Global Entry and Trusted Traveler Enrollment Delays in 2026

Growing Wait Times for Trusted Traveler Programs

Applicants for Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and TSA PreCheck are experiencing significantly longer wait times for enrollment in 2026. The delays affect multiple stages of the application process — from initial application review to interview scheduling — and are creating frustration among travelers who rely on these programs for expedited processing at airports and border crossings.

CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs (TTPs) provide pre-approved, low-risk travelers with expedited entry into the United States. Global Entry is the most popular program for air travelers, providing automated customs processing at U.S. airports (and including TSA PreCheck benefits). NEXUS facilitates expedited entry between the U.S. and Canada, while SENTRI serves the U.S.-Mexico border. TSA PreCheck, administered by TSA rather than CBP, provides expedited airport security screening.

The enrollment delays are hitting at a particularly inconvenient time, as the spring and summer travel season drives increased demand for these programs. Applicants who submitted their applications months ago are still waiting for conditional approval, and those who have received conditional approval are struggling to find available interview appointment slots.

Understanding the Enrollment Process

The Global Entry enrollment process involves several steps, each of which can experience delays:

1. Online Application: Applicants create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account at the CBP TTP website and submit their application with the required information and payment.
2. Background Check and Review: CBP conducts a thorough background check, including criminal history, immigration history, customs violations, and other security databases. This review period has historically taken several weeks but is now taking significantly longer for many applicants.
3. Conditional Approval: If the background check is satisfactory, the applicant receives conditional approval and can schedule an in-person interview.
4. In-Person Interview: The applicant attends an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center, where a CBP officer verifies identity, collects fingerprints, and asks questions about the applicant's background and travel history.
5. Final Approval: If the interview is successful, the applicant receives final approval and their Known Traveler Number (KTN), which can be added to airline reservations to access TSA PreCheck and Global Entry benefits.

Where the Delays Are Occurring

Background Check Phase

The initial background check and application review phase has become a significant bottleneck. Applicants report waiting substantially longer than the historical norm before receiving conditional approval. The delays appear to affect both new applications and renewal applications, though renewals have generally been processed somewhat faster.

CBP has attributed some of the delays to increased application volume and to enhanced security screening procedures that require more thorough review of each application. Applicants with complex travel histories, prior immigration issues, or connections to countries with elevated security profiles may experience particularly long review periods.

Interview Scheduling

Even after receiving conditional approval, many applicants are finding it difficult to schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Appointment slots at popular enrollment centers — particularly those at major airports — are often booked out for months. Enrollment centers at smaller airports and land border crossings may have somewhat better availability, but applicants must travel to the center for the interview.

Conditional Approval vs. Full Approval

An important distinction that causes confusion: conditional approval is not the same as full approval. With conditional approval, you have passed the background check and are eligible to schedule your interview, but you cannot use Global Entry or receive TSA PreCheck benefits until after you complete the interview and receive final approval.

For travelers who need TSA PreCheck benefits more urgently, applying directly for TSA PreCheck (rather than Global Entry) may be a faster option. TSA PreCheck has its own enrollment process with its own network of enrollment centers, and some applicants report shorter wait times for TSA PreCheck than for Global Entry. However, TSA PreCheck does not include the automated customs processing that Global Entry provides.

NEXUS Program Challenges

The NEXUS program, which facilitates travel between the U.S. and Canada, has faced particularly severe enrollment delays. NEXUS enrollment centers are located at the U.S.-Canada border, and the program requires cooperation between CBP and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Staffing and scheduling challenges on both sides of the border have contributed to a substantial backlog of pending NEXUS applications and interview appointments.

For travelers who primarily need expedited entry into the United States rather than Canada-specific benefits, Global Entry may be a more practical option than NEXUS, despite its own delays. Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck benefits, and the program does not require binational enrollment center interviews.

Tips for Navigating the Delays

1. Apply early — very early. If you anticipate needing Global Entry or another TTP, apply as far in advance of your travel as possible. The current environment requires months of lead time, not weeks.
2. Check multiple enrollment centers. Appointment availability varies significantly by location. Check enrollment centers at smaller airports or less busy land border crossings, even if they require some travel. The inconvenience of a longer drive may be worth avoiding months of waiting at a major airport enrollment center.
3. Use Enrollment on Arrival. If you have conditional approval and an upcoming international trip, the EoA option can save you months of waiting for a separate interview appointment. Complete your interview when you arrive back in the U.S.
4. Renew before expiration. If your Global Entry membership is approaching its five-year expiration, apply for renewal well in advance. Renewal applications generally receive priority processing over new applications, but delays are affecting renewals too.
5. Consider TSA PreCheck as an alternative. If your primary goal is expedited airport security screening and you do not need the automated customs processing that Global Entry provides, TSA PreCheck may be available with shorter enrollment timelines.
6. Monitor your TTP account regularly. Log in to your TTP account to check for status updates and newly available appointment slots. Some enrollment centers release new appointment slots on a rolling basis, and checking frequently can help you grab a cancellation slot.

Eligibility Reminders

Not everyone is eligible for Global Entry and other TTPs. Eligibility generally requires:

• U.S. citizenship, U.S. lawful permanent residency, or citizenship of a participating country (varies by program)
• No criminal convictions or pending criminal charges
• No prior customs or immigration violations
• No investigative agency concerns
• Ability to pass a thorough background check

Lawful permanent residents are eligible for Global Entry but must have a valid, unexpired green card. If your green card is expired or will expire before the enrollment process is complete, resolve your green card status first. Some non-U.S. citizens from certain countries (such as citizens of the UK, Germany, South Korea, and others with bilateral agreements) may also be eligible for Global Entry.

Official Resources

• CBP Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP)
• CBP: Global Entry
• TSA PreCheck
• CBP: NEXUS

Last verified: April 2026 · Reviewed by USImmigrationLaw.Today editorial team.