My wife and I have our Global Entry interviews coming up next week. From what I’ve read online they don’t appear to be particularly long or involved, but I was just wondering if any Dopers have gone through one and what was their experience?
I think the main thing for us is that neither of us has ever been arrested, traveled to any prohibited countries, or had any trouble at a border crossing, so I suspect things will go very smoothly.
Extremely quick thing, whole thing happened standing at a counter. I was in and out with my approved Trusted Traveler Number and picture captured for the card (arrived a few days later) in minutes (there was no wait line at the time so I was seen immediately on arrival). The interview mostly was a review of the highlights of what I had put in my application. (interview site: Washington DC Reagan Center office)
This. The interview was such a non-event that I don’t remember anything from it, other than it was very short.
I think they asked me if I’d some anything naughty? Especially re: border crossings? Or maybe that was a form. Also at the Reagan Center. But this was back when precheck wasn’t its own thing and you pretty much had to get GE.
Very short. They captured fingerprints on a machine and I think took a picture. And I think there were the usual questions about criminal history. I did it mostly for the TSA PreCheck. Note, however, that if you don’t have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, I think you can use the Global Entry ID card at the airport. You can also use a passport. And as I mentioned to a co-worker, it’s easier to get a passport than it is to get a Real ID-compliant driver’s license.
I’ve got Nexus rather than GE, so I had the same interview twice - once from a US officer and again from a Canadian. I’ve worked in the US before on a TN status and traveled through out North America, the Caribbean, and Europe. No travel hot spots - Iran/Iraq/Somalia/North Korea.
They asked me why I wanted it, what I do for work, and what countries have I traveled to. About 5 minutes total. My youngest was under a year for her 1st interview, it was even shorter 
I’ve now received two renewals with no interview, so pretty good for 15 years of less hassle.
I live in the same area as you, so presumably you are going to Boston for your interview. They were all very nice when I was there. It was relatively quick (I waited in the waiting area, but the interview itself was quick). I think they just want to make sure you don’t look nervous or are hiding something. They also take fingerprints (electronically). I think the fingerprint part is the main reason for the interview.
I was glad they added the downtown location so I didn’t have to go to the airport. At the time they were backed up for interviews, so when they opened the downtown location, I ended up getting the interview in days instead of weeks.
The airport was the only place we could get an interview in a reasonable time, but either one would be about the same effort for us. When I signed up there wasn’t a downtown option offered, not sure if I missed the option or if it wasn’t available.
We’re flying internationally in April so we needed it relatively soon.
I was nervous about it since I tend to be low-grade anxious about everything and it turned out to be absolutely nothing. Waiting for the interview felt like waiting at the DMV (but they do Global Entry interviews in a variety of different places so YMMV) and then the interview itself was over in probably 3 minutes.
Very short for my Global Entry process.
Some standard questions (criminal history? prior border or customs violations? what countries I intend to visit), fingerprinting, photograph. And then watch a 5 minute video. The video was the longest part.
This was in 2013 or 2014 so things may be different now. I had to go to IAH and schedule the interview ahead of time, as that was the only available option in the area back then and available interview slots were filled up several weeks in advance.
I came up for renewal, and that took several weeks due to the partial government shutdown last year. No interview needed for the renewal in my case.
I showed up 15 minutes early because I had to drive a ways in rush hour traffic and didn’t want to be late. They not only saw me within minutes of my arrival, they got me out before my scheduled appointment time. They were very pleasant and friendly, even joking around, and I actually enjoyed myself. I’ve also never been in any kind of trouble, so I can’t speak to the experience of someone who has. But if you’re like me, it’ll be a piece of cake.
I did the Nexus interviews about 10 years ago. The US interview was brief and forgettable. The Canadians GRILLED me! Among other things, they asked if I owned any firearms or used any illegal drugs.
I signed up for Global Entry in the early days of the program and it was very easy. I scheduled the interview for a day that I needed to go to the airport anyway; took about 10 minutes for the fingerprints and a few brief questions about my employment status.
I would agree that the (Nexus) interview is a non-existent thing. My interview chit-chat was primarily about how to game the system so that my child could get another 5 years free if she re-applied as a 17.5 year old. My wife had a run-in with her interview in which they asked for her maiden name and wouldn’t continue the process until she gave one. Her complaints to the interviewer and his supervisor (that she’d never changed her name and that it was an obnoxiously sexist question that should be re-stated as Have you ever had any legal names? and be asked to all sexes) went on deaf ears until she insisted first that her maiden name was “Patriarchy” and then “Asshole”. And they finally agreed to leave it blank. So just be prepared for truly outdated questions. In our 25 years of marriage, only the government and phone companies refuse to understand that married women don’t (have to) change their names. Schools stumble over it in amusing ways, but generally can tolerate the concept. No one else (other than my mother) has issues with it.
Ditto, except I went to the airport. Waited for less than 10 minutes, interview was less than 5, no tricky or trap questions that I remember, fingerprints taken on a scanner, good to go. Well worth it if you are taking an overseas vacation once a year.
The Mrs. and I have Nexus, which gives us full Global Entry privileges along with special speedy lanes between Canada and the US via air, sea, and land.
Our interviews were with the US and Canadian agent simultaneously; they barely separated the Mrs. and I for our individual interviews. Checklist of questions, standard security stuff, and bingo, nothing looking for memorized responses about it, and it was done. They both seemed quite pleased we had applied and told us how great it was we were making their jobs easier by getting the cards.
Of course we had our interview at Sault Ste. Marie, a rather quiet crossing.
Definitely a worthwhile card to have, Nexus lanes are speedy and Global Entry is handy coming back to the US from other countries. TSA Pre-clear is nice too.
I’ve been trying to get my GE interview scheduled for almost a year. I’ve had two appointments canceled without warning (one they shut down the whole office and moved it without telling anyone who had appointments). I’m about to drive to NM since there is an 8 month wait at DIA now i just need to be able to schedule two days off to do it or hope that ai get back from my next international flight into an airport that does entry interviews before my 1 year expires.
I recall someone applying for Nexus(?*) getting held up because he hadn’t listed an arrest. He was never charged but it still needed to be listed.
*This would have been for crossing from Cd. Juárez to El Paso.
Way ahead in Aus. Forms always have “any other names”, and I haven’t seen Maiden Name for so long I’ve forgotten. And you know you’re back in Aus when the immigration officer looks at you (male) with the child-in-arms and asks “Are you traveling with anybody else?”, avoiding the contentious suggestion that a “mother” might be involved anywhere.
Sentri is the southern version of Nexus for US/Mexico travel.