I was just reading about the SENTRI passes on the customs web site. I see it costs $129 to get one which might be worth it if it lasts 2 years. How
much faster is it? Also what if you have additional people in the car who don't have a SENTRI pass? Can you still use it? Do all the borders have
these things? Is it also good to go in and out of Canada? Is there a dedicated SENTRI lane? Thanks for the info amigos.marla - 8-3-2004 at 05:29 PM
Oh also, do they have SENTRI lanes at San Ysidro or just Otay Mesa?movinguy - 8-3-2004 at 06:24 PM
SENTRI is VERY fast - the longest line I have encountered at San Ysidro is maybe 5 cars. There are SENTRI lanes at both SY and Otay.
However, the rules are very strict. If you have non-SENTRI passengers in your car you must go through the regular lanes. You must have each vehicle
inspected/approved in addition to your personal background check(s), and there is no towing of trailers, boats or anything else.
Don't know about Canada specifically but my understanding is that SENTRI is valid at any equipped border crossing in the US.
Maria
Baja Bernie - 8-3-2004 at 07:01 PM
Sentri Pass is the only way to go if you are crossing the border at either San Ysidro or Otay Mesa and are crossing often enough to make it worth
while. The $129.oo just covers the car and one person. You have to pay extra for each person that will be using the car (maxium six people). It is a
pain to go to Otay Mesa to do all of the paper work and they do a real thorough backgorund check. More complete than the one that I underwent to go
to the FBI Academy.
I believe that these are the only dedicated lanes in the nation. They have been talking about making a Sentri lane in El Paso but I do not know if it
has gone through at this point.
We have had the pass for almost three years and the average wait, off peak hours is about 2 minutes. Peak can be up to 10 minutes--that is when it is
about an hour in the normal lanes.
If you decide to go this route ask for directons on how to get to the lanes. It is a little tricky until you get used to it.
As moving guy say it is a piece of cake but they are strict.jeans - 8-3-2004 at 07:02 PM
I will be getting one next time I can get down there. Last week when we walked across the border on our dinner outing, there was a woman who has a
Sentri pass with us. The walk-across traffic is on the far right and that is where the Sentri lane is. It was empty. She said that when she has
passengers she just lets them off, they walk across and she picks them up on the other side. (I'm assuming the US doesn't have a problem with that)
Oh...one other thing. If you ever get caught breaking the rules...so much as forgotten lunch meat in your cooler, you're done....the pass gets yanked
and you get a big fine. At least that was the impression from her. Anyone know for sure?
[Edited on 8-4-2004 by jeans]
Jeans
Baja Bernie - 8-3-2004 at 07:13 PM
I have a buddy who is so cheap that he has paid for a pass for only himself. When he brings his wife down he drops her off and she hoofs it across
(customs does not seem to care about this). He goes on into downtown San Ysidro ( Burger King) and has a hamburger and a drink while he waits--that
is about the closest spot to park and wait for your passenger AND the cops are now ticketing everyone illegally parked because this behavior (waiting
for passengers) is causing all kinds of problems for everyone wanting to shop and for the merchants who are really T'ed off.
Think twice about this arrangement.
Yes, they have very strict rules and if it is minor violation you will normall get one warning but the next violation and your pass goes byeby, If it
is serious you can be cited and fined. No jail time unless you are really smuggling. The hole thing is based on comlience with the rules we all have
been breaking for years and years.jeans - 8-3-2004 at 07:30 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
I have a buddy who is so cheap that he has paid for a pass for only himself. When he brings his wife down he drops her off and she hoofs it across
He's lucky she shows up! If I were her I'd keep hoofin'!
Thanks for the info. I'll figure it out when the time comes.movinguy - 8-3-2004 at 08:27 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by jeans
I will be getting one next time I can get down there.
FYI when we got ours last year the wait time for an initial appointment was about 2 months - figure on about 3-4 months for the whole approval
process.
Moving Guy
Baja Bernie - 8-3-2004 at 08:34 PM
So true! I had forgotten the wait. The second time around it is a piece of cake--if you don't change cars and have to re-due the transponder.jeans - 8-3-2004 at 08:52 PM
Quote:
FYI when we got ours last year the wait time for an initial appointment was about 2 months - figure on about 3-4 months for the whole approval
process.
?Holy Guacamole! I'll call them tomorrow to make an appointment. Thanks!
Not one comment
jrbaja - 8-3-2004 at 09:52 PM
about the reasons for having the Sentri pass.
Do any of you even know why they have it? Bernie ??
From what I have seen, it is for gringos, who have relatives, who have homes or properties down here that come for the weekends.
And there is a whole dungload of em.
These are the ones who became "members" in the first place and then enabled all of their family members and friends to become "members".
Watch what happens to those "express" lanes now that ALL the gringos are aware.
By the way, Jeans, aren't you the one that wrote the baja emergencyguide ?
[Edited on 8/4/2004 by jrbaja]David K - 8-3-2004 at 10:08 PM
Photo at http://community-2.webtv.net/boojum1/504 shows Discover Baja's owners (Carol and Hugh Kramer) with the Miguel Salazar, author of the Baja
Emergency Guide...
JR
movinguy - 8-4-2004 at 07:28 AM
I have perused many of your posts on this board and have noted that is virtually impossible for you to construct a paragraph without the "g" word
(gringo).
I have a SENTRI pass so I can make spontaneous trips to Baja without worrying about the return trip. I am not there to build a home, erect a fence or
otherwise soil your slice of paradise. I speak the language, respect the culture and abhor "ugly Americans" as much as you do.
SENTRI or not, people will keep coming.whodat54321 - 8-4-2004 at 08:11 AM
it's all in the timing for me.
I work nights, so wait times are not too bad except for weekends, but there is a website, http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/
that updates hourly if you must know before you go.DanO - 8-4-2004 at 09:11 AM
I wouldn't worry too much about the SENTRI program getting so overused that it no longer serves the purpose of getting people through the border
quickly. The combination of the length of time it takes to get it, and the detailed and difficult application and background check process filters
people out sort of like washboard roads filter out people who shouldn't be driving down them.
When I renewed my family's passes a few weeks ago, the cashier told me that they are planning more dedicated lanes. The government wants to automate
the process of inspecting border crossing vehicles as much as possible, because it makes economic sense -- the program provides cash from the fees and
allows inspectors to focus their attention elsewhere, like catching bad guys. Makes sense to me. (I could also be paranoid and say that the FBI
wants to be able to track repeated border crossers anywhere they go by homing in on their transponder signals -- but I don't have my tinfoil hat on
today.)
Note to JR: when I was in the SENTRI office a few weeks ago, there were dozens of people applying for or renewing passes. I was the only gringo
there. The fact is that most SENTRI users are Mexican and U.S. businesspeople and workers who want to do cross-border business or get to their
cross-border jobs on time and more efficiently. Again, makes sense to me.
The word Gringo
jrbaja - 8-4-2004 at 09:13 AM
is used as a term for norte americanos. From the u.s.. I use it when talking about myself quite regularly. It is not necessarily used as a negative
term although when I use it referring to many from the u.s., it is.
Most of the rural Mexicans consider it negative so they don't use it and frankly, they are quite taken aback when I do.
But the majority of people just think it's a word to describe the northerners.
When I use it on here, it is generally used to describe the arrogant, drunken folks that come down here because they can do things that aren't
allowed in the states. Riding ATV's on the beaches, blowing off fireworks, and drinking way to much whatever.
I also use it to describe the people that pretend to know what they are talking about when they really don't. And there's quite a few of em on here!
Anyways, I will remind those that take offense to what I have to say. Gringo isn't necessarily a bad term although it can be.
Those of you who are P-nche gringos, know who you are. Those that the negative aspect of the word doesn't apply to, keep doing what you are doing.
If the huarache fits!!marla - 8-4-2004 at 09:17 AM
Thanks for all the info! So it is good for two years and then when you renew it you don't have to pay for the application and stuff all over again????
Maybe it would be worth it though we do usually end up with extra guests in the car....marla - 8-4-2004 at 09:17 AM
I wouldn't like to make my guests walk all the way to a fast food restaurant in San Ysidro DanO - 8-4-2004 at 09:41 AM
Marla, you do have to pay the application fees when you renew. There is a family maximum fee cap -- I paid $210 to renew for four of us, and there is
a similar fee cap on the intial application. The initial application also requires payment of fees for the vehicle transponder, which are listed on
the DHS SENTRI website. As long as you don't change vehicles, you don't have to pay another transponder fee on renewal.jeans - 8-4-2004 at 12:46 PM
First available appointment? Second week of NovemberYikes!
JR
Baja Bernie - 8-4-2004 at 01:44 PM
You are wrong on this one. If you applied or looked at the lanes you would find that about 90-95 % of the people are Mexicans who live in Baja. Not
just gringo's.
The plan is to expand the Sentri lanes as the demand increases. This will probably have more negative impact on the tourists because more and more
people who live in Baja and work in the US are applying for the Sentri passes--they say it beats getting up at 2am to sit in lines to go to work----
So for you it may hold many pluses--fewer tourists and more Mexicans getting ahead and enjoying the good life by not having to wait in line for 1 to 3
hours before going to the States to earn then money that puts them in the middle class in Baja.
Think about it.
I have it because I do business in both countries and cross often.
Don't know the statistics Bernie
jrbaja - 8-4-2004 at 02:08 PM
But I do know that most all my neighbors and their families have them and they come down about once a month if that.
I obviously was mistaken as Carol informed me, for the reason for the pass. It is for everyone rather than just the people who live in Mexico and
work in the states. Sorry. elgatoloco - 8-4-2004 at 02:15 PM
We have SENTRI. It's great.
We have a house 26 miles north of the border and one 30+ miles south of the border and we cross often.
We like to visit Tijuana restaurants and our favorite liqour store often and it's always nice to know you can get out hassle free.
We will drive down to La Fonda and other places just for dinner or to
catch the evening glass off at the point.
When we have other people in the vehicle we usually come home via Otay. If your timing is bad (say 3-4 busses just dropped off) at San Ysidro you can
have a LONG wait for those walking across.
Campers are NOT allowed in SENTRI lanes.
When we were in the SENTRI office most of the folks applying were Mexican Nationals who worked in SD county.
System was designed originally for 18,000. Now carrying 70,000+. Expansion soon.marla - 8-4-2004 at 03:32 PM
I wish I were better at finding Otay Mesa. The first time I tried to find it, after a search I accidentally ended up in the truck lane which was a
nightmare. The second time it was by luck. The third time was coming back from Baja at New Years when they had shut down San Ysidro lanes as too
crowded. I panicked because I didnt know where to go and ended up just jumping behind a red van with Chula Vista license plate holder whom I had a
hunch knew how to get to Otay Mesa and was going there. I stayed on his bumper the entire way which was scary because he was driving 150 mph, I think,
and sure enough he was going there. Though he seemed to take some back way that had me panicked for a moment. Crossing was longer than before but
still better than San Ysidro. I guess if I did it often enough I would get used to it.elgatoloco - 8-4-2004 at 03:52 PM
follow signs to aeropuerto
pass by aeropuerto
follow signs to garita de otay/san diego
You've made it 3 times Marla
jrbaja - 8-4-2004 at 04:08 PM
You should be a guide!
It does seem complicated at first but there are 2 really easy ways if you are coming from Rosarito or south.
Both involve taking the free road into Tijuana. You can either go straight all the way to the airport following the signs or you can turn right at
the top of the hill on the free road where it says "La Mesa Tecate". Go towards Tecate, stay on the same road and it takes you right up there.
Easy.
Marla
Baja Bernie - 8-4-2004 at 08:06 PM
I guess I am also challenged when it comes to Otay Mesa. It is simple after you have done it a couple of time in the daylight. But until you get the
hang of it you feel like you are wandering around one of those English gardens that has no exit (a maze).
Not a piece of cake like San Ysidro.marla - 8-5-2004 at 11:36 AM
OK you guys I will try it again! And try to get the hang of it. Next time I will bring a detail map of Tijuana and then I won't be so concerned about
geting lost and wandering around forever.whodat54321 - 8-5-2004 at 11:50 AM
map world (or map centere) in Scandia Plaza, by the sports arena has guia roji foldout maps for $9. best map I got for TJ
By the way,
jrbaja - 8-5-2004 at 01:03 PM
I was semi lost this morning in Tijuana trying a short cut to the office depot.
Not really lost, I just couldn't get there from where I was. hahahahahahaha.
Keep in mind, Tijuana isn't all that big. And it sits in a valley.
If you go out of the valley to the north, you will end up at the border or the airport.
If you go out of the valley to the south, you will end up in Playas or Rosarito.
If you go out of the valley to the east,
( and you really are lost if that's the case), you will end up in Tecate.
When you check out your new Tijuana maps, you will see how small it really is.
Except for the cab, bus and truck drivers, business women talking on the phone or putting on makeup and not paying attention, hidden stop signs and
one way streets all going the wrong way, it's a breeze!
and other places just for dinner or to
catch the evening glass off at the point.