BajaNomad

Ready lane

Keri - 6-4-2014 at 03:58 PM

What does one need to use the ready lane ,k

BajaBlanca - 6-4-2014 at 04:05 PM

a passport card as opposed to a passport.

SFandH - 6-4-2014 at 04:06 PM

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1211/~/ready-la...

WHTI-compliant, RFID-enabled cards approved by the Department of Homeland Security include:
the U.S. Passport Card;
the Enhanced Driver's License (EDL);
the Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC);
Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry and FAST cards);
the new Enhanced Permanent Resident Card (PRC) or new Border Crossing Card (BCC).

BajaBlanca - 6-4-2014 at 06:12 PM

So many options, I had no idea.

DENNIS - 6-4-2014 at 06:14 PM

Only a six-pak instead of a 12.

baja43 - 6-5-2014 at 08:29 AM

When I'm driving north from Ensenada on the toll road, what route do I take (after the stretch along the border fence) to access the Ready Lanes? I see that they are on the east side of the vendors, but how the heck do I get there?

willardguy - 6-5-2014 at 09:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by baja43
When I'm driving north from Ensenada on the toll road, what route do I take (after the stretch along the border fence) to access the Ready Lanes? I see that they are on the east side of the vendors, but how the heck do I get there?
you have a couple options, both ridiculous! :no: I think the easiest way is to just take the free road all the way past the indian over the bridge 1st right, 1st right again, through the CFE parking lot, right on the speedway, get to the left and follow the signs! see? nothin to it!:lol:

SFandH - 6-5-2014 at 10:05 AM

It is complicated and there are different ways. I take the highway along the fence to the border crossing area. When you make the left turn into the crossing take the lane marked Zona Federal. It is the lane just to the right of the lanes that go to the crossing, however it is not the far right lane. It's in the middle.

Follow that road around and make an almost u-turn (to the left) at the traffic circle. Follow that road. You will come to a spot where it forks into 3 different roads. Take the middle lane.

Follow that road until you come to the 2nd traffic circle. Make a hard right there. That will take you to the Via Rapida frontage road. Make a right back towards the border crossing and then quickly get into the left lane so you can hop on Via Rapida. Be careful, you have a short distance to merge into 50 to 60 mph traffic.

Go a mile or so until you come to another 3 way fork. The middle option is marked "Ready Lane". Take that and you're where you want to be.

It's confusing and can be dangerous if you're unsure about where you're going. But once you have it figured out it's not too bad. Certainly heads up driving though.

I learned how to do it by riding with a friend who knew the way. Then the first time I did it solo I made sure to get to the border at daybreak on a Sunday.

Tijuana driving really sucks.

sancho - 6-5-2014 at 11:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SFandH



or new Border Crossing Card (BCC).





Stood in the SY ped line with a young Mex National
using his BCC for the first time, entering the bldg saw
a sign stating the BCC can be used in the Ready Line,
sorta took me by surprise, a US Passport book holder
has to stand in a longer line to get back to his country

danaeb - 6-5-2014 at 11:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho

sorta took me by surprise, a US Passport book holder
has to stand in a longer line to get back to his country


Don't take it personally. It has more to do with technology than ethnicity. It's so easy to get a passport card, and the pedestrian Ready Lane is so fast, I'm considering ditching my SENTRI card when it expires and getting the passport card instead. I cross the border on foot at both SY and Otay often and can't see much difference in the lines. Is there a reason for me to keep SENTRI?

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by danaeb]

willardguy - 6-5-2014 at 12:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb
Quote:
Originally posted by sancho

sorta took me by surprise, a US Passport book holder
has to stand in a longer line to get back to his country


Don't take it personally. It has more to do with technology than ethnicity. It's so easy to get a passport card, and the pedestrian Ready Lane is so fast, I'm considering ditching my SENTRI card when it expires and getting the passport card instead. I cross the border on foot at both SY and Otay often and can't see much difference in the lines. Is there a reason for me to keep SENTRI?

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by danaeb]
other than bragging rights? no. but I can think of a couple reasons to ditch it!:yes:

danaeb - 6-5-2014 at 12:29 PM

When I got my SENTRI there were no Ready Lanes, so it's not a matter of bragging rights - more a matter of expense.

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by danaeb]

willardguy - 6-5-2014 at 12:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb
When I got my SENTRI there were no Ready Lanes, so it's not a matter of bragging rights - more a matter of expense.

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by danaeb]
:lol:there's a couple nomads that wear em like a badge of honor! but aside from the hassle, expense and jumping through hoops, you have a sentri, you know the small infractions that can lead to revocation. it just doesn't make sense to me to risk having that following you around forever, just to save a few minutes in line? :?:

sancho - 6-5-2014 at 03:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb


It has more to do with technology than ethnicity






Ethnicity, heck no. I was thinking more in the line of,
why does Foreign National, non US perm resident,
have quicker access to the US than a US born citizen with
US Passport

SFandH - 6-5-2014 at 03:19 PM

Because the standard US Passport book is not RFID ready. The new Border Crossing Card the Mexicans use is RFID ready.

sancho - 6-5-2014 at 03:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SFandH
Because the standard US Passport book is not RFID ready






I believe I'm correct in saying, I've been wrong before,
that US Passport Books issued
in the last 5yrs.+, maybe longer, have a RFID chip. Mine
is 4 yrs. old, has a chip. Apparently not the current chip
accepted in the Ready Lane/Line prog. I have not heard
plans to make US Passport Books Ready Lane acceptable

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by sancho]

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by sancho]

bajalearner - 6-5-2014 at 04:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Keri
What does one need to use the ready lane ,k


From what I see, nothing special. I mean, I use the ready lane with my motorcycle and routinely see the person(s) ahead of me hand the ofcr paperwork and/or passports. I don't see the ofcr appear irritated, lecture the people or send them to 2ndary. I don't know if they are using a grace period or what the intent is but I suppose if one doesn't have the proper card, it doesn't cause a problem.

Also, I notice at times the "all the rest" lanes are shorter than the ready lane but not always.

danaeb - 6-5-2014 at 05:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb


It has more to do with technology than ethnicity


I misspoke. I didn't mean ethnicity, but citizenship.

Here is a list of READY LANE requirements from CBP:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1211/~/ready-la...




Ethnicity, heck no. I was thinking more in the line of,
why does Foreign National, non US perm resident,
have quicker access to the US than a US born citizen with
US Passport

dasubergeek - 6-7-2014 at 10:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
Quote:
Originally posted by SFandH
Because the standard US Passport book is not RFID ready






I believe I'm correct in saying, I've been wrong before,
that US Passport Books issued
in the last 5yrs.+, maybe longer, have a RFID chip. Mine
is 4 yrs. old, has a chip. Apparently not the current chip
accepted in the Ready Lane/Line prog. I have not heard
plans to make US Passport Books Ready Lane acceptable

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by sancho]

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by sancho]


The passport book's RFID chip contains different data to the passport card's RFID chip. The passport book's RFID chip has all of your personal data that appears on the information page of your passport book encoded, so that when it is scanned, it will display, more quickly than scanning the text block with the >>>>> in it.

The chip on your passport card (and the border crossing card/laser visa, and the green card, and the SENTRI, Global Entry and NEXUS card) only encodes a locator number. When you scan your card at the reader, it automatically does a query and pulls up much more than just your biometric data for the CBP officer, things like previous adverse encounters with CBP, issues you may have had with APHIS (bringing illegal fruit back), etc.

The passport book's RFID is meant to be read by any border agent anywhere in the world, regardless of country. US CBP can read the RFID chip of an Australian traveler just as easily as an American traveler.

As for why you can't fly with a passport card? Because your passport card isn't up to the international standard and can't be read by the RFID readers at, say, Changi Airport in Singapore. All they would see is 912380924097421098 or whatever, and they'd kick you out, and your airline would eat the cost of flying you home. The U.S. negotiated the land-and-sea crossing thing with neighboring countries.

Incidentally, it takes time to retrieve that information, which is why you scan your card when you are second-to-next in line, not next.

SFandH - 6-7-2014 at 11:05 AM

Thanks dasubergeek, that all makes sense.

durrelllrobert - 6-10-2014 at 11:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by baja43
When I'm driving north from Ensenada on the toll road, what route do I take (after the stretch along the border fence) to access the Ready Lanes? I see that they are on the east side of the vendors, but how the heck do I get there?


Much easier/ quicker to use ready lanes at Otay than SY IMO. Just exit the toll road onto Blvd 2000 just about the time that Baja Studios come into sight on your left. Blvd 2000 is 4 lane divided highway all the way to Otay (just don't get off at the Tecate/ Mexicalli toll road). After you get into civilization and cross over the elevated section just continue on until you see the Aeropuerte exit (right) that you take to the next signal light (marked San Dirgo), turn right and you are in the ready lanes. Starts out as 2 lanes then becomes 3 and finally 7 lanes at the US border. Last week at 10:30 on a Tuesday the crossing time from end of lineup was 12 minutes (same as SENTRI).

durrelllrobert - 6-10-2014 at 11:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb


It has more to do with technology than ethnicity






Ethnicity, heck no. I was thinking more in the line of,
why does Foreign National, non US perm resident,
have quicker access to the US than a US born citizen with
US Passport

At US Customs inspection areas in airports the US citizen lines are always shorter/ faster then for non-citizens.

Terry28 - 6-11-2014 at 02:09 PM

Crossed yesterday (tuesday) around noon..wait time was one hour.
Friends crossed sunday at T.J. In the regular line, got in line at 10:30 am and waited 3 hours and 50 minutes...they were not happy

Udo - 6-11-2014 at 02:34 PM

Would be nice if the CBP had a ready-lane in Tecate.

Last year, CBP were using the RFID on weekends only for a while. Then that stopped for some unknown reason.
Now there is a large sign that splains that the CBP is working on opening the Ready-Lane soon...but that sign has been up for 18 months!

elgatoloco - 6-11-2014 at 03:12 PM

Crossed Sentri yesterday at SY. 6:00 PM 12 minutes.

There were several sign trucks putting up updated signs on the roads approaching the Ready / Sentri lanes along Padre Kino and streets that one would use en route to the area.

YMMV

SFandH - 6-11-2014 at 03:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by elgatoloco
Crossed Sentri yesterday at SY. 6:00 PM 12 minutes.

There were several sign trucks putting up updated signs on the roads approaching the Ready / Sentri lanes along Padre Kino and streets that one would use en route to the area.

YMMV


Access to Ready Lanes from Padre Kino, or just Sentri?

tjsue - 6-11-2014 at 10:27 PM

Sentri only.

elgatoloco - 6-12-2014 at 09:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SFandH
Quote:
Originally posted by elgatoloco
Crossed Sentri yesterday at SY. 6:00 PM 12 minutes.

There were several sign trucks putting up updated signs on the roads approaching the Ready / Sentri lanes along Padre Kino and streets that one would use en route to the area.

YMMV


Access to Ready Lanes from Padre Kino, or just Sentri?


Good question. Not sure. They had most of the signs down and new ones were on the ground waiting to be put up. The only new one up was the far right lane - saying Col Libertad. Two middle lanes at intersection were obviously Sentri. Two on the left of that must go up over the bridge to regular lanes? If surf comes up I will check it out again and see whats up, or I could take wifey down to Mision 19 for dinner for her birthday! :dudette:

SFandH - 6-12-2014 at 10:36 AM

Thanks, check it out. They frequently change things around.

susaninlapaz - 6-12-2014 at 10:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SFandH
Thanks dasubergeek, that all makes sense.


well, the technology may make sense, but the political situation that results in ANYONE being hassled about getting into the USA from Mexico is ludicrous.

dasubergeek - 6-13-2014 at 12:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by elgatoloco
Quote:
Originally posted by SFandH
Quote:
Originally posted by elgatoloco
Crossed Sentri yesterday at SY. 6:00 PM 12 minutes.

There were several sign trucks putting up updated signs on the roads approaching the Ready / Sentri lanes along Padre Kino and streets that one would use en route to the area.

YMMV


Access to Ready Lanes from Padre Kino, or just Sentri?


Good question. Not sure. They had most of the signs down and new ones were on the ground waiting to be put up. The only new one up was the far right lane - saying Col Libertad. Two middle lanes at intersection were obviously Sentri. Two on the left of that must go up over the bridge to regular lanes? If surf comes up I will check it out again and see whats up, or I could take wifey down to Mision 19 for dinner for her birthday! :dudette:


The right lane is Col. Libertad (takes you up to Av. Ferrocarril where the cross-border vans wait and the pedestrian line starts on bad days). The middle two are SENTRI only—the old way onto the Ready Lanes was closed the last I checked.

The left lane (or two?) is to take you up and over the bridge into Col. Federal. If you do that, U-turn when you get to the glorieta and you'll go back toward Paseo Centenario de Tijuana.

Last I checked—which was two weeks ago but things change quickly—access to the Ready Lanes was strictly from the Vía Rápida Oriente, the road that parallels the river on the east side.

elgatoloco - 6-13-2014 at 01:05 PM

Cool. There you have it. I am sure that was what the signs that they were putting up say. We only use ready lane when we have our camper and have steered toward Otay for that since border rebuild started. I am still going to take the wifey down for her birthday. :dudette::coolup: I will post a reply confirming what you say, or not. :saint:

Bob53 - 6-13-2014 at 03:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by baja43
When I'm driving north from Ensenada on the toll road, what route do I take (after the stretch along the border fence) to access the Ready Lanes? I see that they are on the east side of the vendors, but how the heck do I get there?

Here is a link with directions I found on the Discover Baja site. Looks complicated.

http://www.discoverbaja.com/wp-content/uploads/San-Ysidro-Re...

Go to Otay.

baconjr - 6-14-2014 at 08:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by baja43
When I'm driving north from Ensenada on the toll road, what route do I take (after the stretch along the border fence) to access the Ready Lanes? I see that they are on the east side of the vendors, but how the heck do I get there?


If you are coming from Ensenada, forget SY and go to Otay. By taking Calle 2000 from south of Rosarito to Otay it takes 30-40 minutes to get the Ready Pass line. Much quicker than going through TJ.

dasubergeek - 6-16-2014 at 03:48 PM

It's about the same length of time and almost exactly the same distance from the toll road/Blvd 2000 split to the two crossings... but you wait a lot less at Otay and if you're looking for the ready lane it's one exit and two right turns, easy as falling off a collapsing freeway.

durrelllrobert - 6-16-2014 at 04:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
So many options, I had no idea.

...and the new Border Crossing Cards for MX national has doubled the number of vehicles in the ready lanes at Otay. Still quicker then regular lanes and slower than SENTRI.

willardguy - 6-17-2014 at 09:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
So many options, I had no idea.

...and the new Border Crossing Cards for MX national has doubled the number of vehicles in the ready lanes at Otay. Still quicker then regular lanes and slower than SENTRI.
yesterday morning 9am the SY ready lane was waaay longer than the regular lanes, backed up to the nissan dealer with accesses at constitution and CFE both blocked. don't ever hit it at rush hour!:no:

[Edited on 6-17-2014 by willardguy]

collapsing freeways

susaninlapaz - 6-17-2014 at 10:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dasubergeek
It's about the same length of time and almost exactly the same distance from the toll road/Blvd 2000 split to the two crossings... but you wait a lot less at Otay and if you're looking for the ready lane it's one exit and two right turns, easy as falling off a collapsing freeway.


Jajajajaja, and thanks for the info...I came THISCLOSE to falling off a collapsing freeway in Oakland in 1989. Guess a compassionate God wanted me to retire to the Baja instead.