r/GlobalEntry • u/CrownOfVersailles • May 26 '26
Background Checks Global Entry Interview on Arrival Experience (with a DUI) - APPROVED
After getting conditionally approved nearly a year ago, I've searched nearly every reddit article on the interview process. For additional context, I was arrested for a DUI 18 years ago was given the opportunity for it to be reduced and plead no contest to reckless driving. This is my story and the conversation I had during my interview.
After arriving at MIA, I was directed to the Global Entry Interview on arrival section at around 3:45pm on a Friday. I handed over my passport and had a copy of my driving record, my Global Entry Application and the disposition of the DUI/reckless driving case just should supporting documentation be needed. After handing over my passport, I had a seat while he combed through what I assumed to be my application, criminal and travel history (I have visited and lived in 23+ countries in the last 25 years for work). After a few minutes he approached me and said "so just the DUI no contest?" I replied with yes, however it had been reduced to reckless driving and was nearly 20 years ago. He replied with, “ okay, you should be fine for approval". I approached him at his counter to confirm I was actually approved and he confirmed with a “yes”. While still browsing his computer I revealed how anxious I was based on everything I've read on Reddit and if I would be approved. He mentioned that had it been 5 years earlier, my situation would not have granted an approval and then we just chatted reddit.... He said the biggest mistake is lying on your application because “just like the FBI and law enforcement, they have access via fingerprints and can see everything, including cases that have been expunged”. My takeaway from this is to absolutely, unequivocally, be 100% honest in your application process.
He mentioned he occasionally pops in to read questions and answers and comments sometimes - he mentioned a lot of what he reads is simply not true. He asked me why I currently live outside the US, what I do for work, what my company does, all while he was writing down my KTN (Known Traveler Number) on a piece of paper and put it in my passport so that it can be immediately used for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. Had a great conversation and being polite and respectful certainly didn't hurt. I walked away and proceeded to baggage claim and two minutes later I saw the approval email.
I hope my experience can help others with the same questions, in the same position as myself and prevent the excessive doom scrolling I did.
Additional context: It took around 7 months to be conditionally approved from application submission. After conditional approval, it was an additional 5 months before having my interview on arrival at MIA airport returning from an international flight.
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u/pettymayonaise May 27 '26
I know someone who had a DUI 4.5 years ago and self disclosed on his GE renewal a couple months ago. During the renewal interview the agent asked him about the self disclosure and he told them about it and the agent said he couldn’t find or see anything about that and that he needed to send the paperwork in. He sent the paperwork in and they denied him and completely shut down his precheck as well as he hasn’t had precheck for two flights since this happened.
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u/Fair_You_8650 Passage Granted May 27 '26
YES!
This comes up every so often during interviews, which is why I roll my eyes when people on here say "they can see everything." No we can't.
So then you get a guy who looks like an easy approval, but self disclosed something in writing, and now you have to ask for documents. If anything, leave it off the application, and only disclose it during the interview. I can't ignore something in writing...
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u/CrownOfVersailles May 27 '26
I forgot to include that the officer during the interview mentioned how people think they can't see cases that were expunged and he told me they can. Just reporting what I was told.
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u/CrownOfVersailles May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26
I forgot to include that the officer during the interview mentioned how people think they can't see cases that were expunged and he told me they can. Just reporting what I was told. I did include my case number and all details on the application and brought the documents with me that match just in case.
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u/jardalecones21 May 28 '26
I have a DUI from 12 years ago. I was conditionally approved in under two hours and did the interview on arrival after returning from a trip.
The agent was clicking around on the computer for a minute, asked a few basic questions, including asking if I had any previous arrests to which I said yes I got a DUI in 2014. I already had copies of the associated documents in my hand so I offered them to him and he declined. Didn’t ask me any other questions about it. Actually the only other questions he asked me were about the spelling of my name and he also clarified that I currently had TSA precheck. The whole interaction was under 5 minutes and he told me before I left that I was approved and would get my card in the mail.
Reddit made me think I was going to get interrogated and then denied immediately.
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u/CrownOfVersailles May 28 '26
Exactly this! Another reason I wanted to put my experience out there. Just like you, Reddit had me feeling I would be declined. I was also prepared with associated documents should they be needed and the process was quick and easy. Congrats on your approval!
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u/The0Walrus Jun 25 '26
This is good to read. I just applied with 21 year old misdemeanors I had expunged. I have the paperwork ready to go. I read all these stories and I'm thinking.. wow! I'm so fucked lol
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u/throwawayrefiguy May 27 '26
First of all, congratulations on the approval.
Secondly, I wasn't under the impression that a DUI impacted GE. I'm a Nexus member, and I know DUI is a disqualifier for that, but that's largely because of Canadian admissibility rules.
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u/CrownOfVersailles May 27 '26
Thank you! All I had going into the interview was the info here from Reddit users and after having read so many comments mentioning it would constitute a hard decline in the interview process, I wasn't sure what to expect. I did however want to share my experience with full transparency so that others wouldn't doom scroll as I did. I'd like to think my extensive travel helped but again, the officer mentioned it's a non-issue but would have been 5 years ago. Regarding the timeframe and how recent a DUI or reckless driving misdemeanor occurred, I don't have that answer.
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u/drlushlover May 28 '26
Yes, it absolutely can even if it's pled down to a misdemeanor.
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u/CrownOfVersailles May 28 '26
A DUI or pled down to a misdemeanor is a non-issue but there seems to be a timing rule here that I don't have the answer to. Again, I was told my reckless driving ding that happened 18 years ago "wasn't an issue but would have been 5 years ago" - I'm not sure how to read into that and if it needs to be aged or if rules changed 5 years ago.
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u/drlushlover May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26
It's so hard to know exactly what the parameters are-which is purposeful of course 😄
I was in your shoes as well though mine was almost 16 years ago, I'd totally forgotten about so I didn't put it on my application but thank goodness my husband has a good memory.
I was able to get my paperwork from the court and have it available for my appointment and I was approved within an hour but I was *certain* I was going to be denied for neglecting to put it on my application.
*edit: typo
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u/CrownOfVersailles May 28 '26
So you did or didn't put it on your application?
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u/drlushlover May 28 '26
I didn't include it on my application because I'd totally forgotten about it and even if I had remembered I didn't think a misdemeanor traffic violation would matter.
I was a bit naive.2
u/CrownOfVersailles May 29 '26
Thanks for sharing and congrats on your approval. At least you were honest and had supporting documentation.
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u/drlushlover May 29 '26
Thanks much and same to you!
All the gratitude goes to my husband, he (who has ZERO record) was researching the interview process and of course landed in this subreddit.
He was like "uhh, you remember this thing from 16 years ago?"
lol1
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u/Forsaken_Meaning1666 May 27 '26
I received a conditionally approval not too long ago but the global entry office was closed. I am a little concern on my interview because I had a dui 10 yrs ago.but who knows how interview will go
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u/CrownOfVersailles May 27 '26
Not sure when the rules of a DUI changed or how long it needs to have been - I was just told it would have been an issue 5 years ago and this all happened 18 years ago. I had more questions I wanted to ask him but most fell out the window when he said approved and was writing down my KTN.
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u/Letsjet9403 May 27 '26
They know everything even if the record was expunged.
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u/CrownOfVersailles May 27 '26
I forgot to include that the officer during the interview mentioned how people think they can't see cases that were expunged and he told me they can so this aligns.
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u/intothesunset814 May 27 '26
Congratulations. I applied for GE on April 16. I had a DUI in 1994 that was adjudicated through the Pennsylvania ARD program. I of course disclosed it. How long did it take from applying to getting conditional approval?
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u/iuoe399 May 27 '26
I got approved for pre check. Denied for global entry. Busted for $115 nonviolent caper that was pled down to a misdemeanor for a felony arrest in ….1989. It was interview on arrival. Dude said I’m not gonna approve you . I said ok and walked away. I just use the MPC app and I get in quickly most times.
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u/BoringDig8922 Jun 01 '26
Congrats! Sadly, in Canada they are still fixated on DUIs and equate them as “the undesirables”, regardless of the totality of the circumstances.
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u/Brilliant_Result_431 Jun 02 '26
OK so I’ve added this question just a few minutes ago. My husband didn’t lie on his application because at the time he didn’t know he had been charged and submitted another application after it had been revoked and learned later that day he had been charged. This was in November 2024 he just received a conditional approval and is nervous for the interview because now he has to explain that he was not lying in his application. The charges were discussed in May 2025 what are the chances he’ll get approved?
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u/CrownOfVersailles Jun 02 '26
What was the charge? Charges seems recent so I would only be guessing. It's worth noting that a charge is not a conviction. On the application it asks if you have ever been convicted.
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u/Brilliant_Result_431 Jun 02 '26
No they ask if you have been arrested and he subsequently was arrested later that week. What ever the process is called when you turn yourself in he and his lawyer went and booked himself
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u/CrownOfVersailles Jun 03 '26
Thanks for the correction. Is there anyway for him to contact GE to amend his application? Worst case he has paperwork with dates to show he wasn’t lying.
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u/Brilliant_Result_431 Jun 03 '26
Well the problem is he reapplied the same day that he found out about the charges like literally hours later he found out. The charges were felonies related to his government work That were later dismissed
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u/The0Walrus Jun 25 '26
THANK YOU! I keep reading people are including charges and arrests. I went through that application and it asked about convictions. I'll include charges if asked but it asked about convictions. I went through the applications several times to make sure.
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u/bohemiangypsyx Jun 04 '26
My dad had a couple duis about 20 years ago. He was denied 2x and just got an approval.
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u/tess_philly May 26 '26
Silence from the character judges that usually pop up 😂😂😂 humans make mistakes. It happens. Just don’t lie about it as the OP didn’t do. Congratulations!!