How to Prepare for Your Global Entry Interview

What to bring and what to expect at your appointment

Your Global Entry interview is a 15-minute conversation with a Customs and Border Protection officer who will verify your identity, review your background, and decide whether to approve your membership. You will sit across a desk, answer questions about your travel history and any criminal or immigration issues, and show documents that prove who you are and where you live. The officer is not trying to trick you — they are checking that the information in your online form matches what you say in person and that nothing in your background disqualifies you.

Bring your valid passport and a second form of ID (driver's license, state ID, or military ID). Bring proof of your current address: a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days. If you have moved recently, bring a forwarding address notice from the post office or a letter from your landlord. Bring the receipt or confirmation number from your Global Entry application so the officer can pull up your file. If you have ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of anything — even if the case was dismissed — bring court documents showing the outcome.

Key Takeaways

• Bring your passport, a second ID, and proof of your current address dated within the last 60 days.
• Answer questions truthfully about your travel history, employment, and any criminal or immigration history, even if you think it might hurt your case.
• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, but not so early that you sit in the waiting area for an hour.
• The officer will tell you immediately or within a few days whether you are approved; you do not have to wait weeks for a decision.
• If you are denied, you can request reconsideration in writing within 30 days, but you will need to address whatever the officer flagged.

Documents you must have before you walk in

The CBP website lists required documents, but officers will turn you away if you show up without them. Your passport must be valid — it cannot be expired, even by one day. Your second ID must also be current. A state ID that expired two years ago will not work. If your ID is expired, renew it before your interview; you cannot do this at the interview location.

Proof of address is non-negotiable. A utility bill in your name works best because it shows your current address and is hard to fake. A lease or mortgage statement works. A bank or credit card statement works. A cell phone bill works. A letter from your employer or school with your address on it works. What does not work: a letter you wrote yourself, a screenshot of an online account, or a bill addressed to someone else at your address. If you live with family or a roommate and the bill is in their name, bring a notarized letter from them stating you live there, plus your lease or a written agreement.

If you have any criminal history — misdemeanor, felony, arrest, charge, conviction, or even a case that was dismissed — bring the court documents. This includes traffic violations that went to court (not just a ticket you paid). Bring the disposition, which is the document showing what happened: guilty plea, acquittal, dismissal, probation completion, or pardon. If you cannot find the documents, contact the courthouse where the case was heard and request certified copies. This takes time, so start now if you have any history at all.

How to answer questions about your background honestly

The officer will ask about your travel history, where you work, whether you have ever been arrested, and whether you have ever been denied entry to another country. Answer every question truthfully. If you lie or leave something out and the officer finds out later, you will be denied and possibly referred for prosecution. If you tell the truth about something in your past, the officer might still approve you — many people with minor criminal history or immigration issues get Global Entry. But if you hide it, you will definitely be denied.

If you have been arrested or charged with something, do not minimize it or hope the officer does not notice. Say what happened, when it happened, and what the outcome was. If you were convicted, say so. If the case was dismissed, say that. If you completed probation or paid a fine, say that. The officer has access to criminal databases and will find out anyway. Your honesty matters more than the offense itself.

If you have ever overstayed a visa, worked without authorization, or entered the country illegally, tell the officer. If you have ever been denied entry at a port of entry or turned back at the border, tell the officer. These things can disqualify you, but hiding them will definitely disqualify you. If you are unsure whether something counts as a criminal history or immigration issue, mention it and let the officer decide.

What happens during the interview itself

Check in at the Global Entry enrollment center 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment time. Bring all your documents in a folder or envelope so they are organized and easy to hand over. The officer will call you to their desk, verify your identity by checking your passport and ID against your application, and ask you to confirm the information you submitted online. They will ask about your job, where you travel, and why you want Global Entry.

The officer will then ask directly: "Have you ever been arrested?" "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" "Have you ever been denied entry to the United States or any other country?" "Have you ever violated immigration law?" Answer each question. If the answer is yes, explain briefly. Do not volunteer information the officer did not ask for, but do not hide anything either.

The officer may ask follow-up questions about your travel, your family, or your employment. They may ask where you were on a specific date or why you traveled to a particular country. Answer directly and do not get defensive. The tone is usually neutral and professional, not accusatory. The officer is gathering information, not interrogating you.

How long approval takes and what to do if you are denied

Many officers will tell you on the spot whether you are approved. Others will say they need to review your file and will notify you by email within a few days. Check your email regularly after your interview. If you are approved, you will receive instructions on how to pick up your Global Entry card or have it mailed to you. If you are denied, you will receive a letter explaining why.

If you are denied, you have 30 days to request reconsideration in writing. You can submit new documents, clarify information, or explain circumstances the officer may have misunderstood. For example, if you were denied because of a criminal conviction but you have since completed probation or received a pardon, submit proof. If you were denied because of an immigration issue but you have since resolved it, submit documentation. Send your request to the address on the denial letter.

Reconsideration is not a second interview — it is a paper review. A different officer will look at your file and the new information you provided. If they approve you, you will receive your card. If they deny you again, you can reapply after one year, but you will need to address whatever caused the denial the first time.

Common reasons people are denied and how to avoid them

The most common reason for denial is dishonesty or inconsistency. If your application says you have never been arrested but you tell the officer you were arrested once, or if your application lists one job but you tell the officer you work somewhere else, you will be denied. Before your interview, review everything you submitted online and make sure it is accurate. If you made a mistake on your application, tell the officer before they ask.

Criminal convictions can result in denial, but not always. Misdemeanors, old convictions, and convictions you have completed probation for are often approved. Felonies, recent convictions, and crimes involving dishonesty or violence are more likely to result in denial. Immigration violations — overstaying a visa, working without authorization, entering illegally — can result in denial, but some officers will approve you if it happened years ago and you have since maintained lawful status.

Being denied entry to another country, having a visa revoked, or being on a watchlist will likely result in denial. If any of these apply to you, consult an immigration attorney before your interview to understand your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I cannot find my proof of address document?

Contact your utility company, bank, or landlord and request a letter or statement showing your current address. Most will provide this within a few days. If you are renting and your landlord will not help, a notarized statement from you plus your lease is acceptable. Do not skip this step — you cannot have your interview without it.

Can I reschedule my interview if something comes up?

Yes. Log into your Global Entry account and select a different appointment time. You can reschedule as many times as you need. If you need to cancel entirely, you can do that too, though you will not receive a refund of your fee.

What if I was arrested but the case was dismissed?

Tell the officer. Bring the court document showing the dismissal. A dismissed case is not a conviction, and many officers will approve you. Hiding it is worse than disclosing it.

Do I need a lawyer for my interview?

No. This is not a legal proceeding. You are having a conversation with a CBP officer. If you have serious criminal history or immigration issues, an immigration attorney can review your case beforehand and advise you on what to expect, but you do not need one present at the interview.

What if I am approved but then arrested after my interview?

CBP can revoke your Global Entry membership if you are convicted of a crime after approval. Your membership is not permanent — it lasts five years and can be terminated if your background changes.