BajaNomad

Calexico East Ready Lane

bajacrawler - 3-31-2012 at 05:17 PM

I have been looking for information on how you find the entrance to use the Calexico East Ready Lane.

I found the following information on the Customs and Border Protection web site. The approach to the Ready Lane will be in Mexico, next to Sentri Lane, to the west side of the regular traffic lanes off the of the main boulevard that leads to the Calexico East Port of Entry.

It sounds to me like what they are saying is you turn off the east west main street right by the Sentri Lane and the new Ready Lane is right next to the Sentri Lane away from the regular lanes to the east.

Is there anyone out there that has used the new Ready Lane and does this sound like the way it really is? Does anyone have a picture.

nbacc - 4-1-2012 at 11:30 AM

Yes. We used it two weeks ago. It is right by the sentri lane BUT it does not start its own lane for quite a ways up there. Just be sure you are in the left lane when you turn in to get in line at the main street or you will not make it over there once you are in line. If you are coming from the direction where you will turn right to get in line go up and street and there is a place to do a U turn around so you will turn into the proper lane We have used it several times and have not made a decision on how much it has helped. Good luck. Let us all know how it works for you. Nancy

bajacrawler - 4-1-2012 at 12:25 PM

That sounds easy. Just turn into the far left regular lane from the main street. Follow it till till you get to the Ready Lane. If you are coming from the east you probably should not use the sweeping right turn. You should go a little farther and make the sharp right turn into the far left regular lane. If for some reason they will not let you make the sharp right turn keep going as you said and make a uturn and come back an make a left turn into the left lane. jack

nbacc - 4-1-2012 at 08:28 PM

It is easy! Believe me if we can do it anyone can do it, there is actually a U turn spot that tells you to U turn for sentri and you do it but don't go into sentri land but the one closest to it. nancy

mcfez - 4-2-2012 at 10:31 AM

It is very easy...Nancy is correct here. One can be blind ....and still find that lane :-)

The ready lane at the new crossing is even faster ......and easier. Use the new crossing to save time from being in the construction nightmare in downtown Mexicali.

Quote:
Originally posted by nbacc
It is easy! Believe me if we can do it anyone can do it, there is actually a U turn spot that tells you to U turn for sentri and you do it but don't go into sentri land but the one closest to it. nancy

nbacc - 4-2-2012 at 01:24 PM

there is not one yet at the old crossing.......so don't go there. At least as of several weeks ago. Nancy

Calexico East Ready Lane Got Me!

wornout - 4-2-2012 at 07:53 PM

I would NOT use the ready lane if the traffic is NOT backed up over the bridge. Reason being, I used it two weeks ago up and over the bridge only to come to a complete stop about two car lengths over the bridge. It was 20 minutes from there. I immediately stopped and started to back up but the car behind me wasn't going for it. The good thing is, she also had a 20 minute wait behind me. They had two ready lanes open and then opened a third and of course I took the third one only to sit there for the 10 minutes the gentleman took to go back and get his you know what together and then start accepting cars.

If I had of been able to back up and get out of the ready lane, there were a maximum of three cars at each of the non-ready lanes and those folks were long gone by the time I went through.

When returning, I see this is a regular occurrence as the same was going on when I looked over upon entering Baja.

mcfez - 4-3-2012 at 07:32 AM

A little more info on the Calexico East crossing......

Right before entering the crossing FROM Baja.......there is a super clean....new'ish......gas station. Has snacks in there too. This station is a easy in...easy out. One cant miss it.

Leaving Baja .......there is a gas station right outside of the crossing also. Cant miss it. Has a Jack in the Box inside too. There are no other visible businesses otherwise. Easy hook onto Ca 8 or 111

meme - 4-5-2012 at 08:35 AM

We have used the Ready Lane about 3 times now at Calexico East & each time has been an advantage time-wise. Biggest problem is people that get into it & then try to get out again--Not good!

mcfez - 4-5-2012 at 10:15 AM

We saw a lot of that too.......almost got caught up in that confusion. One must stay a hard left when entering the crossing.
Quote:
Originally posted by meme
We have used the Ready Lane about 3 times now at Calexico East & each time has been an advantage time-wise. Biggest problem is people that get into it & then try to get out again--Not good!

BajaIan - 2-24-2014 at 10:36 PM

Excuse my ignorance but what is a Ready lane and a Sentries lane?

David K - 2-24-2014 at 11:41 PM

I think this is the short answer:

Ready Lane if you have a chip in your passport (newer passport) or a passport card. It just means they can check your ID faster than just looking at your passport and punching in data to get a reply if you are a terrorist.

Sentri if you paid and got accepted for a Sentri Pass (everyone in the car must have one, otherwise they need to get out and walk across.

BajaIan - 2-25-2014 at 07:38 AM

Thx David. On the Sentri pass item, where/how do u pay in advance? Is that the tourist card that has to be validated/paid for at the bank?

BajaIan - 2-25-2014 at 07:47 AM

Never mind, just googled it. From Canada, know much about hockey, little of US immigration items

David K - 2-25-2014 at 09:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaIan
Thx David. On the Sentri pass item, where/how do u pay in advance? Is that the tourist card that has to be validated/paid for at the bank?


For others:

Tourist Cards (FMM) are something Mexico requires if you go south of the 'Border Zone' or stay longer than 3 days ANYWHERE in Mexico. The U.S. side (northbound) has no interest in Mexican required paperwork.

dasubergeek - 2-25-2014 at 01:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
I think this is the short answer:

Ready Lane if you have a chip in your passport (newer passport) or a passport card. It just means they can check your ID faster than just looking at your passport and punching in data to get a reply if you are a terrorist.

Sentri if you paid and got accepted for a Sentri Pass (everyone in the car must have one, otherwise they need to get out and walk across.


NO.

Chipped passports will not be read by the reader are NOT accepted in the Ready Lane. Only RFID cards are accepted:

- Passport Card
- Resident Alien ("Green") Card
- Border-Crossing ("Laser Visa") Card
- Enhanced Driver Licenses (WA, MI, NY, VT, MN, BC, MB, ON, QC only)
- Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI Card

(Source: http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/rfid/RFID_FAQ.html)

You pull up to a large reader when you are third in line for inspection (two behind the car at the booth) and hold your RFID-enabled card up. The number on the screen verifies the number of cards read. By the time you show up at the booth, the system has done its scan; you make your declaration and then are released, either to the freeway or to secondary.

David K's answer on SENTRI is correct except that the car must also be registered in SENTRI. It doesn't have to be your car, but it has to be registered, which takes time and an inspection at either Calexico or Otay Mesa. If you use the SENTRI lane without having a SENTRI card, they'll either turn you around back to Mexico after yelling at you, or they'll ship you to secondary and fine you up to $5000.