How Often Global Entry Appointments Actually Open (Patterns Explained)

Short answer: Global Entry appointments open in two main ways: (1) when someone cancels or reschedules—their slot goes back into the pool and becomes available to anyone; and (2) when CBP releases new blocks of time—centers add new dates or times to the scheduler. There is no fixed schedule for either. Cancellations happen throughout the day and week; new releases vary by center and CBP staffing. Patterns that often show more activity include early morning and late evening (when people cancel after hours), after government shutdowns or holidays (when cancelled slots reappear or new blocks are released), and at lower-demand centers where slots sit open longer. To catch openings without checking constantly, use appointment alerts and check at high-probability times. For data on cancellation windows, see Global Entry Cancellation Windows: What the Data Shows.

Understanding when and how often slots open helps you time your search and use alerts effectively instead of refreshing randomly.

Two Ways Appointments Open

Slots become available in two main ways:

1. Cancellations and reschedules. When someone cancels or reschedules their appointment, that slot goes back into the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) scheduler and becomes available to anyone. This is the main source of "new" availability at busy centers—see How Global Entry Appointment Cancellations Actually Work.
2. New blocks released by CBP. Enrollment centers sometimes add new dates or time blocks to the scheduler. This is less predictable and varies by center and staffing. After holidays, shutdowns, or staffing changes, you may see bursts of new availability—see Appointment Hunting After a Government Shutdown.

Cancellation Patterns

Cancellations happen whenever someone cancels or reschedules—there is no fixed time. People cancel at all hours and on all days. So "when do appointments open?" is partly "when do people cancel?"—and that's distributed. What we do know from observation and data:

• Slots that reappear from cancellations can be taken within minutes at busy centers—see Why Most People Miss Global Entry Appointments Even When They're Checking.
• Some times of day (e.g., early morning, late evening) may show more activity because people cancel outside work hours or after checking their calendar. See Best Time of Day to Check for Global Entry Cancellations and Global Entry Cancellation Windows: What the Data Shows.

New Releases by CBP

CBP does not publish a schedule for when centers add new appointment blocks. New blocks can appear:

• After staffing or schedule changes at a center
• After holidays or shutdowns when centers reopen and repopulate the scheduler
• Periodically as centers open more capacity

There's no way to "know" exactly when a center will add blocks—so relying on alerts or checking at high-probability times is more effective than guessing.

Time-of-Day and Day-of-Week Patterns

Observational and user-reported patterns (not official CBP data) suggest:

• Early morning and late evening (e.g., before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. local time) sometimes show more new slots—possibly because people cancel then or CBP systems update then.
• Weekdays vs. weekends—cancellations can happen any day; some users report more activity on weekdays when people change plans around work.
• After holidays or long weekends—people may cancel or reschedule after realizing they can't make a slot, so a burst of openings can appear.

These are patterns, not guarantees. The only way to catch openings reliably is to be notified when they appear—hence the value of appointment alerts.

How Patterns Differ by Center

At busy centers, slots that open (from cancellations or new releases) are often taken within minutes. At lower-demand or border centers, the same types of openings may sit available longer because fewer people are searching for those locations. So "how often" appointments open can feel different: at a busy center, openings are frequent but fleeting; at a low-demand center, openings may be less frequent but more likely to still be there when you look. See Why Border Enrollment Centers Are Faster for Global Entry and Why Most People Miss Global Entry Appointments Even When They're Checking.

How to Use This to Get a Slot Sooner

1. Use appointment alerts so you're notified the moment a slot opens at your chosen centers—you don't have to guess when to check. See Using Automation to Find Global Entry Appointments.
2. If you check manually, do it at high-probability times (e.g., early morning, late evening) rather than randomly.
3. Include at least one lower-demand center in your search so that when openings appear, they're more likely to still be available when you look. See How to Avoid Wasting Weeks Checking the Wrong Enrollment Centers.
4. Act fast when you see a slot. At busy centers, slots can be taken in minutes. Have your TTP account open and complete the booking as soon as you get an alert or see availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a specific day or time when CBP releases appointments?

CBP does not publish a release schedule. New blocks can appear at any time. Cancellations happen whenever someone cancels. That's why alerts and high-probability checking are more effective than relying on a "magic" time.

Why do some people get appointments quickly and I don't?

They may be using alerts (so they're notified the moment a slot opens), checking multiple centers (including lower-demand ones), or checking at times when more slots tend to appear. See Why Most People Miss Global Entry Appointments Even When They're Checking and The Fastest Legit Ways People Get Global Entry Interviews.

How often should I check if I don't use alerts?

If you check manually, focus on high-probability times (e.g., early morning, late evening) a few times a day rather than constant refreshing. Constant refreshing can lead to scheduler lockouts.