TSA PreCheck and Global Entry applicants with an old conviction run into a hard truth fast: California's expungement law doesn't erase anything at the federal level. An expungement lawyer for TSA PreCheck cases files a Penal Code 1203.4 petition, a felony reduction, or a certificate of rehabilitation before you submit the Trusted Traveler application, timed to show TSA and CBP that you're low-risk today, not to hide what happened. Unlike a private employer's background check, TSA and Customs and Border Protection pull from federal and state criminal databases that a state dismissal order doesn't touch, so the strategy here is different from a standard record-clearing case.
What's different for this segment: TSA runs your name against a fixed list of disqualifying offenses under 49 CFR 1572.103, while CBP's Global Entry review gives officers discretion to weigh rehabilitation evidence in an interview. That means the same conviction can play out two different ways depending on which program you're applying to, and the timing of your expungement filing matters as much as the filing itself.
- An expungement lawyer for TSA PreCheck cases files a PC 1203.4 petition or certificate of rehabilitation before the Trusted Traveler application, not after.
- TSA's disqualifying offense list under 49 CFR 1572.103 splits into permanent bars and offenses with a 10-year lookback window.
- CBP's Global Entry review is discretionary, so a dismissed conviction can still come up in the interview even after a 1203.4 order.
- California expungement does not erase records from the federal databases CBP and TSA access in 2026.
- Timing the petition around your application date, not your trip date, is the single biggest factor applicants get wrong.
Why this matters for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry applicants
Penal Code 1203.4 dismisses a conviction under California law, but the statute carries a carve-out: it does not bind federal agencies. TSA and CBP can still see the underlying arrest and conviction through federal channels, expungement order or not.
That does not make the petition pointless. TSA's framework at 49 CFR 1572.103 separates disqualifying offenses into two buckets: permanent disqualifiers such as treason, espionage, and murder, and interim disqualifiers with a 10-year lookback such as robbery, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. If your case falls outside both lists, it may never trigger a denial at all. If it falls inside the 10-year window, a completed petition plus documented rehabilitation is exactly what an adjudicator weighs when deciding whether to grant an exception — the same logic that governs security clearance applicants.
Global Entry works differently. CBP does not publish a fixed disqualifying list the way TSA does. Officers make an individualized call, which means a certificate of rehabilitation or a dismissed conviction under 1203.4 becomes evidence you can put in front of them directly in 2026.
Update your record before you touch the application
Don't file for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry until you know exactly what a background check will surface.
- Request your California DOJ criminal history record, which you are entitled to obtain under state law
- Pull an FBI Identity History Summary if you have lived or been arrested outside California
- Get certified copies of every disposition, not just the arrest report
- Check county court records for cases you may have forgotten, including traffic-adjacent misdemeanors
- Confirm no case still shows as pending when it was actually dismissed years ago, because clerical errors happen more than people expect
Sort convictions into TSA's two disqualifying buckets
Once you have the full picture, match each conviction against TSA's list before deciding what to file.
- Flag anything resembling a permanent disqualifier, such as violent felonies against the state or weapons-related threats
- Flag anything inside the 10-year lookback window: robbery, extortion, kidnapping, aggravated assault, distribution offenses
- Note the disposition date for each, because the 10-year clock runs from conviction, not arrest
- Cross-check misdemeanor cases, since most fall outside both lists and rarely trigger a denial on their own
- If nothing on your record hits either bucket, put your energy into Global Entry's discretionary review instead
File for relief before you submit, not after a denial
The fastest way to lose ground is applying first and fixing your record later.
- File a PC 1203.4 petition for any eligible misdemeanor or felony conviction
- Petition for a felony reduction under PC 17(b) if your case was a wobbler
- Consider a certificate of rehabilitation if you have an eligible felony and enough time has passed since release
- File a factual innocence petition if an arrest never led to a conviction, since that petition seals the arrest record rather than dismissing a conviction
- Filing everything as one coordinated packet beats filing piecemeal and re-explaining your case to CBP twice
Time the filing around the interview, not the trip
Court calendars do not move for your travel plans.
- California expungement petitions typically take weeks to a few months to reach a ruling, depending on the county
- Global Entry interviews get scheduled after conditional approval, so a petition filed early can still be resolved before your interview date
- Track your court date and your CBP interview date on the same calendar instead of assuming they will align
- If you have a documented deadline such as a job offer or work travel, ask the court about expedited scheduling
- Filing roughly six months before you plan to apply gives the court time to rule and gives you time to obtain the certified order
Prepare a direct answer for the disclosure question
Both applications ask about criminal history directly. Lying on a federal form is worse than anything on your record.
- Answer disclosure questions truthfully, even for a dismissed case
- Bring certified copies of the dismissal order or certificate of rehabilitation to the interview
- Write a short, factual one-paragraph explanation of what happened and what changed, and stop there
- Avoid framing the conviction as someone else's fault, which adjudicators read as a lack of accountability
- If your case involved a firearm, drugs, or fraud, speak to specific rehabilitation steps rather than time passed
Build a rehabilitation packet before you need it
A court order alone rarely closes the file for a CBP officer or TSA adjudicator.
- Proof of steady employment since the conviction
- Completion certificates for probation, classes, or treatment programs
- Letters from an employer or community member who can speak to your conduct
- Tax records showing consistent filing
- Evidence of community service or volunteer work where it applies
Know the appeal path if you're denied
A denial is not always final, and reapplying blind rarely works better the second time.
- Global Entry denials can be challenged through CBP's redetermination process
- TSA PreCheck denial notices state the specific disqualifying basis, so read it before refiling
- Address that exact basis in any resubmission rather than filing a general appeal
- If the denial cites a conviction you believed was resolved, have a lawyer check whether the court order was properly reported to the state repository
- Do not reapply immediately without new documentation, because a second denial on the same facts is harder to overturn
Get your record reviewed before you apply
A petition filed at the wrong time costs you a full Trusted Traveler application cycle.
Comparison: options for handling the record before you apply
| Option | Best for | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Filing pro se | A single, clearly eligible misdemeanor with no complications | Nobody is checking whether the petition timeline lines up with your TSA or CBP dates |
| Legal aid or expungement clinic | Applicants with financial hardship and a straightforward case | Limited capacity and long waitlists in many California counties in 2026 |
| Private expungement attorney | Applicants with a felony, a 10-year-lookback offense, or a hard deadline | Requires paying for representation, but coordinates filing timing with the application |
| Online document prep service | Basic paperwork on an uncomplicated dismissal | Gives no advice on TSA's disqualifying list or CBP interview preparation |
“A dismissed conviction under Penal Code 1203.4 is not a sealed record, so pair the petition with a rehabilitation case rather than treating the order as the whole fix.”
Cole Law handles California expungements, record sealings, and felony-to-misdemeanor reductions, and is best suited to TSA PreCheck and Global Entry applicants who need a California conviction resolved on a fixed timeline.
Common mistakes TSA PreCheck and Global Entry applicants make
- Applying before the expungement is finalized. A pending petition reads worse in a background check than a resolved case.
- Assuming 1203.4 makes the conviction invisible. It does not, and getting caught off guard at the interview looks worse than the original offense.
- Answering "no" to an arrest question because the case was dismissed. Most federal forms ask about arrests, not only convictions.
- Skipping the rehabilitation packet. A court order with no supporting documentation gives an adjudicator nothing to weigh in your favor.
- Waiting until after a denial to bring in a lawyer. The response window is narrower than the original filing window, and denials cite a specific basis you have to address precisely.
FAQ
Does expungement clear my record for TSA PreCheck?
No. A Penal Code 1203.4 dismissal removes most state-level consequences of a conviction, but TSA can still see the underlying record through federal databases. It strengthens your case during review rather than erasing the history.
Can I get Global Entry with a felony record?
It depends on the offense and how CBP's discretionary review weighs it. A felony reduction to a misdemeanor or a certificate of rehabilitation gives the officer documented evidence to weigh in your favor at the interview.
Will CBP see an expunged conviction?
Yes. California expungement does not remove records from the federal databases CBP checks in 2026. The dismissal order is useful as evidence of rehabilitation, not as a way to hide the case.
How long before my trip should I start the expungement process?
Start months before you submit the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application, not before the trip. California courts commonly take weeks to a few months to rule on a 1203.4 petition depending on the county.
Is a TSA PreCheck denial permanent?
Not always. The denial notice states the specific disqualifying basis, and you can address that basis in a future application, though a repeat denial on unchanged facts is harder to overturn.
What crimes disqualify you from TSA PreCheck?
TSA's regulation at 49 CFR 1572.103 lists permanent disqualifiers such as treason, espionage, and murder, plus interim disqualifiers subject to a 10-year lookback such as robbery, kidnapping, and aggravated assault.
Does a DUI expungement help with Global Entry?
A DUI is generally not on TSA's disqualifying list, but it can still surface in CBP's discretionary Global Entry review. A 1203.4 dismissal plus proof you completed any required program helps the case.
Can a certificate of rehabilitation replace expungement for travel programs?
For eligible felonies, a certificate of rehabilitation carries more weight with CBP because a judge has formally found you rehabilitated rather than simply dismissing the case. Eligibility rules differ from those for a 1203.4 petition.
One last thing
Even after a court grants your 1203.4 petition, the arrest and disposition generally remain in the state repository and in federal systems. The dismissal changes how the case can be used against you in California; it does not decide whether a federal officer can still pull the record. Plan your 2026 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application around that fact, not around the assumption that a granted petition means a clean federal slate.
