Nashville Welcomes New International Flights but Faces Global Entry Challenges
Nashville, Tennessee, is buzzing with excitement as its airport gears up to introduce new international flights to both _Iceland_ and _Ireland_ next year. While this news is lighting up the travel scene in Music City, it seems some travelers are hitting a little turbulence of their own when trying to head out of the country. The _Global Entry_ office at Nashville International Airport (BNA) is currently closed, leaving many eager globetrotters in a state of limbo.
According to staff from US Customs and Border Protection, there’s no set timeline for when the office will reopen. Why? They are on the hunt for a new location. It is essential to understand that the _Global Entry_ program gives pre-approved travelers faster access through customs, making it a popular choice among frequent flyers. But without a local office, it has become challenging for new applicants.
The Frustration of Waiting
One Nashville resident, Yolanda Fowler, caught the travel bug after returning from a delightful trip to Greece. Upon her return, she found herself stuck in what she described as a “_long line_” at customs, while her friends appeared to breeze through without a hitch. “That was my wake-up call,” she said with a sigh. “I need to get Global Entry!”
Yolanda quickly signed up online and organized her information but soon faced another hurdle: the next available appointment for an in-person interview was a whopping _365 days away_. Unfortunately, this is a requirement for CBP in order to finalize your enrollment in the program. As of now, the nearest office is located three hours away in Memphis. “It’s very disappointing,” she commented. “Nobody wants to drive three hours and have to take a whole vacation day for a five-minute conversation,” she added.
Resourcefulness on the Road
Not one to be easily deterred, Yolanda decided to get creative. Since she travels for work often, she started hunting for appointments in cities she planned to visit. After a few months of searching, she finally found an opening in _Atlanta_. “Within a week after that, I had my Global Entry card in hand,” she exclaimed. “I’m just excited that it’s now over.”
However, she is conscious of how her experience isn’t universal. “It’s really sad that Nashville, which boasts BNA as an international airport, keeps bringing in flights to all these great places, but we don’t even have a Global Entry office,” she reflected.
Temporary Solutions in Place
While the Nashville Global Enrollment Center is closed, there is still hope for those who have been conditionally approved for Global Entry. CBP representatives shared that travelers can flag down a CBP employee upon returning to the U.S. and request an interview, a process known as _Enrollment on Arrival_. Though not advertised, they confirmed it is available at any Customs location, which could be beneficial for some travelers.
Yolanda had discovered this option during her appointment hunt, but she wasn’t keen on flying internationally just to conduct a five-minute interview. Now that she’s a Global Entry member, though, she can’t wait for her next adventure. With her newfound privilege, she chuckled, saying, “I’ll let my friends know I’ll wait for them, just like they had to wait for me!”
A Path Forward
The good news is that the team at the CBP New Orleans Field Office and the CBP Port of Nashville are actively working with BNA’s Airport Authority to find a permanent home for the Nashville Global Enrollment Center. They mentioned that the current closure and suspension of online appointments are due to moving into a new _Federal Inspection Services (FIS) Facility_.
During this transitional phase, Global Entry interviews will still be conducted for approved travelers returning to BNA. Most importantly, the maintenance services, such as name changes, will still be available at the airport during business hours.
So, for all you traveling Nashvillians, hang tight! The city is expanding its international reach while working diligently to make Global Entry more accessible again. Your next adventure awaits, and hopefully, it will be a smoother experience all around.
