BajaNomad

SENTRI with non-SENTRI passengers

BigBearRider - 11-11-2015 at 03:38 PM

After a three-month wait, I finally got my application approved and made an appointment to get my vehicle inspected this week.

What is the current wisdom regarding driving with non-SENTRI passengers? In years past, my recollection was that you had to let them out to walk across the border. In other words, to be in the SENTRI lane, every person in the car had to have SENTRI (or Global Entry). Is that the current rule?


[Edited on 11-11-2015 by BigBearRider]

MMc - 11-11-2015 at 03:41 PM


Yes, everybody in the car needs a Sentri Pass. CBP will cover this durning your interview.

BigBearRider - 11-11-2015 at 04:17 PM

Thanks for the reply.

Do the non-SENTRI passengers have to go with the "general population" pedestrians crossing?

Is there a preferred pedestrian crossing (San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, TJ airport?), or does it vary from time to time? Tecate is presumably the fastest, but doesn't have a SENTRI lane, so it is of less interest.

MMc - 11-11-2015 at 04:23 PM

The people that I know that do that go through Otay Mesa. I have no experience dropping people off.

bajaguy - 11-11-2015 at 04:25 PM



Yes. Non-SENTRI passengers go with the "general population" unless they haave a Passport card, then they can use the pedestrian "Ready Lane"

In my experience, it is easier to use the Otay crossing for non-SENTRI passengers or those using the Ready Lane. Just drop them off at the beginning of the covered walkway and pick them up on Roll Drive or Via De La Armistad north of the Customs office.......or you can wait for them at Erik's Deli in the same strip mall as the 7-11 at the Roll/Armistad intersection
Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
Thanks for the reply.

Do the non-SENTRI passengers have to go with the "general population" pedestrians crossing?

Is there a preferred pedestrian crossing (San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, TJ airport?), or does it vary from time to time? Tecate is presumably the fastest, but doesn't have a SENTRI lane, so it is of less interest.

DENNIS - 11-11-2015 at 04:39 PM




Don't eff with SENTRI. They'll dump you immediately. At your appointment, ask them your question.

BigBearRider - 11-11-2015 at 04:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  


Yes. Non-SENTRI passengers go with the "general population" unless they haave a Passport card, then they can use the pedestrian "Ready Lane"

In my experience, it is easier to use the Otay crossing for non-SENTRI passengers or those using the Ready Lane. Just drop them off at the beginning of the covered walkway and pick them up on Roll Drive or Via De La Armistad north of the Customs office.......or you can wait for them at Erik's Deli in the same strip mall as the 7-11 at the Roll/Armistad intersection


Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
Thanks for the reply.

Do the non-SENTRI passengers have to go with the "general population" pedestrians crossing?

Is there a preferred pedestrian crossing (San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, TJ airport?), or does it vary from time to time? Tecate is presumably the fastest, but doesn't have a SENTRI lane, so it is of less interest.



Thanks. A good excuse to have a gyro or two at Erik's!

BigBearRider - 11-11-2015 at 04:47 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS  



Don't eff with SENTRI. They'll dump you immediately. At your appointment, ask them your question.


I have no intention of messing with SENTRI.

gallesram - 11-11-2015 at 05:25 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  


Yes. Non-SENTRI passengers go with the "general population" unless they haave a Passport card, then they can use the pedestrian "Ready Lane"

In my experience, it is easier to use the Otay crossing for non-SENTRI passengers or those using the Ready Lane. Just drop them off at the beginning of the covered walkway and pick them up on Roll Drive or Via De La Armistad north of the Customs office.......or you can wait for them at Erik's Deli in the same strip mall as the 7-11 at the Roll/Armistad intersection


Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
Thanks for the reply.

Do the non-SENTRI passengers have to go with the "general population" pedestrians crossing?

Is there a preferred pedestrian crossing (San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, TJ airport?), or does it vary from time to time? Tecate is presumably the fastest, but doesn't have a SENTRI lane, so it is of less interest.



I agree with Bajaguy; we do this all the time at Otay Mesa (when we're coming from the TJ airport) as there's often a person in our car who doesn't have SENTRI. During the summer months the pedestrian lines can get very long for the "general population" (hours!). During the rest of the year it's pretty fast for pedestrians. The SENTRI passengers will cross & grab sandwiches at the Subway at the top of the hill on Armistad (right side), then gas up the car. By that time our non-SENTRI passengers are through and we're on our way. It is far less confusing than San Ysidro and once you cross the 905 is a 6-lane freeway all the way to the 805 & 5 freeways.

BigBearRider - 11-11-2015 at 05:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by gallesram  

I agree with Bajaguy; we do this all the time at Otay Mesa (when we're coming from the TJ airport) as there's often a person in our car who doesn't have SENTRI. During the summer months the pedestrian lines can get very long for the "general population" (hours!). During the rest of the year it's pretty fast for pedestrians. The SENTRI passengers will cross & grab sandwiches at the Subway at the top of the hill on Armistad (right side), then gas up the car. By that time our non-SENTRI passengers are through and we're on our way. It is far less confusing than San Ysidro and once you cross the 905 is a 6-lane freeway all the way to the 805 & 5 freeways.


Thanks. Ok, so I may have eaten at the Subway once or twice, but only because Erik's has been closed...

soylent_green - 11-12-2015 at 10:22 AM

another YES vote for Erik's Deli
hahaha

then, Vallartas Restaurant in the Carls JR parking lot.

dasubergeek - 11-17-2015 at 11:19 AM

Just make sure they can't see you drop off your passengers. At Otay Mesa, which is where you should always do this because San Ysidro sucks for pedestrians, you will drop off at the taxi drop point. (Look at a Google Map: it's where Colina del Sol, Josefina Rendón Parra, and Sor Juana Inéz de la Cruz meet.)

If the SENTRI line is not busy, you can cut across and enter there and still not be seen. If it is busier, you will have to U-turn on Josefina Rendón Parra, then make essentially a right-hand U-turn at Bellas Artes back into Colina del Sol, right by the car wash.

Your passenger will walk up past the rain shelters into the building. You will cross over, exit the 905 at the very first exit (Siempre Viva Rd.), make a right and then another right onto Roll Dr. Pick your passenger up wherever you can, parking is tight because you are not the only one doing this.