The way to Get International Entry for Free

For those who’re not a member of International Entry but, don’t let the $100 utility charge scare you. There are methods to get International Entry free of charge — utilizing the proper bank card is the commonest. I spoke with Anton Radchenko, an aviation lawyer and the founding father of AirAdvisor, to develop this information on all the things it’s essential know in regards to the Trusted Traveler Program. 

Prepared to use? Right here’s what it’s essential know to get International Entry free of charge. 

International Entry Prices and Necessities

Making use of for International Entry is a reasonably simple course of, however be ready to fill out a ton of data. To start out, create a Trusted Traveler Packages account. When you full the appliance, you pay a $100 non-refundable charge. Customs and Border Safety will then overview your utility. At this stage, you might be conditionally accepted or denied. 80 p.c of purposes are reviewed inside two weeks, however some can take as much as 12 months or longer. 

As soon as conditionally accepted, you could schedule an interview at a International Entry Enrollment Heart. These appointments might be fairly arduous to get, so it’s important to present your self loads of time earlier than a global journey to finish the method. On the interview, you’ll must convey your passport and one other type of identification, which is usually a driver’s license or an ID card. 

“Regardless that new appointment occasions are launched on the primary Monday of every month for International Entry, they get snapped up quick. Not solely are appointments scarce, however they will solely be performed at particular places, normally solely in bigger cities,” says Radchenko. “Vacationers going for the International Entry program have been getting fairly inventive in getting these coveted interviews, like taking quick holidays to cities the place there are openings.”

After the International Entry interview, you’ll obtain your card within the mail and might begin utilizing the related advantages. Your membership is legitimate for 5 years. International Entry contains all TSA PreCheck advantages, so that you don’t must enroll in these applications individually. 

To be eligible for International Entry, you have to be 18 years or older and be a citizen or lawful everlasting resident of america. Minors require a father or mother or guardian’s consent to enroll in this system. You can too be a citizen of one of many following international locations:

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Bahrain
• Dominican Republic
• India
• Colombia
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• The Netherlands
• Panama
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Mexico

Notice that necessities would possibly range if you’re a citizen of one among these international locations, so analysis earlier than making use of. 

Causes for potential denial or ineligibility can embrace offering false data on the appliance, being convicted of any prison offense, having been in violation of customs and immigration laws in any nation, or being the topic of an ongoing investigation, amongst others. 

As a full-time digital nomad, there isn’t a program that I like to recommend greater than International Entry. As a testomony to its effectiveness, I lately traveled from Lima, Peru (LIM) to Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM), with a layover in Atlanta, Georgia (ATL). My flight from Lima to Atlanta arrived an hour late, slicing my layover to only over an hour. I used to be in a position to deboard the aircraft, undergo immigration, acquire my suitcase, recheck my bag, undergo safety (with TSA PreCheck), take the prepare from the worldwide terminal to the home Delta terminal, and attain my gate in simply 35 minutes. If I had not had International Entry, I completely would have missed my connecting flight. 

Credit score Playing cards That Supply Free International Entry

Paying a $100 charge each 5 years for International Entry is greater than price it. Nonetheless, if you’d like the advantages with out incurring an extra price, many bank cards reimburse the appliance charge. There are tons of playing cards available on the market with this perk, so that you would possibly have already got one in your pockets and never understand it. Listed here are the playing cards that cowl International Entry charges, plus their annual charges. 

Credit score Playing cards With an Annual Payment Beneath $100:

These playing cards embrace:

• Aeroplan® Credit score Card: $95 
• Arvest Visa Signature® Credit score Card: $0
• Financial institution of America Premium Rewards Credit score Card: $95 
• Capital One Enterprise Card: $95 
• Alternative Privileges Choose Mastercard®: $95 
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card: $99 
• Navy Federal Credit score Union Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Card: $49 
• PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature Card: $95, waived for present PenFed Honors Benefit Members
• Provident World+ Journey Visa Signature Card: $0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $45 
• United Explorer Card: $0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $95
• USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Signature Credit score Card: $95
• U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join Visa Signature Card: $0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $95 (efficient Sept. 9, 2024, $0 annual charge)
• U.S. Financial institution FlexPerks Gold American Categorical Card: $85 

Premium Credit score Playing cards:

• Capital One Enterprise X Card: $395 
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit score Card: $550 
• Citi / AAdvantage Government World Elite MasterCard: $595 
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Categorical Card: $350 
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Categorical Card: $650 
• HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard: $395 for qualifying HSBC financial institution shoppers
• Marriott Bonvoy Good American Categorical Card: $650 
• MasterCard Black Card: $495 
• MasterCard Gold Card: $995 
• The Platinum Card® from American Categorical: $695 
• SKYPASS Choose Visa Signature Card: $450 
• Truist Get pleasure from Past Credit score Card: $195 
• UBS Visa Infinite Credit score Card: $495 
• United Membership Infinite Card: $525
• United Quest Card: $250 
• U.S. Financial institution Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card: $400 

Enterprise Credit score Playing cards: 

• Capital One® Enterprise X® Enterprise Card: $395 
• IHG One Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card: $99 
• Southwest Fast Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card: $199 
• The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical: $695 
• Capital One Spark Miles for Enterprise: $0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $95

Different Methods to Get International Entry for Free

There aren’t a ton of the way to get International Entry free of charge outdoors of bank cards. Some lodge and airline applications will can help you redeem your factors and miles for a TSA PreCheck utility charge, however most don’t supply the identical for International Entry.