BajaNomad

Sentri vs Global Entry Help

mrfatboy - 7-8-2021 at 01:54 PM

Hi.

It's been a while since I have been on here.:o I could use some help with Sentri and Global Entry info.

Years ago both my wife and I signed up for Sentri plus our car. At the time my wife signed up first as she worked in Mexicali 2 days a week. I signed up 2 years later so our renewals are out of sync.

Her Sentri is up for renewal and after reading the Trusted Traveler website it seems now that Global Entry is better and cheaper and covers everything? True?

Can we somehow switch to Global Entry or do we need to reapply?

Would this just be a good time for both of us to signup for Global Entry? Any problems with currently be a Sentri pass holder?

Can we still use our car in Sentri lanes crossing the border with GE?

I don't mind losing the 3 years still on my sentri card and get both of us in sync and overt to the better/cheaper GE program.

Is there anything else I'm missing?

Thanks much

SFandH - 7-8-2021 at 02:02 PM

The only question I can answer is - yes, you can use Global Entry in Sentri Lanes.

BajaMama - 7-8-2021 at 02:34 PM

When we got our SENTRI we also added Global Entry and TSA-Pre. Seems they have all combined somehow. We had to renew this year and when we did we just got Global Entry which I'm pretty sure included TSA-Pre. You can use the GE card to enter the US in the SENTRI lane, I just did it for the first time last month.

Sentri vs GE

The Wonderer - 7-8-2021 at 02:41 PM

I was just faced with this exact issue for my family of four, and I switched from Sentri to GE. GE covers everything we needed. As far as I could tell, Sentri is more geared to Mexican nationals.

GE is allowed in Sentri lanes, and was ~$20-25 less per person. If I recall correctly, when you go to renew your Sentri, there was a place (box) to change to GE. Not sure if you can renew yourself that far out... I seem to recall 1 year as a renew date.

We filled out the forms on a weekend, had our approval about 3 days later, and our cards in less than 2 weeks. This was 4-6 weeks ago.

Good luck!

mrfatboy - 7-8-2021 at 04:03 PM

I have made some progress. My wife's Sentri ends in Nov 2021. I have up until Nov to start the renewal process. I started entering data in her account and see that I can switch to Global Entry.

My renewal application does not start until July 2021 (1 year before expiration). I don't see anyway to change that or start again with Global Entry so we are in sync.

Now the problem is getting us into renewal sync. I had the idea to move ahead with her GE application and then just delay the interview appointment until my renewal comes up next year. That way we can now schedule are appointments together. Worst case she will not have a GE card for a year but we are not really travelling that much lately and we can deal with the slow lanes if necessary.

Would that work?

Any other ideas?

JZ - 7-9-2021 at 12:04 AM

I wouldn't worry about getting them in-sync for renewal timing.

When renewing GE, an interview is not always necessary. https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1298?language=en_US. I don't know the % of time an interview is necessary, but I'd guess it's the exception, not the rule.

Now, would that be different going from Sentri to GE? Not sure, but seeing as you had to do one for Sentri, you'd think it'd be the same.

Sentri has two benefits over GE, it's free for your minor children and foreign nationals can get it.






[Edited on 7-9-2021 by JZ]

karenintx - 7-9-2021 at 07:47 AM

Global Entry's is good for five years and the expiration date is your birthday.

Just renewed for the second time, was approved in 36 hours and for the second time I did not have to have a face to face interview. Only interview was for my original application back in 2011.

If you do have to have a face to face interview, and you are having a hard time get an appointment, look into using their "EoA" program.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-...

Do not use Sentri so do not have any info on that.

mrfatboy - 7-28-2021 at 02:20 PM

My wife just got conditionally approved for Global Entry (She has Sentri now). It took 3 days after filling out application. Now she has to schedule an appointment interview.

There were no Zoom appointments 3+ years out. The soonest appointment was Otay Mesa July 27, 2022:o I didn't see any San Diego Airport option either.

There are now giving 720 days to get your interview or you will have to redo your entire application and loose your $100. Crazy.

JZ - 7-28-2021 at 02:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mrfatboy  
My wife just got conditionally approved for Global Entry (She has Sentri now). It took 3 days after filling out application. Now she has to schedule an appointment interview.

There were no Zoom appointments 3+ years out. The soonest appointment was Otay Mesa July 27, 2022:o I didn't see any San Diego Airport option either.

There are now giving 720 days to get your interview or you will have to redo your entire application and loose your $100. Crazy.


There were a couple threads on here where ppl said to keep checking for appt. times, that things randomly open up and you can get get in fairly soon. Search the board for more details on how.

Don Pisto - 7-28-2021 at 08:38 PM

might be of help?
https://appointmentscanner.com/?fbclid=IwAR3FEEOAgDMl84R5NK6...

Don Pisto - 7-29-2021 at 09:17 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto  
might be of help?
https://appointmentscanner.com/?fbclid=IwAR3FEEOAgDMl84R5NK6...


I see many on fb are pleased with it...$29 for 3 months doesn't sound bad!

tjsue - 7-29-2021 at 10:32 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto  
Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto  
might be of help?
https://appointmentscanner.com/?fbclid=IwAR3FEEOAgDMl84R5NK6...


I see many on fb are pleased with it...$29 for 3 months doesn't sound bad!


I tried this, it was a waste of time, and I got my money back. You'll have better luck stalking the TT website, because you'll get an appointment faster that way. That's what several of us on here did, and had no problems. Appointment Scanner is just the middleman, and I was never able to get an appointment through them.

mrfatboy - 7-29-2021 at 10:59 AM

I just checked this morning for any openings. They had some for a year from today. It seems they are automatically scheduling a year from the current day you check. There isn't even availability after the "year from now" date. Only the one day.

JZ - 7-29-2021 at 11:25 AM

Quote: Originally posted by tjsue  

I tried this, it was a waste of time, and I got my money back. You'll have better luck stalking the TT website, because you'll get an appointment faster that way. That's what several of us on here did, and had no problems. Appointment Scanner is just the middleman, and I was never able to get an appointment through them.


How long was it telling you initially and what did you get it down to?

Mr. Bills - 7-29-2021 at 06:14 PM

My initial Global Entry application was submitted 9 jul 2021. My application was conditionally approved 12 jul 2021 and I scored an interview on 9 sept 2021 at the SFO airport.

I looked into changing my interview to another day or at a different California location but there hasn't been an available slot at a reasonable hour until next spring on any of the occasions that I looked.

It's probably sound advice to stalk the appointment reservation system for cancellations and random openings. I think I was lucky to get an appointment only 60 days out.

tjsue - 7-30-2021 at 10:12 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by tjsue  

I tried this, it was a waste of time, and I got my money back. You'll have better luck stalking the TT website, because you'll get an appointment faster that way. That's what several of us on here did, and had no problems. Appointment Scanner is just the middleman, and I was never able to get an appointment through them.


How long was it telling you initially and what did you get it down to?



The system sent me lots of emails with appointments on them, and they came in at all hours of the day and night, too. But as hard as I tried, I was never able to pick up an appointment, though.

But thanks to someone else on here that just kept checking the TT website, I did the same thing, and was able to move my appt up from this past June to last November within a week. You just have to go into the TT website, click on reschedule appt, and keep doing it until you get the appointment that you want.

What I did was this: When I was online, I stayed logged into the TT website, and kept checking it for appointments, and they showed up all the time even same day appts. Plus, it was a lot easier than using Appointment Scanner, and didn't cost anything.

[Edited on 7-30-2021 by tjsue]

JZ - 7-30-2021 at 12:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by tjsue  


The system sent me lots of emails with appointments on them, and they came in at all hours of the day and night, too. But as hard as I tried, I was never able to pick up an appointment, though.

But thanks to someone else on here that just kept checking the TT website, I did the same thing, and was able to move my appt up from this past June to last November within a week. You just have to go into the TT website, click on reschedule appt, and keep doing it until you get the appointment that you want.

What I did was this: When I was online, I stayed logged into the TT website, and kept checking it for appointments, and they showed up all the time even same day appts. Plus, it was a lot easier than using Appointment Scanner, and didn't cost anything.




This info is golden.