Yes — many Global Entry applicants can complete their interview remotely, by video call, instead of visiting an enrollment center in person. CBP offers this option to a subset of conditionally-approved applicants (historically weighted toward renewing members) through a virtual/remote interview program. Whether it's offered to you shows up as a scheduling choice inside your Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account after conditional approval — it isn't something you request separately, and not every applicant sees it.
Can Global Entry interviews be done virtually?
Yes. CBP runs a remote (virtual) interview option for Global Entry as an alternative to the traditional in-person interview at an enrollment center. Instead of driving to a CBP facility, you complete the interview over a video call with an officer from wherever you have a reliable internet connection, camera, and microphone.
The catch is availability. This isn't a universal replacement for in-person interviews — it's offered on a case-by-case basis, and eligibility has historically leaned toward people renewing an existing Trusted Traveler membership rather than brand-new applicants. CBP has expanded and adjusted the program over time, so the safest way to know if it applies to you is to check your own TTP account rather than relying on a blanket rule.
Who qualifies for a remote Global Entry interview
Renewing members
If you already hold Global Entry (or another Trusted Traveler Program membership) and you're renewing, you're the group most likely to be offered a remote interview. CBP already has your fingerprints, background check history, and prior travel record on file, which reduces what an in-person interview needs to establish.
New applicants
First-time applicants are less commonly offered the remote option, though it isn't automatically ruled out. Because a new enrollment involves biometric capture and a first-time identity/eligibility review, CBP has more often reserved in-person interviews for this group — but program rules can and do change, so don't assume you're excluded until you've checked your account.
How to check if you're offered one
After you submit your application and receive conditional approval, log in to your Trusted Traveler Programs account. If a remote interview is available to you, it will appear as a scheduling option alongside (or instead of) in-person enrollment center slots. If you only see in-person options, a remote interview isn't currently being offered for your application.
How to schedule a remote Global Entry interview
Submit your Global Entry application and wait for conditional approval to post to your TTP account.
Log in to your TTP account once conditionally approved and open the interview scheduling section.
Look for a remote/virtual interview option. If it's offered, select it instead of an in-person enrollment center; if it isn't shown, you'll need to book an in-person appointment (our Global Entry enrollment center locations page can help you find one with earlier availability).
Pick a date and time and confirm the appointment through your TTP account.
Prepare your equipment and documents ahead of the scheduled time (see the checklist below).
What's different about a virtual vs. in-person interview
The substance of the interview is the same either way — an officer verifies your identity, reviews your application, and asks about your travel history. What changes is the format:
Location: you join from home or any private space with internet access instead of traveling to a CBP enrollment center.
Equipment: you're responsible for a working camera, microphone, and stable connection instead of relying on center-provided hardware.
Environment: the officer will ask you to show your surroundings are private and free of other people or distractions, similar to how any official video interview is conducted.
Fingerprints: Global Entry still requires fingerprints on file. Renewing members typically already have these from their original enrollment; how new-applicant biometrics are handled under the remote option is exactly the kind of detail that's worth confirming directly in your TTP account or with CBP, since it can vary.
Length-wise, expect a remote interview to take roughly the same amount of time as an in-person one — CBP's own guidance points to about 15–20 minutes for a standard Global Entry interview, whether by video or in person.
How to prepare for your virtual Global Entry interview
Before the interview
Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection ahead of time — not five minutes before.
Have your passport (or other required identification) within reach.
Review your application so you can speak accurately to your travel history and personal details.
Choose a quiet, well-lit, private space free of other people and distractions.
During the interview
Do: sit somewhere with good lighting, keep your face clearly visible, and have your documents ready to show if asked.
Don't: use unsecured public Wi-Fi, wear a hat or sunglasses that obscure your face, or take the call from a busy or distracting location.
What happens after the interview
If the interview goes well, final approval is often communicated quickly, and your Global Entry membership becomes active. As with in-person interviews, an officer may need to follow up on something in your application before finalizing your approval — that isn't unique to the remote format.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do my Global Entry interview online?
If CBP offers you the remote interview option in your TTP account after conditional approval, yes — it's conducted over video call rather than in person. Not every applicant is offered this option.
Is a virtual Global Entry interview the same as Enrollment on Arrival?
No. Enrollment on Arrival lets some conditionally-approved applicants complete their in-person interview at the airport on an international arrival, skipping a separate enrollment-center visit. A remote/virtual interview is a different program — a video call instead of an in-person visit anywhere. See our guide to Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival for how that option works.
What if I'm not offered a remote interview?
You'll need to schedule an in-person interview at an enrollment center. Wait times vary significantly by location, so it's worth comparing nearby centers rather than only checking the closest one — our enrollment center directory lists locations and typical wait times.
Scheduling a remote Global Entry interview can save you a trip to an enrollment center, but it depends on whether CBP offers it for your application. Check your TTP account after conditional approval, and if a remote option isn't available, use the time to line up the in-person enrollment center with the shortest wait near you.
