Global Entry Interview: What to Bring? [2022]

Once you’ve filled out and submitted your Global Entry application you should receive your conditional letter of approval (assuming you didn’t raise any red flags).

After that, it’s time to schedule a Global Entry interview.

Hopefully, it won’t take too long for you to find an open interview slot but before you go in to seal the deal, you need to know what to bring to your Global Entry interview. 

The Global Entry application process.

Global Entry Interview: What to Bring

You will need to bring any documents to the interview that you provided as part of the application.

The following original documents are usually required:

  • The letter inviting you to an interview;
  • A valid passport or permanent resident card.
  • Documents providing evidence of residency. Examples are a drivers license (if the address is current), mortgage statement, rental payment statement, utility bill, etc.

A few things to note:

If you travel using more than one passport, bring them all to the interview so that the information can be added to your file. This will allow you to use either passport at the Global Entry kiosk;

If you are a UK citizen and applied for Global Entry, and you are not a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder) you must bring an original copy of your ACRO Disclosure Certificate (police certificate) to the interview.

To see a list of documents required for the interview, log in to the TTP website, go to your Dashboard, and select the Interview Confirmation link provided.

You will only be able to access this while your application is in the “Interview Scheduled” stage.

Note that the document requirements may be different based upon the program you applied for.

Want to avoid Global Entry fees?

Consider applying for a credit card that comes with a $100 Global Entry credit if you want to avoid paying the enrollment fee. One of my top cards is the for the credit is the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which currently offers a $300 travel credit.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Global entry interview center

Conditional letter of approval

If you forget to bring your conditional letter of approval it’s probably not a big deal as there are many reports out there of Global Entry agents just pulling up the applicant’s information online.

In fact, the CPB states:

You will need to bring a copy of your conditional approval letter. To print the letter, log into your TTP account and you will see it under Notifications. If you do not have it, then please write down the PASSID number issued to your application and print out a copy of your interview confirmation.

So the key is to have a way to bring the PASSID number with you (though I think they can still access your number if you don’t have it).

Tip: This PASSID number will end up becoming your “Known Traveler Number” and it will be what you use to trigger TSA Pre-Check on all of your flights so it’s really important that you jot down or memorize this number.

Proving residency

I brought my driver’s license to my Global Entry interview to provide evidence of my residency but you don’t have to bring a driver’s license.

Instead, you can bring items like utility bills, bank statements, payment statements for mortgage/rent, and some have even brought credit card statements. (If your address is not up to date on your license, you’ll have to bring in one of these documents.)

If for some reason you run into an issue during the interview, you could refer to the “etc.” language found in their documents to argue why your documents are valid to prove residency.

Non-citizens

You will need to bring all documents that you have used to fill out your application.

This will typically be a passport, driver’s license, machine-readable permanent resident card, or visa based on the program you applied for and your status in the United States.

Documents for changes needed

If anything has changed or you made mistakes on your online application, then be sure to bring in documents to support the changes.

For example, if your address changed but you don’t have your new address on your driver’s license yet then you’ll need to show additional proof of residency like rent statements.

Criminal records

If you are trying to get approved for Global Entry and you have a criminal record, you may need to bring additional documents.

The CPB states that in addition to the standard travel documents and proof of residency, you should bring “Court disposition papers for any prior arrests or convictions.

Prior arrests and convictions can disqualify you from being eligible for Global Entry, so it’s very important that you bring all the documents you can related to your prior criminal record.

Some do get approved despite having a criminal conviction — you can read about those experiences here.

And see what the CPB says about it here.

Global Entry Interview What to bring

Enrollment on arrival interviews

Enrollment on Arrival (EOA) is a program launched in 2017 operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to allow Global Entry applicants who are conditionally approved to complete their interviews upon arrival into the United States at many airports.

So you can’t just show up out of the blue to do Enrollment on Arrival — you need to have submitted your application prior to arriving AND be conditionally approved.

I’ve heard somewhat mixed things about enrollment on arrival experiences.

Some have been able to effortlessly make their way through the interview in a matter of minutes and complete their Global Entry process.

In other situations, applicants have had issues finding where to go or finding personnel to tend to their application due to staff shortages or simply because someone was on “break.”

Sometimes the lines can be very long so be sure to budget a lot of extra time if you plan on going this route.

Whenever you arrive in the US you should see signs (like the one seen below) pointing you towards where to go for EOA.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

What to bring to a Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival (EOA) interview?

Initially, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol stated that for EOA, “[y]ou won’t need any additional documents other than the requisite documents for international travel (e.g., your passport).

But later they clarified that you should bring:

  • A valid passport.
  • Documents providing evidence of residency (not required for minors)
  • A permanent resident card (if applicable)

So be sure to bring proof of your residency even when you are doing EOA.

Global Entry interview station.
Global Entry interview station.

What is the Global Entry interview like?

If you’re curious what the Global Entry interview is like then you can read about my experience here.

Overall, it’s a pretty simple and straightforward experience consisting mostly of softball questions.

Basically, you’ll be asked a series of basic questions about your job, travel plans, and a few other things.

For example, I was asked things like:

  • “What’s your occupation?”
  • “Do you travel for business or pleasure?”
  • “Do you travel with a family?”
  • “Have you ever been arrested?”

You’ll also get your fingerprints taken as well as a photo. It’s usually a pretty low-key experience.

Things only get a little bit rough when unexpected things come up or the officer suspects something.

For example, Brad mixed up his travel history with North and South Korea on his latest interview and that ruffled a few feathers.

As far as how long the Global Entry interview should take, it will probably take around 20 minutes. Some have experienced longer interview times closer to 45 minutes but I’ve also had interviews last as short as 10 minutes.

Often, it’s the waiting for your interview to start that takes up most of the time. But sometimes you get lucky and get in and out in a jiffy.

What to wear

You might also be wondering what you should wear to a Global Entry Interview. Thankfully (for some people) your fashion taste will not dictate whether or not you are approved.

My advice would be to be wear something comfortable and casual. Avoid clothing that is extra revealing or that has political statements on it, especially if they could be considered extreme.

Basically, just avoid anything that would draw unnecessary attention to yourself and you will be fine.

And remember, be prepared for your Global Entry photo that will be printed on your Global Entry card.

Renewing Global Entry Interview: what to bring

If you are renewing your Global Entry membership, the same document requirements above will apply in your case.

I recently renewed my membership after moving to a different state and all I had to do was show my new Arizona driver’s license to prove my residency.

I did have a couple of additional documents with me such as new utility bills but they never requested for me to show them.

And remember, an interview for program membership renewal may not be necessary.

Minors in a Global Entry Interview

Minors typically don’t have identification documents nor do they have credit card bills, rent statements, or any of the other joys we experience as adults.

So when it comes to their interview all they need to show is a passport. Some people bring additional documents like birth certificates or documents showing residency but those probably will not be needed.

Minor children do need to have a parent or legal guardian present at the time of the interview.

Global Entry Interview FAQ

What documents do I need to bring to my Global Entry interview?

The letter inviting you to an interview
A valid passport or permanent resident card
Documents providing evidence of residency (Examples are a drivers license (if the address is current), mortgage statement, rental payment statement, utility bill, etc.)

How can I avoid Global Entry fees?

You can avoid Global Entry fees by using the $100 Global Entry credit on a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Do I need to bring my conditional letter of approval?

Yes, you need to bring your conditional approval letter. If you do not have it, then write down the PASSID number issued to your application and print out a copy of your interview confirmation.

How long does the interview last?

A Global Entry interview may only last around 20 minutes though some can be shorter or longer.

What do I bring if I have a criminal history?

If you have a criminal history then you should bring court disposition papers for any prior arrests or convictions.

What questions will I be asked during the interview?

You typically will be asked very basic questions which include questions like:

“What’s your occupation?”
“Do you travel for business or pleasure?”
“Do you travel with a family?”

Final word

Global Entry interviews are actually pretty straight forward.

As long as you take a moment to make sure you’re bringing all of the documents requested, you should be good. And even if you do screw up, the agents might allow you to come back within a short amount of time to remedy your application.

14 comments

  1. Thank you for the very helpful information on your website!! It will be a valuable resource as I’m planning a trip for this year. In the meantime, I’m hoping you can help me with a question that I haven’t found an answer to even after extensively searching the CBP website. What steps do I need to take if my Provisional Approval Letter and account information (including password!) have been lost?

  2. I have an interview scheduled in 5 months (July). I have a domestic flight into Miami this week. Can I do an interview on arrival for a domestic flight? There is only one interview location in my state, and there are no appointments available in the next year. I will have to drive 7 hours to Atlanta in July if I can’t get a walk-in interview in MIA.

    1. Wanda, my understanding is that Interview on Arrival is ONLY for arrival on International flights. I have received several emails offering this at SFO prior to my appointments, but I have not had any International travels, so I could not take advantage of this. Plus, my family of four has interviews back-to-back.

  3. I will be traveling out of the country with my minor grandson. I have power of attorney for travel with him. I would like to get him Global Entry. With my power of attorney can I take him to the interview?

    1. Not normally. Call the center to see what languages the Officer(s) speak.
      You might ask if you can bring someone to translate if necessary.

  4. I’m so frustrated with Global Entry. I have a current membership, but my legal name has recently changed. According to FAQs, I must have an in-person appointment to make this change and there should be a “change biographical information” button on my dashboard…which doesn’t exist. And, since I do not have an application in the pipeline to receive the “interview confirmation” link, I have no way of scheduling an appointment. I have called and called, leaving messages or phone lines that won’t let you leave a message. I’ve sent help messages through the website. Any suggestions?

    1. If it is possible, I would suggest just showing up to a global entry office. Let them know about your issues trying to do it online and I bet they will be willing to help you in person.

    2. Call your nearest enrollment center for days/hours of operation and details on what you need to do a name change. The FAQs state:If you have a name change and require a replacement card, you will apply for the card within your TTP account by selecting “Biographic Change”, entering your new information, and paying the $25 card replacement fee. You will receive a conditional approval notification and be required to make an appointment at an Enrollment Center for an officer to review and verify your new documents related to the card replacement request.

      1. Leigh, have you been successful following the steps you outline??? Because I did all that without success. The FAQs are seriously outdated. The “biographical change” button has been removed from the TTP dashboard. There is no way to request an appointment. Local offices do not answer their phone nor return messages.
        I ended up walking into an office with a sign on the door that said “NO WALK-INS.” They told me the only way to get a name change was to walk-in??!!! So, I accomplished my mission. But, come on people! Btw, appointments are now scheduling 18mos out and when I walked in there were 2 agents sitting there playing with their phones. :/

  5. Leigh, have you been successful following the steps you outline??? Because I did all that without success. The FAQs are seriously outdated. The “biographical change” button has been removed from the TTP dashboard. There is no way to request an appointment. Local offices do not answer their phone nor return messages.
    I ended up walking into an office with a sign on the door that said “NO WALK-INS.” They told me the only way to get a name change was to walk-in??!!! So, I accomplished my mission. But, come on people! Btw, appointments are now scheduling 18mos out and when I walked in there were 2 agents sitting there playing with their phones. :/

  6. Miami has apointments in November. Orlando has not opened November 2022 or later.
    Other people have successfully done the name change via appointment. Faster to do it without changing card, though.
    Orlando DOES answer their phones and messages, BTW. Not sure what “local” is for you.
    Walk-ins, for context, are people seeking appointments/interviews. Yes, it should be made clearer.
    You can submit a complaint online as well.

  7. How many proofs of residency do I need? I only have my driver’s license with the up-to-date address.

  8. Normally that is fine. If it did NOT match your physical address you might need to bring a utility bill or some other item to indicate the current physical address.

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