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Well, we finally applied for the Global Entry program.  For domestic travel I wasn’t interested in TSA PreCheck for the price, but after our last flight out of Dublin Airport Global Entry seemed more appealing.  If approved for the Global Entry program you are also enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program.

Beginning the Global Entry Application

I created accounts for all for of us in July.  The children were processed in six days and were offered interview appointments. Sarah 14 days, me 17 days.  It is important to note, that you pay the fee regardless of whether or not you are granted an interview.

In order to schedule four appointments back to back and not miss school/work we had to schedule six weeks in the future.  The soonest individual appointments could have been scheduled within a week, and if we had wanted to miss school/work we could have had four appointments in a row three weeks after the last person was approved.  If I had just been scheduling for me, there were lots of available choices the week after I got my invitation to schedule an interview.

The Global Entry Interview

The actual interview was not a very big deal.  All four of us went in at once and were interviewed together.  The children were asked very simple questions, the adults were asked basically the same questions as on the application form.  They did take photos and finger prints and reviewed the policies, emphasizing that if you break a rule you are out of the program forever.  We were back in the car about an hour later.

We all received notice that we were approved later that day (our interviews were at 10AM), the children first, then Sarah, then me – same order as we were approved before.  So from beginning to end it took us two months.  It could have been completed in less than a month if we didn’t want to do all four interviews together.

We won’t need to use our Global Entry until our next trip to Ireland, but will be able to take advantage of the TSA PreCheck a few times before that.

Updated after first TSA PreCheck Experience:

My first PreCheck experience was the day before Thanksgiving at Dulles Airport.  I decided to give myself about three hours before my flight just to be sure.  My debut PreCheck experience was certainly worth the price.  The entire screening process took me seven minutes, but only because the woman in front of my had a knife AND a bottle of water in her bag.  My initial experience with the program was amazing, especially considering the time and date!  I can’t wait to see how it works this summer in Dublin!

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