University of Illinois Willard Airport has posted a four-day TSA PreCheck enrollment window for October 27 through 30, 2026. The pop-up is run by IDEMIA inside the terminal conference room, and Champaign-Urbana travelers can use it to finish the in-person step without driving to a permanent enrollment center farther away.
Appointments are expected about 30 days before the event, with walk-ins allowed under tighter windows. Complete the online application first, then book Savoy IL Pop-Up CMI or join the walk-in list so a Known Traveler Number can land before fall and winter flights.
- Where: Willard Airport terminal, second-floor conference room, Savoy, Illinois.
- When: Tuesday, October 27 through Friday, October 30, 2026.
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time each day.
- How: IDEMIA online application, then appointment or walk-in.
- Parking: Public lot free for the first two hours.
What Willard Airport published for the October pop-up
The airport’s official TSA PreCheck event page says the next Willard enrollment by IDEMIA runs Tuesday, October 27 through Friday, October 30, 2026. Daily hours are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time.
Enrollment sits in the second-floor conference room of the Willard terminal. The page directs visitors up one level, then left of the staircase next to the elevator. Check-in for walk-ins and the appointment waiting area stay outside the conference room.
TSA PreCheck remains a federal expedited screening program for identified low-risk travelers. Willard is hosting a temporary enrollment site, not changing screening rules for passengers who already hold a Known Traveler Number.
Federal program context and eligibility reminders remain on the TSA PreCheck page. Use that surface for national rules, and use Willard’s page for the local October calendar and room logistics.
How to book the Savoy IL Pop-Up CMI slot
Applicants must start online before they arrive. Willard’s instructions say to complete steps 1 through 3 of the IDEMIA application, then enter ZIP code 61874 and select Savoy, IL Pop-Up: CMI for the dated window.
After selecting the location, choose an appointment date and time. The first open slot is displayed, but other times can be selected when inventory remains.
If the scheduler shows every appointment booked, Willard says you may mark Walk-in and still submit. Appointments receive priority, and the airport does not control how long a walk-in wait lasts.
Walk-in wait lists start at 9 a.m. and close at 11:30 a.m., then restart at 1 p.m. and close at 4:30 p.m. Plan arrival around those open windows rather than mid-closure gaps.
Appointments should become available about 30 days before the event. For a first day of October 27, that points to late September inventory opening. Travelers who need PreCheck for October trips should calendar that booking window now.
Documents, payment, and what happens in the room
Bring proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Willard points applicants to tsa.gov for the current accepted document list because requirements have changed and the airport page does not restate every ID option.
The application fee is due at the appointment. Willard accepts credit card, money order, company check, or certified cashier’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted, and staff will not make change or issue refunds on site.
Enrollment includes fingerprints and a photograph. That is the normal in-person PreCheck capture step after the online application and fee payment.
If approved, membership runs five years. Willard restates the usual program benefits: dedicated lanes at more than 200 U.S. airports, and no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, or light jackets in those lanes when the boarding pass shows PreCheck.
Most travelers receive a Known Traveler Number within three to five days after approval, according to the airport page. Add the KTN to airline profiles before the next ticket purchase so the boarding pass can print the PreCheck mark.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Live near Champaign-Urbana without PreCheck | Finish the IDEMIA application and book Savoy IL Pop-Up CMI when slots open. |
| See every appointment taken | Mark Walk-in, arrive at the open list windows, and budget extra wait time. |
| Need PreCheck for October flights | Target late September booking and keep a permanent center backup if CMI fills. |
| Already hold a valid KTN | Skip enrollment and confirm the number is on every airline profile instead. |
| Compare PreCheck with Global Entry | Use program-fit guidance before paying for a second trusted-traveler product. |
- Calendar: Hold October 27 to 30 open for a CMI terminal visit if you enroll there.
- Booking clock: Watch IDEMIA for appointments about 30 days before the event.
- Arrival plan: Use second-floor conference room directions and free two-hour public parking.
- Payment kit: Bring an accepted card or check type; leave cash at home.
- After approval: Add the KTN to airline profiles before the next booking.
Who this pop-up helps most
Central Illinois flyers who use Willard, Indianapolis, Chicago O’Hare, or St. Louis as their normal departure cities gain the most from a local enrollment week. The value is the short drive and the fixed October window, not a change in PreCheck lane rules.
Families should note that children 17 and under can usually accompany enrolled parents or guardians in PreCheck lanes without their own membership. Adults who want their own KTN still need their own application and appointment.
Business travelers who already bounce between Chicago and secondary Midwest airports should still compare PreCheck with Global Entry if they also clear U.S. customs often. Deep Arrival’s Global Entry versus TSA PreCheck guide is the cleaner decision surface for that fork.
Travelers who mainly care about lane speed versus subscription biometric products can also review TSA PreCheck versus CLEAR before paying for overlapping tools that solve different friction points.
Limits and unknowns to keep explicit
Willard does not control national appointment inventory or federal approval timelines. A local pop-up can fill even when you follow every airport instruction on time.
Document rules live on federal pages and can change. Do not treat a social post or an old enrollment checklist as current proof of citizenship requirements.
Free parking covers only the first two hours in the public lot. Longer visits, commercial lots, or curb rules can still create a fee if the session runs long.
This story is about enrollment access at CMI, not about a new airline route, a terminal construction opening, or a screening outage. For broader trip planning around Illinois hubs, Deep Arrival’s Chicago things to do guide remains separate from the enrollment decision.
If IDEMIA later moves the Savoy location label or shortens walk-in hours, recheck the airport event page before you drive. The October 27 to 30 dates and second-floor room are the load-bearing local facts on the current notice.
When is TSA PreCheck enrollment at Willard Airport?
Willard’s official page lists Tuesday, October 27 through Friday, October 30, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time each day.
Do I need an appointment?
Appointments are preferred and get priority. Walk-ins are allowed when you mark Walk-in during enrollment, but wait lists open only during stated morning and afternoon windows.
Where is the enrollment room inside the terminal?
Go to the second floor of the Willard terminal. The conference room is left of the staircase next to the elevator, with check-in outside the room.
What payment methods does Willard accept on site?
Credit card, money order, company check, or certified cashier’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.
