This summer, I decided to get Global Entry for my two younger kids (14 and 17). They already have TSA PreCheck, since that’s easier/quicker to get. However, our slow re-entry back into the U.S. after some recent international trips made us want to get all 5 of us in the Global Entry program (3 of us already have it). My son’s dual citizenship status made the process a bit longer.
TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry
TSA PreCheck is an expedited security clearance program for low-risk travelers that allows you go through designated lanes in airport security. Lines in TSA PreCheck lanes are typically shorter and faster, since travelers don’t have to remove laptops, liquids, shoes or belts. The cost ranges from $76.75 to $85 depending on where you enroll. There are many enrollment centers (not just inside airports), and processing time is typically less than a week.
Kids 17 and under can travel with parents in the TSA PreCheck line if they are on the same reservation number. If kids are traveling alone, they must have their own TSA PreCheck number.
Global Entry program includes TSA PreCheck benefits but also includes access to special immigration kiosks upon entry to the USA. These lines are almost always shorter and faster than normal immigration lines. Kids 17 and under do not have to pay the $120 enrollment fee if their guardian is enrolled in the program, but they must enroll and get their own approval.
Global Entry Timeline for my Son
When my kids applied for Global Entry this summer, my daughter got her conditional approval and interview invitation after just one day! Not so for my son, who has dual citizenship (USA and Russia).
July 24: Applied for Global Entry
December 26: Received conditional approval and invitation to interview
So, it took a bit over 5 months for him to get conditional approval. I was beginning to wonder if he would even be approved before our trip to Japan! Thankfully, interview spots at DFW were available in January, so he should be all set by the end of this month.
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
What really stood out to me was how different it can be for children born abroad or with dual citizenship. It makes total sense that Customs and Border Protection needs clarity and proof, but that nuance isn’t obvious until you’re in the middle of it. Seeing your timeline — from application to conditional approval to interview and final status — actually makes the whole thing feel doable and real. So often we hear only the “it happened fast!” or “it took forever!” extremes online, and it leaves the rest of us guessing what the typical journey looks like. This post felt grounded and honest, which I really appreciated.
I also liked how you broke down the pieces: what docs mattered most, how appointments filled up, what you learned about scheduling interviews, and how dual citizenship added a layer of complexity. It’s the kind of detail that saves someone else from making the same mistakes or scrambling at the last minute. Especially with travel in the coming years being so unpredictable and expensive, knowing where to start is half the battle.
I think the older boys tend to get more scrutiny than younger boys and girls and that is why I’ve been seeing delay patterns like that.
Is his latest US passport issued after he turned 16 years of age?
@GUWoder We just updated his passport this summer immediately before applying, but it makes sense that the older boys get more scrutiny. He’s also traveled more internationally than our other son had when he applied years ago.
It is new.
Is the son the older of the two who applied as dual-citizens?
@GUWonder He’s my younger dual-citizen son who is 17, but my older son was younger when he applied over 5 years ago and had a quicker process.
That must be new that minors don’t have to pay. I always had to pay for my kids.
@Audrey Yes, the policy started October 2024. I applied before the change, but used credit cards that offered Global Entry credit.