Memphis Airport: Tsa Precheck Availability And Benefits

Memphis International Airport (MEM) previously had a TSA PreCheck application centre operated by Idemia, which has since closed. However, travellers can still pre-enrol online and schedule an in-person appointment at one of Idemia's existing enrolment centres in the Memphis area. The Global Entry Enrollment Centre at the airport, which is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), remains open, and Global Entry members are eligible to participate in the TSA PreCheck program.

TSA PreCheck application centre at Memphis International Airport is closed

The TSA PreCheck application centre at Memphis International Airport is currently closed. Idemia, the company contracted by the TSA to operate its TSA PreCheck application centres, has closed its office at the airport. However, travellers interested in enrolling in TSA PreCheck can still do so at one of Idemia's existing enrolment centres in the Memphis area. These centres are located at 5261 Mendenhall Park Place and 2506 Mount Moriah Road. The Mendenhall Park location is open from Monday to Friday, while the Mount Moriah location is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

It is important to note that the Global Entry Enrollment Centre at Memphis International Airport remains open. Global Entry is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and offers expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering the United States. Global Entry members are also eligible to participate in the TSA PreCheck program. The Memphis enrollment centre is open Monday through Wednesday, excluding federal holidays, from 9 a.m.

For those seeking to enrol in TSA PreCheck, the first step is to pre-enrol online. After completing the pre-enrollment process, applicants will then schedule a 10-minute in-person appointment at an Idemia enrolment centre. During the appointment, applicants will need to present identification and proof of citizenship, provide fingerprints, and have their photo taken for the TSA background check. Most applicants will receive their Known Traveller Number (KTN) within three to five days after submitting their application, and it will be valid for five years. TSA PreCheck provides travellers with benefits such as dedicated screening lanes at over 200 participating airports nationwide, where 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes. Additionally, TSA PreCheck passengers do not need to remove their shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, or light jackets during security screening.

Benefits of TSA PreCheck for enrolled travellers

The TSA PreCheck program offers several benefits for enrolled travellers. Firstly, it provides expedited security screening at over 200 participating airports in the United States, allowing travellers to save significant time and avoid the hassle of long security lines. In April 2024, for instance, 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 10 minutes at airport security.

Another advantage of TSA PreCheck is the convenience of keeping your shoes, belts, and lightweight jackets on during security checks. There is no need to remove these items for separate screening, enhancing comfort and reducing the time spent on screening. Additionally, enrolled travellers can leave their laptops in their cases and carry a quart-sized bag with travel-size liquids and gels without the need for additional screening.

TSA PreCheck also offers dedicated security lanes for its members, ensuring faster passage through checkpoints, especially during busy travel times. The program is designed to streamline the security process for pre-screened, low-risk travellers, making their airport experience more efficient and less stressful.

Furthermore, children aged 12 and under can accompany a parent or guardian with TSA PreCheck in the dedicated lanes, even if they do not have their Known Traveler Number. This benefit extends to children aged 13 to 17 when travelling on the same reservation as an enrolled adult and if the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on their boarding pass. Overall, TSA PreCheck provides enrolled travellers with a faster, more seamless airport experience, making air travel more enjoyable and less time-consuming.

Documents required for the TSA background check

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) requires extensive background checks for all aviation personnel in the United States before they may access restricted areas in and around airports. These checks are in place to ensure the safety of an airport or airplane and have been made more rigorous since 9/11. The TSA also requires a background check for passengers wishing to enrol in the TSA PreCheck programme.

The TSA PreCheck programme allows all aircraft passengers with United States citizenship or permanent residency to move through airport security faster. It is also available to Mexican nationals. To qualify, you must pass a background check and join the Known Traveller List. The background check typically takes 3-5 days, but some may take up to 60 days.

To enrol in the TSA PreCheck programme, applicants must present identity and citizenship documentation and provide their fingerprints. An original or certified copy of a document must be issued by a Federal, State, Tribal, county, municipal authority, or outlying possession bearing an official seal. Short-form or abstract birth certificates and notarized copies of documents are not accepted. At least two documents are required if you do not have a document from List A. The names on all documents must match exactly with the name provided on the application. If you have legally changed your name, you must provide an original or certified name change document (such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree) in addition to the required documentation.

Documents from List A include:

• Unexpired U.S. Passport (book or card)
• Unexpired U.S. Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Unexpired Enhanced Identification Card (EID)
• Permanent Resident Card (I-551), also known as a "Green Card"
• Unexpired Foreign Passport and Immigrant Visa with I-551 annotation "Upon Endorsement Serves as Temporary I-551 Evidencing Permanent Residence of 1 Year"

Documents from List B include:

• Unexpired driver’s license issued by a State or outlying possession of the U.S.
• Unexpired temporary driver’s license plus expired driver’s license (constitutes one document)
• Unexpired photo ID card issued by the federal government or by a State or outlying possession of the U.S. This must include a federal agency, State or State agency seal or logo (such as a State university ID). Permits are not considered valid identity documents (such as gun permits).
• Unexpired U.S. military ID card

Additionally, an expired U.S. passport may be used if it has expired within the past 12 months, but only as proof of citizenship (List B). An expired U.S. passport cannot be presented by itself.

Global Entry program operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The Global Entry program is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the United States. The program is available to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have undergone a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrolment. Each applicant, regardless of age, must have their own Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account and pay a $120 non-refundable application fee.

The Global Entry Enrollment Center at Memphis International Airport (MEM) is located inside the terminal, between the B and C ticketing lobbies. Conditionally approved applicants can register online for an interview with a CBP officer at the Memphis location.

While Global Entry aims to speed up the entry process for travellers, members may still be selected for further examination when entering the United States. Any violation of the program's terms and conditions will result in enforcement action and termination of membership privileges.

The Global Entry program is separate from TSA PreCheck, which is operated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). TSA PreCheck offers expedited security screening at over 200 participating airports in the United States, where enrolled travellers can access dedicated lanes and do not need to remove their shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, or light jackets. TSA PreCheck application centres at Memphis International Airport are currently closed, but there are enrolment centres located in the wider Memphis area.

Location of IDEMIA's existing Enrollment Centres in the Memphis area

The TSA Pre ✓™ office at the Memphis International Airport has been closed, but there are two IDEMIA Enrollment Centres in the Memphis area where you can apply for TSA PreCheck:

5261 Mendenhall Park Place

This centre is located at 5261 Mendenhall Park Place (Location ID: 2606). It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

2506 Mount Moriah Road

The second centre can be found at 2506 Mount Moriah Road (Location ID: 1857). It is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and on Tuesday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Interested travellers can pre-enrol online and then schedule a 10-minute in-person appointment at one of these locations. During the appointment, applicants will need to present identification and proof of citizenship, provide their fingerprints, and have their photo taken for the TSA background check. Most applicants will receive their Known Traveler Number (KTN) within three to five days, and it will be valid for five years.

The TSA PreCheck program offers several benefits, including dedicated screening lanes at over 200 participating airports across the country, where 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes. TSA PreCheck passengers also do not need to remove their shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, or light jackets. Children between the ages of 12 and 17 may join enrolled adults at the TSA PreCheck lanes when travelling on the same reservation and if the indicator appears on their boarding pass.

Frequently asked questions