Global Entry Interview

[Sparky]

Does anyone know if MCO offer walk in interviews for Global Entry? I can see they are in the list but not sure if they do.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

They do. My Wife and I were amongst the first ones who completed the process at the desk.
Here is the big but though! It all depends on 2 things. The volume of passengers coming through and the availability of IO's who are trained on the system
My advice is book your interview and get that as a fallback option. Then speak to a Greeter as you line up to see an IO and tell him/her what you want, you may strike lucky.

The process takes about 15mins and don't be surprised by the info they have on you! He swung his screen so I could see all our photos of our last 30+ visits.

If you do complete at the desk that automatically cancels your appointment.

[KeithOP]

yep we did it after tom morrow suggested and it worked fine. The only hitch was trying to find someone who knew about it, at that time. We were passed to a few different people before someone said yep ok over there.

Once we were with someone, it was all very nice and easy. Completed in 15 mins and he said you should get an email with your code in it within 24hrs. the email arrived as we were walking away.

GE has been utterly brilliant for us. On entering the states, we bypass the normal queue and go straight to the GE machines and it doesnt even ask for our passport any more it just takes a photo for facial recognition and prints out the ticket.

On the way out, the TSA Pre queue is always much better than the normal, dont need to remove laptops, food etc.

It's been well worth doing

[Dr.JumbaJookiba]

We completed on arrival at the end of June this year. We had to complete immigration with one officer while they located another trained to do it. As it turned out the only one on duty was manning another desk. He closed his desk and we moved over and he processed us but I believe they are much more reluctant to take a desk out of use if there is a large queue built up in the immigration hall. As we were the only flight in at the time we were lucky.

[stuiedo]

Would this be a good option for a family of 4? So we dont have to go through the long customs queues?

We have an indirect flight through JFK next Easter, with a 1 1/2 transit time. So cutting it fine.

Would signing up and doing the interview save time? And what if you are travelling with kids?

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Everybody would need to sign up otherwise those who haven't still have to queue up. Plus there is the cost aspect of paying the Home Office to conduct checks and the US Govt as well. Not cheap.

[stuiedo]

Thanks Tom Morrow. Just looked up and yeah costs a bit for a family of 4.

But would it actually be quicker do you think? Or do you think by the time all four of us have been interviewed it would have been quicker to go through the main queue?

[Dr.JumbaJookiba]

Originally Posted by stuiedo

Thanks Tom Morrow. Just looked up and yeah costs a bit for a family of 4.

But would it actually be quicker do you think? Or do you think by the time all four of us have been interviewed it would have been quicker to go through the main queue?

See more...

At MCO you still go through the main queue and ask at the end for an officer to process you, not sure if this is the case at other airports.

[stuiedo]

Originally Posted by Dr.JumbaJookiba

At MCO you still go through the main queue and ask at the end for an officer to process you, not sure if this is the case at other airports.

See more...

Ok, thanks. Seems like it wont be a time saver for us on this occasion then,

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by stuiedo

Thanks Tom Morrow. Just looked up and yeah costs a bit for a family of 4.

But would it actually be quicker do you think? Or do you think by the time all four of us have been interviewed it would have been quicker to go through the main queue?

See more...

Everything to me hinges on how often you enter the States. Once a year I wouldn't bother with GE. Twice probably, any more then a big yes.

However we had to line up as normal in August as our Granddaughter was with us. Still only took 20 mins to get through. But if we were on our own with GE it would be 2 mins.