There Are Just 4 Simple Steps Between You and Global Entry

Global entry is a great investment for frequent international travelers — or even just air travelers in general. It will save you a ton of time at the airport every time you travel, and believe it or not, getting it is easier than you probably think. It only requires four fairly easy steps, including the fee, and a bit of your time.

The first step of the global entry process is creating a Global Online Enrollment System account. Every single person who applies for global entry must create their own account.

After your account is created, you have to fill out a pretty painless application to submit.

Once you complete your online application, you have to pay the $100 fee, which will make your global entry pass valid for five years. This fee is nonrefundable.

If your application is approved, you'll be notified to schedule an in-person appointment. The approval process time varies from person to person. My application took a few days to be conditionally approved, but it can take up to a couple weeks. Once you have the go-ahead to schedule your appointment, you log back into your GOES account and do it from there. Depending on your interview location, you might have to wait another several weeks or even months to get an appointment. And while some locations can accommodate a few walk-ins, it's highly recommended to just make an appointment and stick with it. I do recommend, though, checking back with the online schedule frequently as people will end up canceling and earlier appointments might pop up.

When you go to your interview, make sure you have the necessary documentation. You'll need your valid passport and another government-issued ID, like a driver's license. You also need to bring your printed approval form. Don't sweat it if you forget it, though. I forgot mine and they were able to look it up, just be aware that that might make your appointment take longer.

Depending on your history, your appointment can take some time. Mine only took about 10 minutes, but there were families around me who had been interviewing for up to an hour.