Joining Global Entry is now simpler than ever before, thanks to a recent update made by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The agency has just added a new airport to its “Enrollment on Departure” program, which allows conditionally approved Global Entry applicants to complete their interview process at the airport before boarding their flight.
Miami International Airport (MIA) is now the second airport to participate in the program, which eases the long wait for conditionally approved applicants to score an interview time slot. Scheduling an interview for final approval is often the most onerous part of the application process, as time slots at standard Global Entry enrollment centers are competitive and book up quickly.
“This program eliminates the need for [Global Entry] applicants to schedule an interview at an enrollment center, streamlining the [Global Entry] application process,” CBP’s website states. Travelers simply walk up to the airport’s Enrollment on Departure office for an interview, no appointment needed.
Miami’s new Enrollment on Departure area is located on the second level of Concourse J, across from the Lufthansa check-in counter. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Once at the Miami airport, travelers should “follow signage directing you to the CBP designated Global Entry [Enrollment on Departure] area,” says the agency’s webpage on the program. “A CBP officer will assist you in completing your [Global Entry] interview.”
The program first launched on a trial basis in February 2024 at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The DC-area airport still runs its Enrollment on Departure office, which is located in Concourse B across from gate B41 and is open every day from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Officials have also made another small change to make the process easier: Conditionally approved travelers can now take advantage of Enrollment on Departure even if they’re flying on a domestic flight. When the program first launched in 2024, only travelers booked on international flights were eligible.
In order to complete the interview, conditionally approved applicants must bring: a valid passport; documents to prove residency such as a driver’s license with a current address, rental payment statement, or utility bill; and a permanent resident card, if applicable. They must also be ready to show a boarding pass for a same-day domestic or international flight.
If you have multiple passports, be sure to bring them all to the appointment so the officer can add them to your profile. Minors do not need to bring proof of address for their interview.
Plan to give yourself plenty of time to complete the interview before your flight’s boarding time, and keep in mind that your departure gate could be located in a completely different concourse or terminal from the Enrollment on Departure office. The interview should take 10 to 15 minutes per traveler, so officers can ask a few questions, take your photo, and capture your fingerprints.
If you’re not planning to depart from Miami or Washington Dulles in the near future, there’s still an interview shortcut you might be able to use. CBP operates a similar program called Enrollment on Arrival that allows conditionally approved applicants to complete their Global Entry interview after landing in the US from an international flight. That program is much more widespread and is available at 51 US airports and 16 international pre-clearance facilities.
For airline passengers who travel internationally at least a couple times a year, joining Global Entry is well worth the effort. The trusted traveler program allows fliers expedited processing through Customs and Immigration when returning to the US from an international trip, and it also comes with a TSA PreCheck membership. Global Entry membership costs $120 for five years, but several travel reward credit cards cover the cost for their customers as an added perk.
