Key Takeaways
- Online Status Check: Visit the Universal Enrollment Services status page to track your TWIC card application status.
- Required Information: Provide your name, date of birth, and contact information for the status update.
- Contact TSA for Concerns: If issues arise or for inquiries about the application’s progress, contact TSA at (855) 347-8371.
- Delivery Timeline: Typically, TWIC cards arrive within 7-10 business days, but allow a 60-day buffer from application to receipt.
- No Grace Period: No current grace period for expired TWIC cards; renew well in advance.
How to Check Your TWIC Card Status
After submitting your TWIC card application, it’s important to regularly monitor its status. In the case of missing information or shipping delays, you’ll need to proactively work to solve the issues.
You can check your TWIC application status with a few simple steps.
- Go to the Universal Enrollment Services status page.
- Enter the required information: name, date of birth, and contact information.
- Click the “Next” button.
- Fill in any necessary information on the subsequent page if asked.
After you submit your information, you’ll get an update on your application’s status.
The Different TWIC Statuses
When you apply for a TWIC card, you will see various statuses:
- Application Received: this indicates that your application has been received. The average time to process is around three weeks.
- Adjudication Processing – In Progress: this means that your application has been received, but there is a large amount of applications which caused a backlog. The process can take several weeks from here.
- Adjudication Processing – Complete: this indicates that your application has been received and adjudication has been completed.
After the Department of Homeland Security has thoroughly conducted your background check and confirmed your threat assessment as clear, your enrollment process will be successfully finalized.
How Long Will it Take to Receive Your New TWIC Card Through the Mail?
To receive your new TWIC card by mail, it’s recommended to apply at least 60 days in advance, as there are no expedited shipping options from the TSA.
Typically, the card arrives within 7-10 business days, but this can vary if there are issues with your address or during the background check and threat assessment process.
What if You Haven’t Received Your TWIC Card Yet?
If you haven’t received your TWIC card within the usual 7-10 business days, it may be delayed due to issues such as an incorrect address.
There’s no grace period for expired TWIC cards, so it’s important to apply at least 60 days before your current card expires to ensure continuous access to secure maritime areas.
To check the status of your TWIC application, the quickest way is through the Universal Enrollment Services website by entering your name and contact information.
Alternatively, you can call the TWIC application assistance at (855) 347-8371, available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 10 PM EST, if you don’t have internet access or prefer phone communication.
Brett’s Take: Thoughts From an Expert
The process of obtaining and renewing a TWIC card is frustrating. It can be fraught with delays, inconsistencies, and hoops to jump through.
There’s no “one answer fits all” in terms of approvals. Some people get their card within a week, others have to wait months before they get theirs.
If your card has been delayed, typically patience is the best route of action.
However, in cases of especially long delays, contacting a congressman or a senator to expedite the process might be beneficial.
While not guaranteed to help, I have had friends who have taken this route and successfully gotten a solution just by reaching out. At the end of the day, it doesn’t hurt to try.
Wrapping Up
You’ll have to go through a basic application process if you’re trying to apply for your transportation worker identification credential card. Then, once the TSA accepts your application and performs your background check and threat assessment, it’s just a matter of waiting.
Fortunately, it won’t take long to get your card. But you can easily check your application status online or over the phone.
Have you or someone you know had experience applying for or checking their TWIC card status? Let us know about your experience in the comments below.
Yep, took me 6 months to finally get a final determination from TSA for eligilibillity for my TWIC card. Took exactely 68 days to get my first letter of denial and then to submit support for my appeal showing case was dismissed. Because DOJ takes so so long to update their records. Then today on 05/04/2023 I see that I get the Final Determination Completed and now just have to wait for my letter in the mail.
My question WHY does this take so long? Someone can lose their job over TSA’s lack of caring about how quickly a TWIC card appeal needs to be processed. Look I did my TWIC application on 11/07/2022 and today is 05/04/2023. That’s extremly long and very thankful my employer hasn’t rused me on it since it won’t really be needed for another month or so. I just feel that our Representives need to look into this as this can effect those folks livelyhood. Plus I feel like TSA needs a way for US to be able to see online if we are Approved or Denied. With today’s high tech world why are we still doing snail-mail??