Addressing Constituent Concerns, Davids Calls for Answers on Slow Global Entry Application Process
At peak, processing delays have reached more than one year
Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) urged U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to address the delays in processing Global Entry applications. In their letter, Davids and her colleagues emphasized complaints from constituents about long wait times and challenges securing in-person appointments at nearby locations within a reasonable timeframe.
"Our offices are often a last resort when constituents need help with Global Entry…Due to the inadequate transparency and communication by the agency, CBP has left our constituents confused, which impacts how and when our constituents apply for their initial or renewed Global Entry status. As a result, our constituents turn to our offices for assistance. While we are happy to assist in any way we can, we also recognize that dedicating both our district office staff’s time and resources as well as that of the CBP congressional liaisons may be better spent on more urgent constituent services," wrote Davids and her colleagues.
“In addition to the rise in applications, the lack of accessible locations for in-person interviews has also become a reoccurring issue for our constituents. In the state of Kansas, for example, there are currently no Global Entry enrollment centers that process the required interview for clearance in Kansas. To obtain an in-person interview, these constituents are required to travel out of state to surrounding states like Missouri, Iowa, or Nebraska. Even then, the appointments for the Global Entry processing centers in these states yield an average wait time of close to 100 days.” Davids and her colleagues continued.
Global Entry is a program that permits expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival into the United States. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, international travel to and from the United States has surged, leading to a sharp rise in Global Entry applications. CBP is expected to receive nearly 4 million Global Entry applications in 2024, about 1 million more than in 2023.
A full copy of the letter can be found here.