My Global Entry Experience
Obviously I fly pretty frequently for work. So I’ve have been wanting to get TSA Pre✓® for a long time. TSA Pre✓® is a program that allows low risk travelers to have a faster security experience. Whit TSA Pre✓® you can keep your shoes, jacket and belt on; your laptop in its case; 3-1-1 compliant liquids in your bag; and enjoy a better overall travel experience. SIGN ME UP!
After doing some research and finding out that Global Entry not includes TSA Pre✓® it’s only $15 dollars more so it was a no brainer which one I wanted There was only one problem. I live in New York and I’m a Millennial.
Let me explain. With global entry and TSA Pre✓® you have to submit documentation proving your Identity. Not a problem I have a birth certificate, social security card, and a us passport. You also have to verify your current address and here in lies the problem. Anyone living in New York can tell you your address situation may be complicated. I recently moved to Brooklyn and before that I never had mail send to my address just because my address could change at the drop of a dime. So pretty much ALL my mail gets sent to a Po Box. I have roommates so all my utility bills are in some else’s name. All my other bills and bank account statements are digital which they don’t except. I have a drivers license but it has an old address on it. So needless to say I was nervous about the address verification portion.
I decided to give it a try anyway. I submitted my application for Global entry online and pay the fees. Three days later I received a conditional approval letter and was told to schedule my in person interview. Now im not sure if you remember but last year we had a huge government shut down that impacted government personnel including TSA. As a result of the shut down the interviews for Global Entry are backed up. I went ahead an scheduled my interview which was 3 months out. This was disappointing because I wanted to get It done and over with now. So for the next couple of weeks I continued to check for earlier appointments. Finally one Friday night I checked and there was an appointment available for the next morning at 10am. I booked it and made sure to gather all the documents I had. I had my lease from my apartment, My renters insurance documents, and Voters registration document.
Once I got there I walked in signed in and sat down. 15 minutes later a man came and called my name. He asked if had an appointment I said yes. He then asked for my passport and documents. I took my seat and 15 minutes later he calls me to the back. He asked me a series of questions related to my foreign travel. Nothing hard just why I went and if I did anything criminal. He then verified I had no criminal history. He then approved my application, took my picture, gave me my know traveler ID number and that was it. So simple and so easy! I would recommend Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® to any frequent traveller.
Do you have Global Entry? TSA Pre✓®? How was your experience? If your interested in getting it stay tuned for a giveaway!