In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced a number of changes to its Trusted Traveler Programs, including Global Entry.
First, CBP is extending Trusted Traveler Program benefits up to 18 months for members who apply for renewal before their current membership expires. This means that if your Global Entry is due to expire, you can continue to use it for a year and a half after its expiration date. However, you must apply for the renewal before that expiration date, a process that includes an online application providing your personal details and paying the nonrefundable $100 fee. (As a reminder, the following luxury credit cards offer the $100 Global Entry statement credit every four to five years: Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Citi Prestige® Card, Mastercard® Black Card™, Mastercard® Gold Card™, The Platinum Card® from American Express, and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card.) This grace period simply keeps the application active up to 18 months, until it can be formally approved and should keep your existing Global Entry PASS ID active until then.
Next, for those seeking first-time membership in any of CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs, the agency has extended the temporary closure of Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers until at least June 1, 2020. According to its website, “CBP is taking this precautionary measure to minimize the exposure of CBP personnel and the public to the novel coronavirus. The temporary closure applies to all public access Global Entry enrollment centers, NEXUS enrollment centers, SENTRI enrollment centers and FAST enrollment locations. Conditionally-approved applicants who seek an enrollment center interview will need to reschedule after June 1.” Given June 1 is a tentative date for reopening, we’d recommend scheduling after July 1 to avoid having to possibly reschedule.
Surprisingly, CBP’s Enrollment on Arrival process remains active. After applying online and obtaining conditional approval for Global Entry, conditionally approved applicants can still complete their Global Entry in-person interviews on their international flights back into the United States. Said interviews are available at 42 domestic airports and 15 abroad. We’re not sure who’s taking international flights these days, but, hey, Enrollment on Arrival is ready for those who do! All that’s required is a passport, having received conditional approval during the online application process, and following the sometimes-hard-to-find signage leading you to CBP officers who can conduct the interview. (It’s also a good idea to look on the CBP’s official Enrollment on Arrival website for more specifics on the locations within the airport.) At US airports, you’ll do this interview after arriving from an international flight. At airports abroad, you’ll do your interview upon leaving the international destination and “entering” the Unites States through pre-clearance within the confines of the airport. International airports with CBP pre-clearance include Aruba, Bermuda, several in Canada, Ireland, the Bahamas, and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Finally, it’s important to note that Global Entry renewals are not possible for New York residents. Recall that early in 2020, the program specifically began to preclude residents of the Empire State from applying or reenrolling in this international self-check-in process due to the passing of the state’s “Green Light Law” or the “Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act,” which restricts DHS departments like U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from accessing individuals’ criminal history without a court order. Unfortunately, there has been no resolution on this front and New Yorkers remain subject to this controversial Global Entry ban.
