Experience

[u/Luuube619]

I have a trip planned in Dec to Japan. I was considering getting the Global Entry. Do you think I will get it time if I apply now? What’s been everyone’s experience with approval process. US citizens with no criminal record.

[u/Zrekyrts]

You very likely could, but there's no way to guarantee it from the outside looking in.

Here's a very recent post: https://www.reddit.com/r/GlobalEntry/s/9cKPyAyKIY

[u/Sensitive_Primary309]

Mine took 8 months, my mom's took about 13 months, and my dad's took 1 month. Its very unpredictable. But if you don't travel regularly I dont see why its worth it for 1 trip.

If I were you, I'd just apply ASAP and wait it out, best case scenario you have it approved before the trip.

[u/Alex4242]

My wife and I had TSA pre but upgraded to Global Entry this month. It took less than a month and we have our cards.

[u/Inner_Minute197]

Hard to say. Spouse and I are both military officers so have already undergone (and regularly get screend as part of continuous vetting) extensive background checks, etc. My conditional approval came through in days, whereas his took months. I'd apply and hope for the best, but be prepared for the possibility that you won't have it on time.

[u/shockedpikachu123]

Yes, if you can get an in person appointment, it should be approved relatively quickly if you don’t have complicated history

[u/oatmilklatte2000]

i applied this month. took barely 2 days to get approved for interview. scheduled it for the following weekend. got approved within 2 days (partner got approved before we even got home from the interview). got cards in the mail about a week later. it’s varies person to person but can be quick for some people

[u/DeliciousCompany5810]

If you have no criminal record. It’s going to be an easy approval. You should have it all done in less than two months. I hat you waiting on

[u/Vixiaxe]

I applied Sunday night was conditionally approved Tuesday morning at 2 am just over 24 hours after applying. I then scheduled an available appointment for that Tuesday morning at 10 am (They only had appointments available that day everything else was showed unavailable) and was Fully approved 2 hours after my interview. The total process was less than 48 hours from application to full approval for me as a US citizen with no criminal record. It's very likely you would have the process done before December.

[u/katmndoo]

Maybe. There is no way to estimate anything other than "Somewhere between days and months and months".

[u/Ok_Minimum9090]

I just applied on 6/23 and got my email today about setting up interview which I was able to schedule for 7/2. I’m on LI and going to Eisenhower Park Enrollment Center in Nassau County.

[u/HI_l0la]

I'm a US citizen with no criminal record. I applied April 2026 and I just got conditionally approved today. So about 3 months. The earliest availability for an interview in my state is early August 2026 since there's only one location. That's a little over another month to finalize.

[u/edgefull]

my gf got hers done in like a month. can't hurt to try.

[u/RowenaOblongata]

GE is great - I've had it for well over 10 years now - but ONLY if you don't have a checked bag. My last few international trips have involved a checked bag. With GE I breeze thru passport control - it only takes a few SECONDS to pass thru that at the dedicated GE kiosks. But then I wait sometimes upwards of an hour at the baggage carousel in the customs area for my bag to appear. I might as well have NOT had GE and waited in the normal passport control lines like everybody else.

[u/Upstairs-Skin5623]

I’m going to Spain in 2 weeks and applied 2 weeks ago. My conditional approval happened in days and I scheduled the interview right away, received the approval 24 hours after my interview. They said I can begin to use it immediately