In December last year Customs and Border Protection said that if you submit your global entry application before renewal and it has not been approved you’ll be able to continue to use the benefits of the program for up to 12 months. COVID-19 has obviously made this backlog even worse, while the official website is still saying the grace period is 12 months e-mails sent out by Customs and Border Protection are stating (emphasis ours):
Thank you for contacting the CBP Traveler Communications Center.
We are currently experiencing a backlog in processing times. Processing times vary by applicant, but on average you can expect your application to be processed as follows:
• GE & NEXUS: 7 months or longer
• SENTRI: 12 months or longer
Again, these are average times – unfortunately, we cannot anticipate a date of completion for your specific application at this time.
All applicants should check the Trusted Traveler Program website (https://ttp.dhs.gov/) periodically for updates or status of their application.
Additionally, if you submitted your renewal process before your membership expired, then you may continue using your benefits until the renewal is finalized (up to 18 months after your expiration date). We recommend that you print out a copy of your pending renewal to show the Customs and Border Protection Officer, if requested.
I suspect the official CBP page will be updated at some point.
Hat tip to reader Harry C
