You might also like:
“Reader Questions” are answered three days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — by TPG Senior Writer Julian Mark Kheel.
Today let’s take a look at a Facebook message from Errol, who has a query about Global Entry…
My Global Entry expires in December. I believe it can be renewed for another 5 years, but can that renewal be done online or will it require another interview?
TPG Reader Errol
This is an excellent question, as many folks aren’t familiar with the Global Entry renewal process. Since the program was only launched roughly 10 years ago and many travelers applied in later years, a lot of people haven’t navigated the renewal process yet.
To start, Errol, you are correct — Global Entry is good for five years and can be renewed for an additional five years at the end of each term. However, you can begin the renewal process as early as a full year ahead of expiration, which might not be a bad idea to make sure you don’t lose coverage if it takes a while to get your renewal approved.
The renewal process begins online. Log in to your Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) account, which is the system you used to apply for Global Entry in the first place. If you’ve forgotten your login credentials since then, you can ask GOES to recover your user ID and/or password.
Click on “Manage Membership” and if you’re within the renewal window, you’ll see a blue button with the option to “Renew Application.” From this point you’ll need to basically go through the same application process that you went through five years ago, but it’s significantly easier this time around because all your old answers are already populated into the fields. All you have to do is update it with any new information from recent years — a new current address if you’ve moved, employment information if you’ve changed jobs, and so on.
Remember that a renewal application will cost the same $100 as the original five-year application, but renewals are also eligible for reimbursement with any credit card that offers a Global Entry fee waiver benefit, including the Platinum Card from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Citi Prestige and others, so long as you haven’t already used the waiver for yourself or someone else in the previous five years.
Once you’ve submitted your application and it’s been reviewed, you’ll be informed whether you have to come in for a new interview. This appears to be at the discretion of Customs and Border Protection and it’s not clear how or why people get chosen for a renewal interview. Some folks have had their Global Entry extended without any further requirements, but others have been asked to come to an enrollment center to speak with a CBP officer. Don’t panic if this happens — renewal interviews can be straightforward and simple, so being asked to come in doesn’t necessarily mean you have anything to worry about.
So the official answer to your question, Errol, is you might have to interview, which is another good reason to renew your Global Entry early. Since interview appointments can sometimes take months to schedule, you’ll still be able to use your existing Global Entry while you wait your turn in the queue.
Thanks as always for the questions, and if you’d like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or send an email to info@thepointsguy.com.
Source: thepointsguy.com