BajaNomad

Calling all experts - SENTRI or GOES?

SFandH - 5-24-2021 at 09:40 AM

Which is better and why SENTRI or GOES? I'm in San Diego.

There's one complicating factor. Next October I'll be heading to BCS for 7 months and I'd like to finish the process before then or after I come back next May. I don't want to drive to the US for an interview next winter if I can avoid it.

JZ - 5-24-2021 at 12:41 PM

Biggest benefit of Sentri is if you have minor children. It is free for them.

Otherwise GE is what you want to apply for. It's a little cheaper and probably will get processed faster. Start now.

The biggest time saver is to keep checking the site for interview appointments. You can find one that is sooner if you keep looking. Or if you are willing to drive to the border to do it there.



Bajaboy - 5-24-2021 at 01:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
Which is better and why SENTRI or GOES? I'm in San Diego.

There's one complicating factor. Next October I'll be heading to BCS for 7 months and I'd like to finish the process before then or after I come back next May. I don't want to drive to the US for an interview next winter if I can avoid it.


We got Sentri and were asked if we wanted to add GE. We did. Our kids were free for Sentri but had to pay for finger prints for GE. I think processing times are improving, too.

willardguy - 5-24-2021 at 01:19 PM

are you a frequent international traveler? lot of savvy crossers will pass on the sentri lane not wanting to risk their GE being revoked for an orange you forgot about in the ice chest or a cracked windshield or too much mud on their car.

JZ - 5-24-2021 at 01:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
are you a frequent international traveler? lot of savvy crossers will pass on the sentri lane not wanting to risk their GE being revoked for an orange you forgot about in the ice chest or a cracked windshield or too much mud on their car.


Lol. Literally no one passes on using the Sentri lane.

Btw, the custom wait times at LAX are super short. A friend got through faster yesterday then I did with GE.

Now if you fly into the NY airports, GE saves you an 1.5hrs. But still, F sitting in 2-3hrs of traffic at the border. The "savy crosser" isn't doing that.