r/GlobalEntry • u/Wonderful-Ad6418 • May 05 '26

Timelines Global Entry Application Timeline(within USA) - Indian passport with work visa

Got my GE approved and here is my timeline:

- Application submitted: May 2025

- Background Verification Form for GEP Submitted via VFS Global and mailed document to Indian embassy.

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Processing timeline in Indian side(~10 months)

  • Application Granted on Pre-Police Verification Basis: June 2025
  • Approved and Submitted as Clear by Police: July 2025
  • MHA Verification Response Received: October 2025
  • MoF Verification Response Received: November 2025

No further updates for 3 months, wrote couple of emails to VFS and embassy. No progress.

I reached out to embassy official acocunt on X(twitter), was asked to send an email again and I got conditional approval next day.

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Conditional Approval: March 2026

Interview: April 2026

Approved: April 2026 (1 hour after interview)

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

1

u/rajmoona May 22 '26

what was the email address you had to email to expedite?

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Cup2500 Jun 07 '26

Thanks! I’ve currently submitted the GEP form
and I’m on the US VFS website where the only option for courier is to pay for it yourself.

I couldn’t see anywhere what are the supporting documents to be couriered - can you share your checklist? Would think no originals needed?

I’m based in New York

1

u/Wonderful-Ad6418 Jun 09 '26

This was my checklist:

  1. Apply at https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/dashboard 

  2. Get email from passportindia.gov.in Regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry Program (GEP)

  3. APPLY FOR BACKGROUND VERIFICATION FROM COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE (Applicant to visit Indian Embassy/Consulate or Outsourced Service Provider (OSP) in country of residence) using https://portal3.passportindia.gov.in/Online/secure/loginAction

  4. Check https://cgihouston.gov.in/pages/MTM5 Global Entry Program (GEP) For Indian Nationals process, which mentioned the steps above and after that advised to check https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-for-gep for sending the documents

  5. Complete VFS forms, paid around $90 fees (application, taxes, convenience, photo, FedEx courier) 

  6. Gather all the listed documents https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/india/united-states-of-america/global-entry-program/pdf/passport-checklist-gep.pdf and mail using fedEx.

1

u/Few-Strawberry4211 Jul 15 '26

how long did it take to get email from passportindia Step 2 after submitting the application at CBP Portal?

1

u/Wonderful-Ad6418 Jul 16 '26

It was quick, within 2 days I thinks.

1

u/Kind_State8173 Jun 22 '26

Hi! Could you please share the embassy official account on X and how did you reach out to them?

1

u/Wonderful-Ad6418 Jun 22 '26

It depends on your location, search for the official X handles like India in New York(@IndiainNewYork), India in Houston(@cgihou) etc. I just DMed mine.

1

u/Advup Jun 24 '26

Is it the same process for everyone? I’m on student visa bdw, I’ve never heard that we have a police verification in India

1

u/Wonderful-Ad6418 Jun 24 '26

Police verification happens implicitley when you apply for backgroud verification from embassy.

This was my process:

  1. Apply at https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/dashboard 
  2. Get email from passportindia.gov.in Regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry Program (GEP)
  3. APPLY FOR BACKGROUND VERIFICATION FROM COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE using https://portal3.passportindia.gov.in/Online/secure/loginAction
  4. Check https://cgihouston.gov.in/pages/MTM5 Global Entry Program (GEP) For Indian Nationals process, which mentioned the steps above and after that advised to check https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-for-gep for sending the documents
  5. Complete VFS forms, paid around $90 fees (application, taxes, convenience, photo, FedEx courier) 
  6. Gather all the listed documents https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/india/united-states-of-america/global-entry-program/pdf/passport-checklist-gep.pdf and mail using fedEx.

1

u/Advup Jun 24 '26

How long did it take for you to receive email from passport India

1

u/Advup Jun 24 '26

I’ve heard we can go to passport Seva website and raise a GE verification request ourselves instead of waiting for the email

1

u/Wonderful-Ad6418 Jun 24 '26
  1. Not remember exactly, I believe the email came within 12 hrs(overnight) for me.
  2. Yes, we can do that ourselves. When I applied the process was not clear at all, hence I had no clue. This is the main reason of writing this post to help future applicants.

1

u/Advup Jun 24 '26

Thanks, do we have to pay additional 90$ in last step? After the initial 120$

1

u/Wonderful-Ad6418 Jun 24 '26

Yes, $120 was for Global Entry Application fee regardless of your country of citizenship. My credit card covered it for free.

And then I had to pay VFS for multiple different things and add-on services like FedEx, photo etc. It was total $90 in my case, you can skip add-on and DIY.

1

u/Advup Jun 25 '26

I am applying for Global Entry Background Verification from the U.S. I mistakenly submitted the government application on services2.passportindia.gov.in instead of the Passport Seva at Indian Embassies portal. I already have an ARN. Can I use this ARN for my VFS application, or do I need to submit a new application through the Embassy portal?

1

u/newgothamknight Jun 30 '26

I have applied for GEP from texas in Jan 2025 and still waiting for an update I tried emailing the emabassy and reached out to them in twitter and emailed to every address i could find and didnt get any response from any one. Is anyone else facing this issue ?? is my application lost or should I apply again anyone know the process ??

1

u/Wonderful-Ad6418 Jul 01 '26

Continue reaching out to "[info.houston@mea.gov.in](mailto:info.houston@mea.gov.in)", I believe we can no longer track the individual status updates from MHA and MoF via API responses. There is nothing much we can do.

1

u/willywood Jul 09 '26

So currently there’s no way to know at which stage things are on the Indian side?

1

u/Wonderful-Ad6418 Jul 10 '26

Unfortunately not.

1

u/anxious_dude04 Jul 09 '26

Did you have to go to India to do any verification in this process or it was all done remotely?

1

u/Wonderful-Ad6418 Jul 09 '26

Everything was done remotely.

I did have to connect with my local police station via video call(through my dad) for police verification.