As Global Entry interview appointments have become coveted, multiple third-party services have taken care of the legwork of searching the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s online scheduling tool to identify available interview slots as part of the final step of the application process.
Once new users are approved for Global Entry, conditional or otherwise, they will be required to pass an in-person interview to take advantage of the Trusted Traveler program which helps expedite the customs process back to the US
While appointment availability appears to have improved since the pandemic-induced backlog, some locations remain fully booked from November through the end of the year.
If you’re having trouble scheduling an interview or just want to speed up the process, consider Global Entry Spotter. On average, it notifies 90% of users of appointments within 24 hours of registration.
What is Global Entry Spotter
Global Entry Spotter is a paid service that notifies users via SMS of open appointments at their top three desired Global Entry Enrollment centers.
From November it will scan appointments at 110 centres, but at any given time this could be between 105 and 120, says Alex Tilford, co-founder of the company.
Unlike other appointment finding services, Global Entry Spotter does not operate on a monthly basis, but charges $25 for unlimited alerts.
“We wanted to ensure that all our customers booked appointments, so we came up with a way to offer unlimited alerts. All other competitors only offer 30/31 day alerts, but what if there are only two new appointments in that time that you Can’t book?” Tilford said. “We offer indefinitely until you cancel, so you are assured of an appointment.”
How to sign up for Global Entry Spotter
To sign up, new users create an account and select their top three location preferences for the enrollment center and alert preferences. The entire sign-up process takes less than a minute.
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How Global Entry Spotter Alerts Work
While the success rate varies depending on the enrollment center, nine out of 10 Global Entry Spotter users receive their first alert within 24 hours, the company said.
“Sometimes it only takes a few minutes depending on the location, sometimes longer,” Tilford said. “We haven’t had anyone wait longer than a week for their first warning.”
Customers who are unable to make an appointment within the first month will be entitled to a refund, Tilford confirmed.
After the Global Entry Spotter notifies users of open interview slots and successfully interviews them, users must unsubscribe from the service.
“Our duty is over once they make an appointment,” Tilford said. “But if they need to cancel their appointment and find another one, they can turn our alerts back on for free.”
In short
Unlike Appointment Scanner or TTP Appointments, which provide monthly alerts, Global Entry Spotter offers users unlimited alerts for a one-time fee.
Because current processing times for Global Entry applications average four to six months per CBP, approved Global Entry applicants with immediate travel plans can take advantage of this service.
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