ElCap
Nomad
Posts: 281
Registered: 1-22-2010
Location: Montara CA, or San Ignacio BCS
Member Is Offline
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TJ Border crossing changes
Crossed northbound yesterday at San Ysidro - for folks that don't know the route through TJ has completely changed. There is no more loop that brings
you along the border fences, but rather you go straight through El Centro commercial district, by the cemetary (now 4 lanes northbound, but the old
yellow double-center lines are still there, which will bring you to the old poorly-marked split where you have to decide quickly to get in one of two
center lanes to begin the long crawl to the border gate, or otherwise drive around TJ again with a racing heart and try to get in the correct line
again. Our wait yesterday midday was just under two hours. And now there is major construction beginning just on the US side of the border crossing,
and the BP agent informed us that our 2-hour wait will soon be more like 6-7 hours. He said construction will be completed sometime in 2013. Times
they are a-changing.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Crossing
First, get a SENTRI for you and your car........
$122 for you and $42 for your car...total of $164 and it's good for 5 years. If you cross twice a year, it's only $16.40 each
crossing...........beats sitting in line for two hours!!!
Crossed at Otay yesterday at noon, 12 minutes in the SENTRI lane. 
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ElCap
Nomad
Posts: 281
Registered: 1-22-2010
Location: Montara CA, or San Ignacio BCS
Member Is Offline
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I have considered the SENTRI pass, but I often drive with different friends, and everyone in the car needs to have a pass to use that lane. Also you
cannot tow a trailer or boat in that lane, which I sometimes do. So all in all there are too many rules that have made it not attractive to my travel
needs up to this point. But that might change if it gets as bad as predicted. Any other viewpoints/comments on SENTRI?? I've been using the Tecate
crossing more and more - and they don't have a SENTRI lane there - nor is one needed - yet.
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lizard lips
Super Nomad
Posts: 1468
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: EARTH
Member Is Offline
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Using Sentri you cam expect to get sent to secondary. From what I earned is that it a lottery system and every 500th car gets pulled in. I have been
to Secondary many times now using my Sentri but it still beats a two hour wait.
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
Member Is Offline
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does anybody has the website for the sentry, I did an hour yesterday...it sucks, you can even look out the window cause you have like 5 guys asking
you if you want to buy somenthing, and then there is always the one that saids to you "HEY MAN I GOT DEPORTED TODAY FROM LA CAN YOU HELP ME OUT", and
thats the same guys you saw two weeks ago...I tell them to go to CASA DEL EMIGRANTE and sak for help and they walk away...lol
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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Leo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 518
Registered: 9-23-2004
Location: Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
Mood: could be better
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Yes it all has changed in TJ. got stuck in the Medical emergy lane and had to turn around right through down town Tj watching for the right way into
the RV line, only 2 on the left side. Not fun. Never again. Then had to go to secundary where nobody showed up for 15 minutes. They took a lot of pork
meat and would have gotten the dogfood but somehow we prevented that.
An absolute pain TJ into the US.
Tecate next time.
The grass is always greener....
and so, there is always a better spot in Baja
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TBcountry
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 9-19-2007
Location: Ontario, CA
Member Is Offline
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Had Sentri for almost 5 years now(used many many times) and have been sent to secondary once, so VERY well worth it
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krafty
Super Nomad
Posts: 1052
Registered: 8-23-2010
Member Is Offline
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Would not be without sentri-when we have guests that do not we drive thru sentri and they walk across the border-no big deal. We have been called into
secondary a # of times but it is random, but it is always pretty quick.
Leo you are lucky you were not fined; pork is a no no!
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gallesram
Nomad
Posts: 384
Registered: 7-6-2010
Location: Laguna Beach
Member Is Offline
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Had SENTRI for 2 years and never a problem (and never secondary). One huge benefit is it makes it feasible to fly from TJ anywhere in the country on
Volaris (which is fantastic) and the return at Otay is a breeze; otherwise you're stuck in a huge border wait after a long flight. SENTRI also
enrolls you automatically into the Global Entry Program which lets you use kiosks at many airports in the US when returning from any foreign country.
No more huge lines at immigration; that alone saved me about an hour a few weeks ago flying into LAX from Hong Kong. The most difficult part about
SENTRI is figuring out how to access the lanes at San Ysidro; I finally have it down but it took a while to figure it out. Same with Otay Mesa. We
do the same thing with non-SENTRI passengers; drop them at the pedestrian crossing and meet them on the other side; very easy.
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krafty
Super Nomad
Posts: 1052
Registered: 8-23-2010
Member Is Offline
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have a gripe about walking at Otay a few weeks ago- 9 am and it took over an hour. Only 2 folks working the desk, checking paperwork, and they were
treating everyone akin to cattle. Think more manpower is in order.
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
Member Is Offline
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SO whats the website to apply for SENTRI?
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BAJACAT
SO whats the website to apply for SENTRI? |
Try this, José:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/sentri/
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The Gull
Super Nomad
Posts: 2223
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rancho Descanso, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: High
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Here is where you interface with your pass. https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/
�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
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bajalearner
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 8-24-2010
Location: Tijuana
Member Is Offline
Mood: in search of more
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Sentri is good. I use it regularly. I found out they hold me accountable for small things and document each violation. They told me they allow 3
write ups then consider revoking my Sentri. I got written up for a small bag of empty allum. cans in my trunk when I was randomly sent to secondary.
I also got written up for not having my sentri card with me after I lost it and thought they would enter my name in the computer and pass me through.
That's a no no. I am careful not so not to violate anything now. I find that when I use the cattle lanes (on my motorcycle), they pass me quickly
presumably because I present my sentri card.
I daily cross at SY on my motorcycle. I split traffic to the front of the lanes and 99 percent of people allow me to cut in and I get checked fast by
the officer. I had my motorcycle issued a sentri pass but after 3 times being told by the gate officer I can't have sentri on my mc, and delaying me
up to 15 minutes at the gate while she lectured me before asking another officer who didn't know either. She warned me about my officially issued
sentri pass on my mc and sent me on my way.
I just drive my mc into the cattle lanes now.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13195
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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i didn't realize the sentri was good for 5 years. that is certainly a great idea. can someone tell us some of the basic rules they enforce besides
1. must have the pass on hand
2. only driver can go thru and passengers walk
????
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TBcountry
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 9-19-2007
Location: Ontario, CA
Member Is Offline
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Yes good for 5 years and best $125 I have ever spent. I'm in process of renewing for another 5 years now. To go through Sentri everyone in car must
have Sentri, not just driver. Your car must also have Sentri, inspected and a sticker placed on windshield. Apply on-line and after approved you must
make appointment and go through interview with appropriate documents needed, they will tell you what docs are needed with approval. Give yourself 2-3
hours to get through it but its SO worth it. You will not be sorry getting Sentri. Longest wait I have had in almost 5 years is about 45 minutes but
usually its 15-20. Good luck
TB
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TBcountry
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 9-19-2007
Location: Ontario, CA
Member Is Offline
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At intrview they will give you complete list of do's and don'ts.
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