Is Global Entry active immediately after the interview?
My GE application has been approved and I'm thinking of scheduling my interview a couple of days before a domestic trip in hopes I can participate in Pre-Check.
Does anyone know if they will give me my KTN (Known Traveler Number) immediately at the conclusion of the interview or will I have to wait to receive the card by mail?
Someone said the agent "placed a special sticker on the last page of my passport." Does anyone know if showing that sticker is sufficient to allow the use domestic Pre-Check?
Best Answer
As of 2019-09-30, right at the end of the interview, the CBP interviewer will give you a flyer that mentions that the global entry is immediately activated:
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Do you get Global Entry right after interview?
New enrollees will receive their Global Entry card 7-10 business days after approval for Global Entry.How long after Global Entry interview does it take to get approved?
How long does the Global Entry application and approval process take? From filling out the application to conditional approval to the interview and receiving your Global Entry Card in the mail, the process can take as little as a few weeks to as long as six months.Is Global Entry immediate?
If you are approved, you can use your Global Entry membership immediately. You will receive your physical Global Entry card in the mail within 10 business days. However, all you need is your Known Traveler Number (KTN) to begin using your membership.How long does it take to get Global Entry processed?
Of the Global Entry applicants that responded, most said their applications were approved in 24-48 hours, some in as little as an hour, while those who waited longer still heard back within three weeks.My Experience With Global Entry Interview
More answers regarding is Global Entry active immediately after the interview?
Answer 2
Your GE application has only been pre-screened, you are not approved for the Global Entry Program until after the interview has taken place. Normally you get your card by mail and then have to activate the card before everything is 100% ready.
I didn't ask if I could get the number earlier, simply went through the interview process. You might try calling and asking if you can get your number at the conclusion of the interview.
Answer 3
As Tom points out, your Global Entry application is only completed after the interview. The Conditional Approval notice is only enough to schedule an interview, not to use GE.
At the end of the interview, the CBP officer will tell you if your application was successful or not. If it wasn't, they may say they need to check further things (I've read about one person on FlyerTalk who had to wait another week).
Assuming that you passed the interview, and they welcome you to the program, then about an hour after the interview you can log into the GOES website and view your Global Entry Membership Number. That number can then immediately be used as your Known Traveller number for TSA Pre. Later that day, you'll also get an email from
An hour or so after the interview, you should be able to get your number from the GOES website. Later that day you should get an email from CBP with a subject like "GOES - Account Status Change". That won't have your membership number in, but is a sign that when you log into GOES you'll be able to download the formal membership approval letter which does have it. (Or you can just see the number once you're logged in!)
If you're a US permanent resident, they'll also post you a GE card, which may take a few weeks to arrive. However, your membership is active once your successful interview is over, and you can use GE terminals + TSA Pre from then on even while waiting for the physical card. (Non US residents don't get the card)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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