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Location Selection

Choosing the right locations is crucial for finding Global Entry appointments quickly. Here's how to select locations strategically.

How Location Selection Works​

  1. Go to your Dashboard
  2. Click "Add" or "Edit" in the Locations section
  3. The Location Preferences modal will open
  4. Select location(s) to monitor and click Save
Location Limits

Service Filter

SpotPatrol monitors approximately 150 locations daily. But not every location handles appointments for all of the programs that TTP offers. Click the Service Type Filters at the top of the window to show only locations handling your appointment type. If you click more than one Service, Locations will be included if they cover at least one of the selected services.

Booking Difficulty Filter

Filter locations by booking difficulty to find the best opportunities for your needs. Difficulty ratings are based on appointment availability, historical patterns, and booking competition at each location. Use these filters to focus on locations that match your scheduling flexibility and booking preferences.

Search Options

The location picker provides the option to search by location, state, or city name. The search matches text exactly, so if you're not getting results, try entering fewer characters and fine tuning from there.

Location Listings​

Locations are grouped by geographic region (West, Midwest, South, Northeast, Other) and then by State. The "Other" grouping includes US Territories and some International facilities that offer appointments. There are Links under each Region to quickly jump to a specific state.

A list of Services offered is found directly after the name so you can quickly determine if a location will work for your needs.

Location Information Window

Click the Info button next to a location to find out more information such as address, Google Map links, location appointment metrics, and notes / driving directions provided by TTP.

There is a Legend at the bottom of the page if you are unsure what any of the abbreviations mean.

Facility Types​

Most Locations fall into one of three main categories:

Major Airport Locations:

  • Los Angeles (LAX) - Global Entry
  • New York JFK - Global Entry
  • Chicago O'Hare (ORD) - Global Entry
  • Miami International (MIA) - Global Entry
  • Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) - Global Entry

Border Crossing Locations:

  • San Diego (San Ysidro) - Global Entry, SENTRI
  • El Paso - Global Entry, SENTRI
  • Brownsville - Global Entry, SENTRI
  • Buffalo-Niagara Falls - Global Entry, NEXUS

NEXUS-Only Locations:

  • Available at various US-Canada border crossings
  • Seattle area NEXUS enrollment centers
  • Detroit-Windsor area locations

Strategic Location Selection​

Booking Difficulty Ratings​

Each location displays a booking difficulty rating that indicates how easy or challenging it is to secure an appointment. These ratings combine appointment availability, timing patterns, and booking competition:

Difficulty Levels
  • Easy: Excellent availability; book appointments any time with minimal wait
  • Moderate: Good availability; some limited dates but generally accessible
  • Hard: Limited availability; expect longer wait times between openings
  • Difficult: Very limited availability; rare appointments with long wait times
  • Inactive: No recent or future availability detected

These ratings help you understand what to expect from each location and plan your monitoring strategy accordingly. Difficulty ratings are updated regularly based on real appointment data.

Trial Users

During your free trial, you can see location names, services, and booking difficulty ratings to help evaluate locations. Standard users get additional detailed metrics including daily slot averages and historical breakdowns. Upgrade to Standard service to unlock the complete analytics dashboard.

Distance Considerations​

Be Realistic About Travel

  • Only select locations you can actually reach
  • Consider travel time to the appointment
  • Factor in time off work or other commitments

Geographic Spread

  • Choose locations in different regions if possible
  • This increases your chances across different release patterns
  • Some locations release appointments at different times

Timing Patterns​

Different locations have different patterns:

  • Airport locations: Often release appointments during business hours
  • Border locations: May have different release schedules
  • Urban vs rural: Urban locations typically have more frequent releases

Location Strategy Tips​

For Trial Users (1 location)​

  • Choose a location near you with your desired service type
  • Look for locations that offer the program you're enrolled in (Global Entry, NEXUS, etc.)
  • Consider proximity since you can only monitor one location

For Standard Users (3 locations)​

  • Mix different difficulty levels and geographic areas
  • Include your closest location plus regional alternatives
  • Consider different service types if you're enrolled in multiple programs
  • Balance Easy/Moderate locations (frequent notifications) with Hard locations (less competitive when available)

With Location Boost (6 locations)​

  • Cast a wide geographic net across multiple regions
  • Include Easy, Moderate, and strategic Hard/Difficult locations for comprehensive coverage
  • Cover multiple travel corridors and service types
  • Strategic mix provides both frequent opportunities and backup options
  • Add Location Boost for $9 (90 days)

Common Mistakes to Avoid​

Service Type Mismatch
  • Don't select Global Entry locations if you're enrolled in NEXUS only
  • Verify the location offers your enrolled program
  • Use service filters to show only relevant locations

Ignoring Geographic Constraints​

  • Consider actual travel distance and time
  • Factor in appointment timing (often short notice)
  • Don't select locations requiring expensive travel

Only Difficult Locations​

  • While less competitive, they have very few opportunities
  • Mix difficulty levels for best results using booking difficulty ratings
  • Easy locations provide more frequent notifications while Hard locations offer backup opportunities

Next Steps​

After selecting your locations:

  1. Set up notification preferences - Configure email, SMS, and browser notifications
  2. Configure date range filters - Specify when you're available for appointments
  3. Set time preferences - Choose your preferred appointment times
  4. Review your dashboard - Monitor notification activity and location performance
Location Information

Click the info button (ℹ️) next to any location in the picker to see detailed information including address, phone number, services offered, and operating hours.