Top 25 Global Entry (CBP) Interview Questions and Answers in 2024

Editorial Team

Global Entry (CBP) Interview Questions and Answers

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offers the Global Entry® program to expedite the processing of pre-approved, low-risk international travelers entering the United States.

Travelers enrolled in Global Entry may bypass the regular passport control line and proceed directly to the Global Entry kiosk upon returning from international travel. The Global Entry program allows participants to scan a machine-readable passport, U.S. permanent resident card, or U.S. visa at the kiosk, take their fingerprints and declare their customs status. Travelers are directed to baggage claim and exit by the kiosk after completing a transaction. Citizens from other countries are continuing to be eligible for CBP programs. Let us have a look at CBP interview questions and answers making things easy for you.

1. Integrity Is One Of Customs And Border Protection’s Core Values. Let Us Know About A Time When You Acted With Integrity?

Integrity is choosing to do what is right, no matter who is watching. Because I do what is right, regardless of the alternatives, I possess your core value of integrity. I received a higher grade on my transcript than I earned when earning my diploma in Criminology. My administrator corrected the error after I brought it to her attention. It would have been possible for me to take credit, but I didn’t earn that grade. In order to start off my career on the right foot, I was determined to be completely honest. Today I can confidently attend my interview with CBP knowing that I earned it through hard work and acts of total integrity.

2. Disciplinary Action May Be Taken For Certain Employee Behaviors, On And Off Duty. Which Behaviors Should Be Prohibited?

According to my understanding, prohibited actions include those related to integrity, including false statements, the disclosure of official information, misuse of government property, the use of alcohol unethically, bias-motivated behavior, and specific financial and political activities. Every point in the Standards of Conduct is very important and very fair. Earning the trust of my colleagues and the public is of utmost importance to me. Because of this, I will strive to act in integrity and adhere to the CBP ethos on and off duty.

3. How Do You Stay Updated About Current Events That May Impact Customs And Border Protection?

One of the best and my favorite resources include the Homeland Security website where I dive into topics on cybersecurity and counterterrorism as well as the Homeland Security blog. I also subscribe to a private blog called ‘All Things Counter Terrorism’ written by Leah Farrall, who previously worked as a Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Analyst. She is also an Al-Qaeda specialist. I believe that it’s critical to continually educate myself and embrace ongoing learning since law enforcement and security topics change every day

4. How Often Do You Lose Your Temper Or Fail To Control Your Emotions?

I don’t easily lose my temper and keep myself cool. It is pretty hard to get me rattled emotionally since I am a calm and confident person by nature. I am known by my colleagues and supervisors for my even-keeled personality. Keeping a calm, controlled presence at all times is imperative in law enforcement. I maintain this level of stability to ensure that I am trusted by my coworkers, superiors, and the public.

5. The Diversity And Inclusion Strategic Plan Of Customs And Border Protection Is Designed To Create An Inclusive And Engaged Workforce. What Plans Do You Have To Support This Effort?

As well as the committee’s four goals, I read a great deal about the CBP Diversity and Inclusion Program. As a first step, CBP seeks to develop a diverse, inclusive, and engaged workforce that values and fosters diversity. Regardless of race, ethnicity, age, ability, language, gender, orientation, or religion, I will wholeheartedly support my team members. CBP educational forums will provide me with the opportunity to learn about other cultures, and I will embrace and appreciate those who are different from me.

6. Why Do You Want To Join Global Entry?

It had been my passion for many years to join Global Entry. It had been my passion for many years to join Global Entry. If you are already having Global Entry, you get TSA PreCheck. So, you have both benefits. Also, if you plan to do any international travel, it’s worth getting Global Entry. If you only travel domestically and will never travel internationally, then get TSA Precheck only.

7. What Is Your Current Profession?

Currently, I am working in IT in some government organizations but if I get Global Entry, I can make my career more rewarding in future through international travels.

8. Have You Ever Been Arrested?

No. I don’t have any registered criminal records either in my country or abroad.

9. Have You Ever Had An Issue At Customs Or Border Patrol?

No. I never had any issues and immigration had been always easy for me whenever I traveled.

10. What Do You Think Is Better: Global Entry Or Pre-Check?

Global Entry and TSA Precheck are the two most popular Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) of the five offered by the Department of Homeland Security. Both of them perfectly allow you to use dedicated security screening lanes at airports in the USA, which makes your travel experience faster and more hassle-free. Both programs charge an application fee and have an approval process that requires some time investment.

Well, no doubt, it is a more rigorous process but surely, Global Entry is the better option if you travel internationally. On the contrary, if you have children under 12 and won’t travel internationally, TSA Precheck is an easier and much more affordable option.

11. Do You Know Any Trusted Travel Programs?

The trusted programs for travelers are any of five different programs that facilitate expedited screening, land border crossing, and/or entry into the U.S. for frequent travelers. These mentioned five programs are: TSA Precheck, Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST.

Eligibility for the same varies as it depends on the program, but all require a background check and the collection of one or more types of biometrics. Applicants are vetted and must be pre-approved. Acceptance in TTP is not guaranteed, as approvals are discretionary and based on a risk assessment performed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

12. Which Countries Are Eligible For The Global Entry Program?

The following below-mentioned citizens of 12 countries are eligible for Global Entry membership, but not TSA Precheck membership:

  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Colombia
  • Germany
  • India
  • Mexico
  • Panama
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom

13. What Are The Benefits Of Global Entry?

Benefits can be found below:

  • Decreased wait times through the use of self-service kiosks using facial comparison technologies at major U.S. airports
  • There is no need to fill out paperwork upon entry
  • Complete access to expedited entry benefits in other countries
  • Includes TSA Precheck benefits

14. What Is A Known Traveler Number?

You will get and eventually be issued a Known Traveler Number (KTN) when you are approved for a Global Entry Program. KTVs are nine digits in length. You will get an email with instructions on how to obtain your KTN if approved for Global Entry. Your KTN is the CBP PASSED on your membership card (For Global Entry).

You must add this KTN to flight reservations in order to enjoy Global Entry benefits. When arriving in the USA on an international flight, you should not provide your Global Entry number to use the kiosks. You never need your Global Entry card at all. It is mandatory only especially when crossing a land border and using NEXUS or SENTRI lanes.

15. Are You Guaranteed Not To Have Any Secondary Screening With Global Entry?

Not at all. You are always subject to extra screening or questioningotentially, even without declaring anything. This additional exam could include looking at your bags, asking about where you’re coming from, a search from a drug dog, or other precautionary measures.

16. What Do Customs And Border Protection Do?

CBP Officers perfectly secure the border and prevent drug smuggling while enforcing immigration laws, protecting agriculture, and ensuring trade compliance.

17. How Do You Deal With Uncomfortable Situations?

I had been in uncomfortable situations many times. Through all of  the experiences I gained, I’ve learned the following:

  • Developing emotional intelligence
  • Learning to sit with negative feelings
  • Creating situations for positive feelings

18. What Are The Requirements For Customs And Border Protection?

Steps for Becoming a CBP Officer include:

  • Pass the GS-9 waiver entrance exam.
  • Be a citizen of the USA who surely is below 37 years of age.
  • Must have lived in the USA for at least three years before applying.
  • Must possess a valid driver’s license.
  • Must clear a medical exam, drug test, and security background check.
  • Must submit to and pass two physical fitness tests (PFTs)

19. What Are The Education Requirements For Border Patrol?

All of the agents are perfectly ranked using the government’s General Schedule (GS) pay grade system based on their education and experience. The highest levels i.e. GS-7, GS-5, or GS-9 – receive greater pay. For reaching these levels, you must have applicable job experience or meet certain educational standards. All of the agents need a bachelor’s degree in any field. Also, you can get selected and qualify for a border patrol position through a combination of work experience and education (alternatively). Each full-time education year is equal to three months of general work experience. If there is any work experience you are having, which includes at least one year working at a difficulty level equal to or greater than the federal grade GS-4, you do not need any college education. As per CBP, work experience does not need to be in law enforcement, but the experience must demonstrate your ability to manage, make decisions and maintain composure in stressful situations.

20. What Do You Know About The History Of Customs And Border Protection?

On the date of March 1st in the Year 2003, U.S. CBPS (Customs and Border Protection) became the nation’s first comprehensive border security agency with a focus on maintaining the integrity of the nation’s boundaries and ports of entry.

Before all this, CBP, security, compliance, and facilitation of international travel and trade were conducted by multiple organizations. Consolidating these roles and responsibilities allowed CBP to develop seamless security procedures while ensuring compliance with the nation’s immigration, health, and international trade laws and regulations.

To establish CBP, its leadership ensured that the best traditions of its legacy agencies continued from:

  • Customs Service of the USA, which traced its original functions to July 31, 1789, and noted its role as the progenitor of numerous federal bureaus and agencies. The Customs Service closed with the dawn of CBP, but its commissioner became the leader of CBP and the majority of its staff and responsibilities came to CBP.
  • Those immigration inspectors traced their responsibilities to the establishment of the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration on March 3, 1891.
  • Those agriculture inspectors traced their roles to the passage of the Plant Quarantine Act on Aug. 20, 1912.
  • Border Patrol agents, brought their responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the borders of the USA as they have done since Congress authorized the hiring of Border Patrol personnel on May 28, 1924.
  • In addition to this core of specialties and responsibilities present at CBP’s founding, CBP also developed air and marine monitoring capability with the formation of its third uniformed division i.e. the Air and Marin’s Office on Jan. 17, 2006.
  • International Trade Office (OT) is established on October 15, 2006, to consolidate trade policy, program development, and compliance measurement functions into one CBP office.

21. As A Regular Customer, Tell Us The Process For Using A Global Entry Kiosk?

As soon as you reach the kiosk, you’ll be asked to insert your passport into the holder. The kiosk automatically reads the information on the passport and identifies who you are. After that, it asks you to scan your fingerprints on a green pad.

These fingerprints are then compared with your passport information to ensure there’s a match.

It’s worth noting that occasionally incorrect information pops up on this screen, especially if there was some sort of irregular operations and you were re-routed or placed on another flight, etc. Mostly, it is correct, however.

Once your flight confirms, you’ll then answer the customs declaration questions — who basically ask if you have brought food into the country, have touched any live animals, or have brought in soil — basic and the simple stuff. Within minutes you must declare all food that you’re bringing in. Later, you will be confirmed if all of the answers are correct, and a receipt will print out of the kiosk which will have your picture on it.

You then move forward to exit points to present this receipt and passport to a CBP officer. Mostly, they will wave you through, but occasionally they ask a confirmation question such as “What flight are you coming in from?,” “What countries did you visit?,” or “Are you bringing in any food?” Once you are one from here, you can collect any checked baggage and then proceed out of the baggage hall.

22. What Do You Know About The Customs And Border Protection Ethos?

They are continuously watchful and alert to deter, detect and prevent threats to the nation. They also demonstrate courage and valor in the protection of the nation. Service to the country is embodied in the work they do. They are all dedicated to defending and upholding the Constitution of the United States.

23. Can There Be A Crime If There’s No Criminal?

There exist crimes without victims and crimes without criminals. Financial crimes usually belong to the second type, as responsibilities for crises, crashes, bubbles, misconduct, or even fraud, are difficult to establish. Historical processes, which led to the disappearance of offenders from the financial sphere is fascinating.

24. Why Do You Think It Is Important To Know The Participation Of The Victim In Crime Commission?

Victims’ journey initiates with the crime but then can take two different routes. Some of them may choose not to report the crime. Resulting this losing their contact with the criminal justice system. All of the crimes, that similar victims have experienced form part of the “dark figure” of crime (the unquantifiable number of crimes that occur, but are not reported). Very few crime victims opt to report the crime and attempt to navigate through the criminal justice system.

Reporting crimes to the concerned authorities is the first step in the victim’s journey of seeking to achieve justice through the criminal justice system. Hence, it becomes mandatory important that the initial interaction with the victim is a positive experience for the victim: This not only clears and adjusts the tone for the upcoming criminal justice procedures but, in instances where the case does not go beyond the reporting and/or investigation stage, may represent the entire experience that the victim has with the system.

25. What Happens If Someone Gets Turned Away At The Border?

After you are denied entry, American borders will often contact the RCMP and let you know the whereabouts of the wanted person. If warrants are stateside, instead of receiving a refusal of entry the individual will likely be arrested on the spot.

Conclusion

We have presented the 25 best questions and answers, which surely may vary depending on many factors including the interviewer, organization, post applied for, and much more.