Considering TSA PreCheck? What You Need to Know

Airport security lines in the D.C. area are expected to get longer, leaving many people in our region wondering if they should apply for TSA Pre status, which promises to shorten the wait.

More people are applying for TSA Pre. The agency has received twice as many entries since April, doubling from 8,000 to 16,000.

The application can be completed online, but applicants need to appear in person for fingerprinting and to provide documentation. The wait list to apply can be as long as a month. The TSA acknowledged the backlog.

"If appointments are not immediately available at the enrollment center of their choice, travelers are encouraged to schedule appointments at one of the alternate enrollment centers in their area," the agency said in a statement.

There are five TSA service centers in the D.C. area and all have backlogs of about a month. The closest centers without a wait are in Baltimore and West Virginia.

One option is to try a walk-in visit to a service center. The wait could be two to four hours. Jim Barratt chose that option on Tuesday.

"I decided I'd rather wait now then maybe wait in a line when I'm traveling, down the road," he said.

Once you have completed the application, the wait for approval can take another 30 days.

It costs $85 to apply for TSA Pre. The status lasts five years.

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