Why did my Global Entry get revoked?

Your Global Entry could have been revoked due to fact that you are no longer eligible due to new or previously unknown incidents, a new customs or immigration violation, or even information told to CBP by other countries. You will receive a letter detailing the reasons that your membership was revoked through your TTP account.

Why did my TSA PreCheck get revoked?

If your TSA PreCheck membership was revoked, TSA could have learned of information that changes you from a low-risk traveler to a high-risk traveler. This could be due to new or previously unknown information related to incidents or prior arrests, or new charges, among other things. You will get a letter in your TTP account that details the reasons your membership was revoked.

How do I restore my TSA PreCheck?

If you have lost your TSA PreCheck status, you can appeal this decision. You’ll need to gather your documents, including information you think may help your appeal, and submit it to TSA and/or the ombudsman in charge of your case. Details on how to do this and what to include in your appeal are listed in the article above.

How do I restore my Global Entry?

If you have lost your Global Entry membership due to a change in your eligibility status, you can still appeal this decision. We have complete details on the process you’ll need to take in the article above, but in short, you’ll have to convince CBP that you are still a “low-risk” traveler. How you will do this will depend on why your status was revoked in the first place.

How long does a TSA PreCheck suspension last?

There are certain offenses that are temporary and will bar you from being eligible for TSA PreCheck. Most of these offenses restrict you from membership from between 5 and 7 years. Others will result in a permanent disqualification. For a full list of disqualifying offenses and associated time frames, see the full TSA list.

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Top 4 Reasons Your Trusted Traveler Status Can Be Denied or Revoked [Global Entry, TSA PreCheck]

Updated: August 21, 2024, 10:40am CDT

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Key Takeaways
What Happens if Your Trusted Traveler Membership Is Revoked
Top 4 Reasons Your Trusted Traveler Status Can Be Revoked or Denied
Trusted Traveler Benefits and Eligibility Requirements
Trusted Traveler Appeals Process
Final Thoughts

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Key Takeaways

Trusted Traveler status (including programs such as Global Entry and TSA PreCheck) can be denied or revoked for reasons such as criminal convictions, providing false information on the application, or violating customs or immigration laws.
Applicants have the right to appeal decisions, but success varies depending on the reason for your denial and what evidence or documentation you can provide.

Trusted Traveler Programs (or TTPs) allow members to use expedited lanes at U.S. airports and when crossing international borders. They are specifically set up to preapprove “low-risk” travelers, and each applicant must meet a set of minimum requirements in order to be approved.

You may have spent time filling out an application for one of these TTPs, such as Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, paid your non-refundable application fee, and are anxiously awaiting your new status, only to find out that your application was denied! You aren’t alone. About 1% of all applications received by Global Entry and TSA PreCheck applications are denied.

Whether you’re applying for the first time or renewing, or your status has been revoked, read on for all of the details about membership denials or revocations for all 5 Trusted Traveler Programs.

What Happens if Your Trusted Traveler Membership Is Revoked

So you’re waiting to hear if your application to be a part of a TTP was approved. Or maybe you already have a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership and you’re notified that it’s been revoked. So what happens next? Well, if you’re approved, you’re good to go. Otherwise, here’s what will happen.

You’re Notified

As soon as your application is denied or membership revoked, you will receive a follow-up letter electronically through your TTP account that you used to submit your application.

This letter will include more details about the reason for this denial, however, it may not always be spelled out in great detail. For example, your letter might simply state that you “No Longer Meet Eligibility Requirements.” We’ll break down what this might mean as we discuss the common reasons for having your membership revoked or renewal not approved.

Application Fee Not Refunded

Unfortunately, the application fee that you paid ($50 to $122.25, depending on the program) is non-refundable — even in the case of a denial. You won’t receive a refund for any fees paid.

Appeals Process

There is an appeals process to dispute a decision, but it differs based on the TTP you applied for. We’ll break down the steps of the appeals process towards the end of this article.

Top 4 Reasons Your Trusted Traveler Status Can Be Revoked or Denied

CBP doesn’t typically make information regarding the TTP denials public, but it did respond to a Freedom of Information Act request back in 2017. The report it issued details each instance where membership was denied or revoked from November 6, 2016, t0 June 6, 2017, and gives us a lot of insight into recurring themes.

Bottom Line: It’s important to know that CBP is getting information about you from a variety of sources — including state and local government databases, FBI databases, and even sometimes from other countries.

We’ve taken this information and broken it down into the 4 most common reasons TTP status is taken away or not granted in the first place:

1. No Longer Meets Eligibility Requirements

Generally, you’ll want to disclose every pending or prior conviction on your record as a part of your application, no matter how old. If something is discovered later or you have a recent conviction (even if you’ve already been approved), your membership could be denied (or revoked).

Things like DUIs don’t automatically disqualify you from being approved as long as they’re over 10 years old, but there are some types of convictions that are permanently disqualifying. A list of permanently disqualifying convictions isn’t clearly documented anywhere and seems to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

You could also have your application denied if derogatory information was received from another country — meaning, any trouble you run into abroad could impact your membership in a TTP.

2. Not Declaring Goods at Customs

This category is a big repeat offender on the CBP list. For example, not declaring:

Agricultural items (like plants, fruits, vegetables, soil, etc.)
Items exceeding your duty-free personal exemption (exemption amount varies based on the country you visited and length of stay, or alcohol over 1 liter)
Foreign currency exceeding the USD equivalent of $10,000

US CBP Declaration Form — Image Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

All of the following can land you with a fine from CBP AND a TTP denial or membership revocation.

Just to be safe, check your bags for items your might have unintentionally left behind, including snacks from the plane. And if you do bring something back, just be sure you note it on your customs form upon arrival.

Bottom Line: Don’t worry — these rules are all listed on the CBP’s Customs Declaration form, so you don’t have to remember these details! Just make sure you read the form carefully to avoid unintentionally forgetting to declare something.

3. Breaking Rules in the Immigrations Hall

Upon arrival back into the U.S., it’s important to be on your best behavior. Things like cutting in line or trying to bring family members who don’t have Global Entry to the kiosk can have big repercussions.

Hot Tip: This might mean you have to fill out separate CBP Customs Declaration forms if you have Global Entry and your other family members do not.

In addition, if you’re using your Global Entry card to enter the U.S. using an expedited travel lane at a land crossing, everyone in the car needs to have Global Entry status, too. Depending on the agent you encounter, breaking these rules can result in your membership being revoked — even if it’s an accident!

4. Uncooperative Behavior

Going hand in hand with the item above, but encompassing a bit more, if you decide to take your frustrations out on a CBP or TSA agent, know that your TTP status could be revoked. If you are also not forthcoming during your TTP interview, this could also be considered uncooperative behavior as well.

As COVID-19 and mask mandates weren’t around when this report was issued in 2017, we are just making an educated guess here, but if you refuse to wear a mask while going through TSA security or on a plane, this might also result in your losing your TTP status.

Trusted Traveler Benefits and Eligibility Requirements

Global Entry

Main Benefits

The main reasons to join Global Entry (GE) include:

Access to expedited lines at major U.S. airports when returning from an international destination
Access to expedited entry benefits in other countries (also known as preclearance)
TSA PreCheck is included for domestic travel

Once granted, you will have all of the benefits of Global Entry for 5 years.

Hot Tip: See our in-depth article to see all of the benefits and steps required to get Global Entry status: The Global Entry Program: From Application to Airport [+ Map of Locations & Kiosks].

Eligibility

U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and citizens of select countries are eligible to apply for Global Entry. If you are under the age of 18, you must have your parent or legal guardian’s consent to participate in the program.

You must meet certain criteria (that CBP doesn’t make public) in order to deem you a “low-risk” traveler. Keep in mind that you don’t simply have to meet the eligibility requirements BEFORE you apply. You must remain eligible at all points during your 5-year membership.

Ineligibility

The CBP website notes that “Any violation of the program’s terms and conditions will result in the appropriate enforcement action and termination of the traveler’s membership privileges.” But what does that mean?

Specifically, you are deemed ineligible and will have your membership denied (or revoked) if you do any of the following:

Provide false or incomplete information on your GE application
Have any criminal history (even if it’s not related to customs or a security threat)
Have been found in violation of any customs, immigration, or agriculture regulations or laws (in any country)
Are the subject of an ongoing investigation by any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency
CBP cannot grant you low-risk status

This last category appears to be a catch-all, but you can see that there are many reasons you can be denied. And as a reminder, if any of the items above change, your status can be revoked at any point in your membership.

See our list of the top 4 reasons your status may get denied or revoked in the section above for some specific examples.