Short answer: Yes. You can pursue both at once: keep trying to book a regular enrollment center appointment (and use appointment alerts so you don’t miss openings) and plan to use Enrollment on Arrival (EOA) the next time you return from an international trip. Whichever happens first—you grab a center slot or you complete EOA—you’re done. Combining both stacks your options and is especially useful if your conditional approval is expiring or you have a trip abroad soon.
Why Combine Both?
- Regular scheduling gives you a chosen date, time, and location—if you can get a slot. Slots are scarce and go fast.
- Enrollment on Arrival doesn’t require a pre-booked appointment; you complete your interview when you land from an international flight at a participating airport. You can’t reserve a time—you wait in line—but you’re not competing for a center slot.
Doing both means you’re not betting on one path. If a center appointment opens first, you take it. If your international return happens first and EOA is available, you do that. See What Is Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival? for EOA basics.
How to Run Both Strategies
1. Keep hunting for a center appointment
Log into the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) scheduler and select one to three enrollment centers you can realistically reach. Check often, or use an appointment alert service (e.g., GE Finder) so you’re notified the moment a slot opens. If you get an alert and can make the date, book it—then you’re done and don’t need EOA for this application.
2. Plan EOA as a backup
If you already have or will have an international trip, know whether your return airport offers EOA (check CBP’s official list). When you land, follow signs for Global Entry / Enrollment on Arrival and complete your interview there. If you complete EOA first, you’re approved and can cancel any center appointment you had.
3. Don’t double-book the same “slot”
You can have one scheduled center appointment at a time. If you later complete EOA, cancel the center appointment so someone else can use it. If you book a center slot and then do EOA first, cancel the center slot.
If Your Conditional Approval Is Expiring
Conditional approval is valid for a limited time (often one year). If that window is closing:
- Keep trying for any center slot you can reach—including less busy centers. See the guide hub by airport.
- If you have an international return before the expiry date, EOA at a participating airport can complete your enrollment without needing a center appointment.
- If you truly can’t get either before expiry, you’ll need to reapply and pay again; there’s no automatic extension.
For timelines, see How Long Does Global Entry Conditional Approval Take in 2026?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both regular scheduling and EOA for Global Entry?
Yes. You can look for a center appointment and plan to do EOA on your next international return. Whichever you complete first finishes your enrollment.
Do I have to choose one or the other?
No. Using both increases your chances. Just cancel any center appointment if you end up completing EOA first so the slot goes back to others.
Will EOA work if I already have a center appointment scheduled?
Yes. If you do EOA first, you’re approved. Cancel your center appointment afterward so someone else can use it.
✅ Key Takeaway
Combine regular appointment hunting with Enrollment on Arrival: keep trying for a center slot (with alerts) and use EOA on your next international return if that comes first. Whichever you complete first finishes your Global Entry enrollment.
Final Thoughts
Strategic combination of scheduling methods provides the highest success rates and most flexibility for Global Entry approval.