US Global Entry Program for Australian citizens [from 2025]

[_TheTraveller_]

Spending three months in the United States combined with 12+ plane rides apparently doesn't qualify, because I did not leave or enter the US. Kinda stupid considering I'd probably only get GE for TSA PreCheck.

Sigh. Guess I'm waiting to the latter half of the year.

You could just apply for TSA PreCheck separately?

 

[cbowron]

You could just apply for TSA PreCheck separately?

TSA pre check you have to be a US citizen or PR sadly

 

[justinbrett]

As at 22 Jan there have been approx 200 people who have applied

I’m shocked if that’s true.

I wonder how many people gave up when it didn’t appear on the web?

 

[DirectConnect]

Received 'conditionally approved' status, son who had to use a manual application form has got word back from the GEP email address and is currently having his background check processed.

For further clarification, in order to make up my 5 trips to the US - I did submit two i94s across my Irish and Australian passports, they had no issues in accepting it.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I’m shocked if that’s true.

I wonder how many people gave up when it didn’t appear on the web?

Based on when the DHA website was last updated, I'm guessing there was some miscommunication between DHS and DHA regarding the launch? I don't recall DHA having an updated website for GE last week so perhaps everyone was trying to sign up and couldn't due to the website issues and gave up but perhaps technically wasn't it wasn't officially launched until Tuesday 21/1?

I know AET was advertising it last week in one of their articles.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

Based on when the DHA website was last updated, I'm guessing there was some miscommunication between DHS and DHA regarding the launch? I don't recall DHA having an updated website for GE last week so perhaps everyone was trying to sign up and couldn't due to the website issues and gave up but perhaps technically wasn't it wasn't officially launched until Tuesday 21/1?

I know AET was advertising it last week in one of their articles.

Also 5 trips to the US in one year is quite a lot

 

[cbowron]

I am still waiting for this email and I have called and emailed AUS CHECK a bunch since Monday and they keep saying "we've forwarded to our specialist team"
I received it previously but that application got withdrawn but on my new application I haven't received squat. AUS CHECK are no help. I'm at the point where I may need to contact my local representative to intervene cause it shouldn't take almost 4-5 days to issue an invite for this :|

Update, after 4 days of back and forth with AUS CHECK and intervention of my local member, I received my new invite!

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

Process been a mess for me so far. I already had Global Entry based on my other country passport but I couldn’t use it to enter USA as I have a visa in Aussie Passport. Was good for TSA precheck.

System wouldn’t let me add Aussie passport to existing membership and so had to establish a new profile and pay another $120. Then I hadn’t received anything from Australia for 5 days and so on speaking with CBP established having two profiles threw their system into a fit.

Net/net had to cancel my existing other passport based global entry membership - waste of 120, past interview, etc etc and loss of TSA precheck, cancel my first Aussie application (another 120 lost) and file a totally new application - another 120 spent. It has now been around 20 hours and still waiting for background check invitation from Australia….

Doing another trip this weekend and had hoped to have got through Aussie checks and received CBP conditional approval so I could have done Global Entry on arrival….but alas that isn’t going to happen…

 

[justinbrett]

Doing another trip this weekend and had hoped to have got through Aussie checks and received CBP conditional approval so I could have done Global Entry on arrival….but alas that isn’t going to happen…

They’re quoting 3+ months

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Also 5 trips to the US in one year is quite a lot

I genuinely surprised it would be for many business people.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

They’re quoting 3+ months

For my previous membership it took 2 days for other country to do background check and then 2 days later CBP conditionally approved me and I had membership shortly after. But yes they quote 3+ months.

Right now I would just settle for my background invitation from Australia

 

[DirectConnect]

The 3+ months is often associated with domestic US citizen based applications as they have a team thats supposed to run state and federal background checks per applicant, given how nearly every major credit card offers Global Entry for free - theres massive wait times.

International applications I am assuming are dependent on the host country to manage background checks ect

 

[justinbrett]

For my previous membership it took 2 days for other country to do background check and then 2 days later CBP conditionally approved me and I had membership shortly after. But yes they quote 3+ months.

Right now I would just settle for my background invitation from Australia

But I assume you didn’t apply in the first 200 people for your previous membership?

Who knows how they will run it. The fact they’ve limited it to 1000 people suggests to me they’re expecting to take their sweet time.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

But I assume you didn’t apply in the first 200 people for your previous membership?

Who knows how they will run it. The fact they’ve limited it to 1000 people suggests to me they’re expecting to take their sweet time.

The 3+ months is CBP driven and some Australians have already received conditional approval. It can be very random. I know families who have all applied at the same time and some people receive conditional CBP approval in days and others it can take months despite being same family and no record issues etc - quite random.

CBP process thousands of these things constantly and a couple of Australians aren’t going to slow things down - in fact in general they should go quickly given CBP high level of confidence in security around Australian passport holders. But indeed it can be quite random as we have seen by some Aussies already approved.

 

[justinbrett]

The 3+ months is CBP driven and some Australians have already received conditional approval. It can be very random. I know families who have all applied at the same time and some people receive conditional CBP approval in days and others it can take months despite being same family and no record issues etc - quite random.

CBP process thousands of these things constantly and a couple of Australians aren’t going to slow things down - in fact in general they should go quickly given CBP high level of confidence in security around Australian passport holders. But indeed it can be quite random as we have seen by some Aussies already approved.

No it’s the Australian end that I’m predicting will be slow.

I know in my case I have ADF service and while in theory that should make my vetting easy (I held a high level security clearance until recently which required much more thorough vetting than GEP - and was 5 eyes so recognised by US), it does require a manual report from the ADF on any possible service offences which means that could take months in itself.

 

[DFWorldtraveller]

Are yes then you may run into issues re ADF being slow. I hope not for you.

 

[justinbrett]

Are yes then you may run into issues re ADF being slow. I hope not for you.

And not the only government department that’s slow. I think you have far too much faith in our public service

 

[MG1]

Manual Review is the initial status. I assume this means someone checks your application including your eligibility for the 5 entries.

You’ll then get an email saying they’ve commenced the background check, and the status will say Pending Background Check.

@justinbrett, thanks for your response.

I've since had my background check completed with my result as "eligible" (with a Validity End Date in five years' time). Would the next step be to book an interview? If so, does it actually need to be booked, or do I just step aside at one of the eligible airports (found in link posted earlier) and have an impromptu interview? What's the correct process to follow for this as no instructions were received via e-mail?

I've never done this before, so my apologies if my questions seem basic.