Global Entry for Remote Workers and Frequent Flyers

Short answer: For remote workers and frequent flyers, Global Entry is especially valuable—faster customs and TSA PreCheck save time on every trip. To get your interview without disrupting travel: (1) use appointment alerts so you're notified when a slot opens at 2–3 centers (including ones you might pass through on work trips); (2) add centers in cities you visit often so you can book a slot that aligns with an existing trip; (3) use Enrollment on Arrival (EOA) when you return from an international flight—you complete the interview at customs, no advance appointment needed; and (4) if you're based in one place but travel often, set your alert date range to days you're home or to cities you'll be in. For more on business travelers, see Global Entry for Frequent Business Travelers: Booking Tips. For fitting this around a full-time job, see How to Find Global Entry Appointments While Working Full-Time.

Remote workers and frequent flyers often have more flexibility (or more cities they pass through), which you can use to your advantage when hunting for an interview slot.

Why Global Entry Fits Remote Workers and Frequent Flyers

Global Entry gives you expedited U.S. customs and immigration when you return from abroad, plus TSA PreCheck for domestic flights. For people who fly often—whether for work or as digital nomads—that means less time in lines and more predictable airport time. The one-time application and interview are a small upfront cost compared to the time saved over many trips. See Global Entry for Frequent Business Travelers: Booking Tips for more on maximizing the benefit.

Align Your Interview With Travel

If you travel to specific cities regularly:

• Add enrollment centers in those cities to your alert list. When a slot opens at a center in a city where you'll already be, you can book it and do the interview on that trip—no extra flight needed.
• Set your alert date range (if the service allows it) to windows when you're in a given city or when you're home. That way you're not getting alerts for dates when you're abroad or in a different city.
• Use multiple states if you fly to several regions. Monitoring centers in 2–3 cities you visit increases the chance that a slot will open when you're there.

Use Enrollment on Arrival

Enrollment on Arrival (EOA) is ideal for frequent international flyers. When you return from an international flight, you complete your Global Entry interview at the airport after clearing customs—no advance appointment. If your return airport offers EOA, you can get your interview on your next international return. See How to Combine Enrollment on Arrival with Regular Scheduling. For people who travel internationally often, EOA often ends up being the "fastest" path because you're already at the airport.

Monitor Centers in Cities You Visit

Use an appointment alert service that monitors 2–3 centers. Choose centers in:

• Your home base (if you have one)
• One or two cities you visit frequently for work or travel

When a slot opens at any of them, you're notified. If the slot is in a city you're already planning to be in, you can book it and do the interview on that trip. See How to Track Multiple Enrollment Centers at Once and How to Monitor Global Entry Appointments Across Multiple States.

Address and Residency When You Travel a Lot

If you're a remote worker or digital nomad with no single "home" address, use a stable address where you can receive mail and that matches other official records (e.g., state ID, tax filings) when possible. For more on applying without a traditional permanent address, see Digital Nomads: Global Entry Without a Permanent Address? and Does Changing Your Address Delay Global Entry Approval?

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm based abroad but fly to the U.S. often. Can I still get Global Entry?

Yes, if you're eligible (e.g., U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or citizen of a country with a Trusted Traveler agreement). You can complete your interview at any U.S. enrollment center when you're in the country, or via EOA when you return from an international flight. Your "address" on the application should be a stable U.S. address where you can receive mail if required.

Can I do my interview during a layover?

You need a scheduled appointment at that center—you can't just walk in. If you have a long layover in a city with an enrollment center, you could add that center to your alerts and try to get a slot that aligns with a future layover. Slots are often hard to get at short notice, so EOA or aligning with a trip where you're in the city for a day or more is usually more reliable.

Does Global Entry work for domestic flights too?

Yes. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, so you get expedited security on domestic U.S. flights. You use your Known Traveler Number (KTN) when booking domestic flights to get PreCheck.