If you're applying for Global Entry and got matched to the Detroit Enrollment Center, you're headed to one of the more unusual interview locations in the country: a Customs and Border Protection facility sitting right at the U.S. foot of the Ambassador Bridge, the crossing that connects southwest Detroit to Windsor, Ontario. This isn't a counter inside an airport terminal — it's a standalone CBP processing facility used for Global Entry, NEXUS, and FAST interviews, and it serves travelers from across the metro area, including Dearborn, Lincoln Park, Allen Park, Wyandotte, River Rouge, and even applicants who find it more convenient than driving out to Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). Because of where it sits — on an active international border crossing — this location has a few navigational quirks that trip up first-time visitors more than almost any other enrollment center in the country.

No available appointments at the Detroit Enrollment Center?

Hundreds of savvy travelers have skipped the long wait by using tools like Snapslot, which sends real-time SMS alerts the moment a cancellation opens up a new appointment slot. With interview availability at the Detroit Enrollment Center often booked out for weeks or months, this can help you lock in a slot far sooner than refreshing the scheduler yourself.

Knowing the Global Entry Application Process

Submit Your Application The first step to obtaining Global Entry is to submit an online application through the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) website. Ensure you provide accurate information and complete all required fields, including personal information, passport details, employment history, and travel history.

Await Conditional Approval After submitting your application, CBP will review it to determine your eligibility for Global Entry. If your application is conditionally approved, you'll receive a notification via your TTP account. This approval does not guarantee enrollment but indicates that you have met the initial criteria.

Schedule Your Interview This is the tough part. Once conditionally approved, log in to your TTP account to schedule your Global Entry interview at the Detroit Enrollment Center or another nearby location. Appointment slots at this facility fill up quickly, but Snapslot can alert you the moment a cancellation opens up.

Attend Your Interview Show up prepared with your passport, conditional approval letter, and other required documents.

Await Final Approval After your interview, final approval typically arrives within a few days, though some applicants have reported waits of several weeks.

Preparing for your interview

Getting ready for your interview is crucial. Here's what you may need (refer to official CBP notes for a complete list):

• A valid passport and another form of ID (e.g., driver's license).

• Your conditional approval letter from the Trusted Traveler Program.

• Proof of employment and, if relevant, certified court documentation for any prior arrests.

• A list of countries you've visited in the past five years, if asked. The officer may ask about the reason for each trip and how long you stayed — it's mostly an honesty check, but be ready to answer clearly.

Pro tip: Dress professionally, turn off electronic devices before you go in, and don't bring food or drinks into the building — this facility enforces that rule more strictly than most.

Getting to your appointment

Where the Detroit Enrollment Center actually is (read this first)

This is the single biggest gotcha for this location: the enrollment center moved from its old address at 2810 W Fort Street to 3033 Porter Street, Detroit, MI 48216, and a lot of GPS apps, older blog posts, and even some search results still point to the old Fort Street address. More than one applicant has driven to the old location, been told it's no longer in use, and had to be redirected — in at least one documented case, an applicant was escorted out of the area by law enforcement after showing up at the wrong spot, since it sits inside an active border-crossing security zone.

Current, correct address: 3033 Porter Street, Detroit, MI 48216. The facility is located on the U.S. side of the Ambassador Bridge at the CBP passenger processing area, not inside a normal office building — you'll be directed to a specific trailer or processing building once you arrive, so follow the instructions in your confirmation email closely rather than relying on muscle memory from a Google search.

A second, well-documented quirk: as you approach the facility, you'll pass signage reading "no re-entry to the United States." This is normal and refers to the adjacent bridge/border infrastructure, not to your Global Entry appointment — don't turn around. If you're arriving from the Canadian side, tell the primary booth officer that you have a scheduled interview and they'll direct you from there.

Hours of operation are listed as roughly 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, but CBP enrollment center hours change periodically — confirm the exact window in your appointment confirmation.

Parking at the Detroit Enrollment Center

Parking is available on-site, but it's limited. Because this is an active border-security facility, you generally won't be allowed onto the property more than 30–60 minutes ahead of your appointment time (confirm the exact window in your appointment email, since CBP has cited different lead times in different notices). Firearms and weapons of any kind are prohibited anywhere on the property. If you're using a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, ask your driver to wait — this is not an area where you can easily flag down a return ride.

Taking public transit to the Detroit Enrollment Center

Public transit to this specific location is limited. DDOT's Route 19 (Fort) runs along Fort Street and is the closest bus line to the general area, but the enrollment center itself sits well past the last convenient stop, inside the border-crossing facility rather than along a public street — it is not a realistic walk from any DDOT or SMART stop. If you're coming from downtown Detroit, Dearborn, or the Downriver suburbs, driving or booking a rideshare is by far the more reliable option for this particular location.

No available appointments?

If you're struggling to find an open slot at the Detroit Enrollment Center, try these options:

Enrollment on Arrival: If you're flying internationally and arriving at a participating airport, you may be able to complete your Global Entry interview on the spot instead of waiting for a scheduled appointment.

Manual refreshing: Keep checking the TTP site frequently — slots often appear without warning and are taken within minutes, especially early morning or late evening.

Set up alerts: Snapslot can do the work for you, sending SMS alerts as soon as a new slot opens at the Detroit Enrollment Center or nearby Michigan locations like Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) or Port Huron.

Consider nearby alternatives: If Detroit's wait times are long, the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) Global Entry Enrollment Center in the North Terminal, or the Port Huron Enrollment Center about an hour northeast, sometimes have shorter waits.

Address: 3033 Porter Street, Detroit, MI 48216 Phone: Check your TTP confirmation for the current contact number, as it has changed more than once at this facility.

Travelers who've been through this location consistently flag the same two things: double-check the address before you leave, and give yourself extra buffer time, since this is a working international border crossing and traffic can back up unpredictably.