 30th at the same Time window. Me & my spouse were scheduled for 11.45a.m & our Preschooler was scheduled for noon.
Interview location was Otay Mesa Sentri Office.
Google Maps did provide the right direction to the Sentri Office. The direction advice in the CBP email comes handy when you have to go through two Road Closed signs to get to the Sentri Visitor Parking.
Limited Parking available. Leave amply time for your interview just in case you have to hunt for a parking spot. There are paid parking areas nearby as well.
We drove from UTC/Lajolla area & it took us 40 mins to reach the Sentri Office at Otay Mesa. This was a Thursday afternoon & we got lucky with a parking spot so we made into the building at 11.46a.m for our 11.45a.m appointment.
We had to check-in for our appointment & there was just one person ahead of us to check-in. We provided our interview time to the Check-in officer & also our Passport, DL & Green Card. We just had to provide Passport for our Preschooler. We had to wait until a interviewing officer called us. We were called in at 12.00 for the interview. The officer was quite jovial & was having fun with our Preschooler so it pretty much felt nothing like an interview with just few formal questions & then photo & finger prints. They did take fingerprints for our preschooler but the officer mentioned that fingerprint would be waived at the Global Entry kiosk for the kid.
Final Approval received me & my spouse on 07/02/2016. Waiting on the approval for our Preschooler. Hoping it would show up before our August trip. The conditional approval letter already has the Global Entry Membership number which serves as the KTN number to be eligible for the TSA precheck. After our approval, I already provided the KTN number to our reservations for the trip in August. Global Entry is tied to the Green Card & the Passport. Global Entry Card is needed only for the Land crossing & for air travel all we would need is the Green Card & the passport.
Here are the things that would need you to visit Sentri Office again: No appointment needed. Need to call in & then walk in to the office.
- Address Change
- Green Card Renewed
- New Passport
Here are the things that doesn’t need a visit to the Sentri Office again:
- DL renewal
Update 07/11/2016:
Both myself & my spouse received our Global Entry Card on 07/09/2016. Still waiting on final approval for our Preschooler.
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About The Author
Points Enthusiast
Full Time RF Electronics Engineer with a passion for Travel & Sports. Currently live in San Diego,CA. Both my dear wife & our lovely toddler boy love outdoor activities. As a family we plan to have fun & explore the world through Points/Miles & loyalty programs. :)
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Thanks for the info! I received my conditional approval today and made an appointment at Otay Mesa in a couple weeks on a Monday at 2pm. I’m driving from Poway and traveling mid September. Is that a good time or should I change to another?? 6am is brutal but want to know if it’s worth changing to a morning appointment.
Kathy your September travel shouldn’t be a problem if you have a appointment in July because the final approval comes through within 2-3 business days after the interview & you could update your travel reservation with KTN number right away for air travel. The Global Entry card should arrive within 7-10days if you plan cross the border on land. It’s a tough guess what time would be the best. If it were me I would opt for 2pm instead of 6am.. Have fun traveling & exploring.