You've successfully submitted your application, paid the $120 fee, and received your Conditional Approval. If you're one of the lucky ones, you've even managed to secure an interview appointment despite the massive 2026 backlog.
The hard part is over. Now, you just need to show up to your interview.
But what exactly do you need to bring? U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are notoriously strict. If you arrive at the enrollment center missing a crucial document, you will be turned away—and you might have to wait another 6 months to get a new appointment.
Here is the definitive 2026 checklist of exactly what to bring to your Global Entry interview to ensure you get approved on the spot.
The Essential Document Checklist
When you walk into the CBP enrollment center, you must have the following physical documents in hand:
1. A Valid Passport
You must bring a valid, unexpired passport. If you hold dual citizenship, you are required to bring all valid passports you possess to the interview so the officer can register them in your Trusted Traveler profile.
2. A Physical Form of Identification
In addition to your passport, you need another form of government-issued identification. For most applicants, this is a valid driver’s license or a state ID card.
3. Proof of Residency
The CBP officer needs to verify that you actually live where you claimed to live on your application.
- If your driver's license has your current address: That is usually sufficient.
- If your driver's license has an old address: You must bring a secondary document proving your current address.
Acceptable proof of residency documents include:
- A recent utility bill (water, gas, electric)
- A mortgage statement
- A current rental lease agreement
- A home or renter's insurance policy statement
Note: Cell phone bills and bank statements are sometimes rejected by officers, so a utility bill is the safest bet.
4. Lawful Permanent Resident Card (If Applicable)
If you are not a U.S. citizen but you are a Lawful Permanent Resident, you must bring your physical Green Card.
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5. Your Conditional Approval Letter
While the CBP officer can look up your PASSID in their system, it is highly recommended to bring a printed copy of your Conditional Approval letter, or at least have the PDF saved on your phone. If the CBP computer system is experiencing glitches (which happens frequently), having your letter can save your appointment.
What to Expect at the Interview
The interview itself is surprisingly brief. It usually takes less than 10 to 15 minutes.
You'll be called up to an officer's desk or window. They will ask to see your documents and verify that the information matches what you submitted online months ago.
The officer will ask you a few standard questions. Common questions include:
- Why do you want Global Entry?
- What do you do for a living?
- Have you ever been arrested or had any issues with customs in any country?
- Where have you traveled internationally in the last five years?
Answer truthfully and concisely.
Finally, the officer will take a digital photograph of you (this will be the photo printed on your physical Global Entry card) and collect a biometric scan of your fingerprints.
The Biggest Hurdle: Finding an Appointment
If you're reading this, you might still be staring at the CBP portal realizing there are zero appointments available in your state for the next 8 months.
You don't have to wait.
CBP enrollment centers see dozens of cancellations every single day. The problem is that these canceled slots disappear in under 3 minutes, making them impossible to grab manually.
Instead of hitting refresh on the CBP portal every morning, use a Global Entry appointment scanner like Appt Helper. You select your local enrollment center, and our automated system checks the schedule 24/7. The moment an applicant cancels their interview, we send an instant SMS alert to your phone with a direct booking link.
Most users secure an interview slot within a few days of signing up. Stop waiting and claim your Trusted Traveler status today.