BajaNomad

SENTRI..if you dont have it, get it!

bajaking76 - 4-9-2012 at 08:41 AM

After a few months of waiting and one interview we received the SENTRI cards in the mail, 4 days after the interview and vehicle inspection. It is SOOOO worth the time and money you put into it. The first try it took us 20min on a busy Sunday mid-day. The next couple of times were each a 5 min wait, so glad I applied for this!
:bounce:

It's pretty darned GOOD

MrBillM - 4-9-2012 at 08:53 AM

Although the expense and effort is not insignificant (especially when they screw up the first appointment), as my wife said "IF we need it ONCE, it's worth it to me". Si Si.

So, it's already paid for itself.

On Saturday, it was less than ten minutes (with seven vehicles in front of us) versus (probably) well over an hour. The Mex-Licensed vehicles (4 of the 7) seemed to take a "little" bit more time. No idea why.

bonanza bucko - 4-9-2012 at 08:54 AM

We have had our SENTRI pass for about a year. And then our windshield took a rock from yer basic idiot in an old gravel truck on Ca. 67. So I called CBP to see how to get the sticker replaced with the new windshield. After three calls to the Otay number were the recording says they will call you back in two days a very nice lady called and told me to make an appointment on line....said I would be able to get one in about 10 days. So I went on line...guess what? The SENTRI page there says I should be prepared to wait TEN WEEKS!

So..your tax dollars...and SENTRI fees at work?! One of these days the Feds are gonna figure out that we are mighty unhappy with them and we are gonna stop paying for this kind of crap.

BB :-(

durrelllrobert - 4-9-2012 at 09:18 AM

Love to have one but I was denied for not listing my 1957 offense for Loud Exaust in response to "have you had any prvius arrests or convictions?"

bajachris - 4-9-2012 at 09:54 AM

How do you get to Sentri from Otay and San Ysidro? Anyone have a map? Just applied and waiting for the pass. $100 each adult and children free just for application. Not sure what annual fees are yet. Normally we haul trailer or camper, so during those times it will not be of use. But when we just have the car, it will be great. Last crossing at Tecate was 1.5 hours wait. Not even sure Tecate has a Sentri line. But if we have a Sentri we will cross Otay or San Ysidro. The exit off main toll road near Fox studios to get to Otay and Tecate is just great. Saves lots of time.

It appears that you can check additional boxes on application when applying for the pass to get a fast track when flying anywhere and driving to Canada also. Not sure what it will do for the flying, but if it speeds things up that will be great. In order to cross with Sentri in Canada and Mexico, you have to have inspection at each boarder.

bajaking76 - 4-9-2012 at 10:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajachris
How do you get to Sentri from Otay and San Ysidro? Anyone have a map? Just applied and waiting for the pass. $100 each adult and children free just for application. Not sure what annual fees are yet. Normally we haul trailer or camper, so during those times it will not be of use. But when we just have the car, it will be great. Last crossing at Tecate was 1.5 hours wait. Not even sure Tecate has a Sentri line. But if we have a Sentri we will cross Otay or San Ysidro. The exit off main toll road near Fox studios to get to Otay and Tecate is just great. Saves lots of time.

It appears that you can check additional boxes on application when applying for the pass to get a fast track when flying anywhere and driving to Canada also. Not sure what it will do for the flying, but if it speeds things up that will be great. In order to cross with Sentri in Canada and Mexico, you have to have inspection at each boarder.


The Fastrack allows you to bypass the security check and instead use a kios to check your docs. Not sure if you get some kind of printout to hand to the CBP.

This might help you with the map question.

http://www.ensenadacruisers.com/sentri2011.html

lizard lips - 4-9-2012 at 10:26 AM

No don't get it. I want that line all to myself. I often feel guilty when I see a three hour line and I pass in 5 minutes........ NOT!

Check your u2u

bajaguy - 4-9-2012 at 10:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajachris
How do you get to Sentri from Otay and San Ysidro? Anyone have a map? Just applied and waiting for the pass. $100 each adult and children free just for application. Not sure what annual fees are yet. Normally we haul trailer or camper, so during those times it will not be of use. But when we just have the car, it will be great. Last crossing at Tecate was 1.5 hours wait. Not even sure Tecate has a Sentri line. But if we have a Sentri we will cross Otay or San Ysidro. The exit off main toll road near Fox studios to get to Otay and Tecate is just great. Saves lots of time.

It appears that you can check additional boxes on application when applying for the pass to get a fast track when flying anywhere and driving to Canada also. Not sure what it will do for the flying, but if it speeds things up that will be great. In order to cross with Sentri in Canada and Mexico, you have to have inspection at each boarder.





Check your u2u message....upper right corner of this page
by where you sign in.

willardguy - 4-9-2012 at 01:38 PM

so you try to be a good american. you always pay your taxes, you vote,you abide by the rules of the land, when asked to you join the military, go to war, if youre lucky you come home with a bunch of medals, hopefully all your limbs. you even have a secret security clearance. now 40 years later you attempt to join this elitist organization with only a handful of superhuman members but wait! remember that fateful night when you made the mistake of being seen leaving a drinking establishment after dark?20 fcuking years ago?
screw the sentri and the a$$holes that make up these ridiculous rules. just another reason to stay SOB!!

Superhuman

MrBillM - 4-9-2012 at 01:46 PM

Until NOW, I've never thought of myself that way.

Exceptionally Special, Yeah, but not SUPERHUMAN.

Gosh, I feel good now.

fishingmako - 4-9-2012 at 04:23 PM

I would love to have one, BUT I'm not going to take off my Camper Shell on my Truck !

Camper Shell OK in Sentri

MrBillM - 4-9-2012 at 06:09 PM

Live-in Camper not.

Camper Shells

bajaguy - 4-9-2012 at 06:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishingmako
I would love to have one, BUT I'm not going to take off my Camper Shell on my Truck !





Are OK, just not a full blown live in rv type camper

woody with a view - 4-9-2012 at 06:40 PM

they won't give me one either, although i have access to restricted/sensitive naval installations.... i guess i've just had too much fun in this life according to them!

plus, i usually pull the camper so screw em!

Bajaahh - 4-9-2012 at 08:32 PM

I got my card but couldn't get one for the truck due to the pop up camper AND tinted side windows. Now Im thinking of re-applying for a truck sticker (so all I have to do is take off the tint, take off the camper and I'll get the sticker). So if we ever want to come down for the day or even a weekend at a hotel, all I have to do is remove the camper before heading south... It seems like ALOT of trouble but Im tired of waiting 2 1/2hrs to cross, then just to get sent to secondary for another hour because of the camper. I cant even guess how many hours of my life Ive spent sitting in that line(not to mention how many churros Ive eaten).

bajaking76 - 4-10-2012 at 07:18 AM

I had a few questions for the agent that did the interview and I did not get a straight answer from him are anyone else in the SY office....I dont find anything in the GOES web that would answer them either....called and left a messages at GOES office and still no call back. SIGH

I asked -

1. Is there a limit of items I can have in my car? As an example I go camping in Mexico and I am bringing back the items purchased in the US , excluding the common no-nos like fruits and vegetables.

2. I also do allot of fishing in Baja. Is bringing back fish permitted? If so, is there a limit when using the SENTRI?

STILL WAITING.....

Coming Home

MrBillM - 4-10-2012 at 09:33 AM

There is NO difference in WHAT you can legally bring back to the U.S. via the Sentri lane and a different one.

The BULK in your camper, as in a normal lane, is a decision for the inspector. They make a point of telling you that the Sentri Lane does NOT mean that you won't be subject to Secondary Inspection.

My camper shell is normally filled with stuff since I usually travel south with everything in Plastic (Rubbermaid) containers which, for the most part, return empty, but the inspector doesn't know that. You will be judged based upon the criteria of the agent at the kiosk. As you are in any case. You DO have something of an edge (I think) because they have an extensive background on EVERY occupant.

As an aside, the Sentri has finally convinced my wife not to "Cheat" on leftover foodstuffs that wouldn't be legal knowing that being caught with a Buck's worth of Pork Sausage might get our pass revoked. I've been bushwhacked by her parsimony too many times in the past. Not Now.

durrelllrobert - 4-10-2012 at 09:43 AM

I think that because SENTRI is supposed to speed up crossing the inspector doesn't want to have to look through a bunch of stuff and slow things down.

bajachris - 4-10-2012 at 10:03 AM

Thanks for the maps, directions, etc. Most of the time we haul a trailer so we will not be able use Sentri. But I am looking forward to the occasional time when we do.

Ready Lane

bajaguy - 4-10-2012 at 10:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajachris
Thanks for the maps, directions, etc. Most of the time we haul a trailer so we will not be able use Sentri. But I am looking forward to the occasional time when we do.





If you have the SENTRI card and are pulling a trailer, you can use the Ready Lane................not as fast as SENTRI, but usually quicker than the regular lanes

Lindalou - 4-10-2012 at 05:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
so you try to be a good american. you always pay your taxes, you vote,you abide by the rules of the land, when asked to you join the military, go to war, if youre lucky you come home with a bunch of medals, hopefully all your limbs. you even have a secret security clearance. now 40 years later you attempt to join this elitist organization with only a handful of superhuman members but wait! remember that fateful night when you made the mistake of being seen leaving a drinking establishment after dark?20 fcuking years ago?
screw the sentri and the a$$holes that make up these ridiculous rules. just another reason to stay SOB!!
Don't these offences leave your record after 20 years? or is it not telling them that causes the problems?

woody with a view - 4-10-2012 at 05:53 PM

your record can ONLY be expunged. that means they enter a line that says so, that you've "paid your debt" but the original record sticks.

Paying for My Past Criminal Behavior

MrBillM - 4-10-2012 at 08:13 PM

DID present a Dilemma at Interview time when the additional paperwork required asked the question about having EVER violated the Customs Laws.

HM ?

THAT presented a REAL Quandary.

How FAR back did the records go ? How Complete ? How much Importance would a violation be ?

With some trepidation I answered "Yes" figuring that IF it showed on the records and I said NO, I was screwed.

In the explanation, I noted that on Memorial Day around 1986-87 I had exceeded the allowable Liquor Import limit and paid a fine.

LUCKILY, it wasn't a Deal-Breaker and I dodged the bullet.

willardguy - 4-10-2012 at 08:19 PM

I could tell by your photo you're a born trouble maker!:spingrin::spingrin::spingrin::spingrin: