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Applying for Global Entry is easy. Even better, you can get your application fee waived by carrying the right credit card. However, getting an appointment for Global Entry isn't so easy; securing an appointment can take months.
Thankfully, a recent high school graduate has figured out a way around the nightmare. Here's the story of TTP Appointments — and how you can use the service to shave months off the wait for your Global Entry appointment.
Page Contents
- What Is TTP Appointments?
- How To Use TTP Appointments To Get a Global Entry Interview
- Nearly Every TTP User Secures an Appointment
- Our Take
- FAQ
- How does TTP Appointments work?
- How much does TTP Appointments cost?
- How many notifications will you receive?
- Will you get notified of the same appointment twice?
- Are you guaranteed to get an appointment?
- Does TTP Appointments work with Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI?
- Will TTP Appointments book your appointment for you?
What Is TTP Appointments?
Have you ever struggled to get an interview for a Global Entry or other trusted traveler program (TTP) appointment? You're not alone.
The concept of TTP Appointments came about when Eli McDuffie's mother was unable to reserve a Global Entry appointment for four months. Before graduating high school, Eli designed a computer program to scan available appointments at his local TTP center for his mom. Realizing its potential, Eli upgraded the program so anyone could sign up and get notified of a potential TTP appointment.
The basis of TTP Appointments is simple. The program scans the Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI enrollment center webpages every five minutes, searching for available appointments. The program then sends out notifications to members who signed up. While members must still book the appointment for themselves, the program gives customers a massive advantage in snagging a coveted slot in the near future.
Related: You Can Now Enroll for Global Entry Before Departure at Washington Dulles
How To Use TTP Appointments To Get a Global Entry Interview
Using TTP Appointments for Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI appointments is very straightforward.
First, select your plan. Members can choose a free plan or a paid plan for $24.99. The paid plan is good for a month without automatic renewal; the free plan is a one-off notification.
With the free plan, members receive a single email notification when an appointment is available at their enrollment center of choice. Conversely, the paid plan includes unlimited text and email notifications at up to 5 enrollment centers.
When a member receives an alert, scheduling the appointment becomes first come, first served. TTP Appointments does not make the booking for you. You will also only get one notification for the same appointment within a 24-hour period. As such, have your email and text notifications on.
If you have a free account, you only get one notification. If you have a paid account, you will continue to get notifications for new appointments throughout the month. Of course, you can cancel your notifications if you successfully get your appointment.
Related: Global Entry Fee Increase Coming in October 2024
Nearly Every TTP User Secures an Appointment
TTP Appointments reports that 80% of members on the free plan get an appointment, while 95% of members on a paid plan get an appointment.
If you don't get an appointment, the TTP Appointments guarantee comes into play. Paid members who fail to receive two alerts within seven days can request their money back. In other words, you don't have anything to lose by selecting the free plan, and you're nearly guaranteed to get an appointment with the paid plan.
Our Take
An estimated 3.5 million Americans will try to get Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI appointments this year. TTP Appointments is a great opportunity to get an appointment significantly faster if you're in a city with no current appointments.
Many, if not most enrollment centers have a waiting list of more than a year, and most people probably don't want to or can't wait that long. If you've been waiting for your Global Entry interview for months, consider using TTP Appointments to skip the line and get your appointment sooner.
FAQ
How does TTP Appointments work?
TTP Appointments searches all Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS appointment centers every 5 minutes for available appointments. It then notifies all registered free and paid members for that specific center. Members need to book their appointments as soon as possible.
How much does TTP Appointments cost?
TTP Appointments offers a free plan that sends a single email notification when an appointment window opens at your closest center. Alternatively, you can pay $24.99 for a month of email and text notifications for up to 5 appointment centers.
How many notifications will you receive?
Members with the free plan only get one email notification for the next available appointment. Of course, you can sign up for another notification if you fail to get an appointment.
Premium plan members get unlimited email and text notifications for a full month. Members can select up to 5 enrollment centers.
Will you get notified of the same appointment twice?
No. A free member only gets a single email notification. Premium members can get multiple notifications, but never twice for the same slot. If two or more appointments open at the same center on the same day, premium members will get notifications for each of them. But you have the option of reactivating a notification if needed.
Are you guaranteed to get an appointment?
Not quite. Just because you get a notification doesn't mean you will get the appointment. However, free members have reported an 80% success rate, while premium members reported a 95% success rate when using TTP Appointments. You can ask for a refund if you paid for the premium plan and didn't get two notifications in 7 days.
Does TTP Appointments work with Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI?
Yes, TTP appointments searches all appointment centers for all three Trusted Traveler Programs.
Will TTP Appointments book your appointment for you?
No. You need to call and confirm your appointment as soon as you are notified. Available appointments are still first come, first served.
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