fruitdoc
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fast pass for urgent medical border crossing
hi
has anyone obtained and used a fast pass recently for crossing san ysidro faster in case they are not feeling well and they urgently need to go to a
hospital in the US ? how was it obtained ? how easy was it to get it ?
I read that recently baja california has been more strict about giving these passes because of "abuse " !!!
Thanks
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larryC
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As I understand the medical pass it is provided to persons who have crossed the border into Mexico, visited their doctor, dentist or whoever and are
returning to the US after their doctor visit. I have seen hotels and restaurants advertise in the past that you can get a medical pass from them. Last
week I went to my eye doctor in TJ and he didn't have any medical passes available.
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JZ
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Get Global Entry.
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fruitdoc
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I had applied for global entry but recently , i read it has been taking many months for conditional approval  (
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Bajazly
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A Mexican national friend of mine who lives in Riverside told me whenever they want to go to TJ for tacos, afterwards they stop in a docs office and
give him 10 or so dollars and they are across the border 15 minutes later. YMMV
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SFandH
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Quote: Originally posted by fruitdoc  | hi
has anyone obtained and used a fast pass recently for crossing san ysidro faster in case they are not feeling well and they urgently need to go to a
hospital in the US ?
Thanks |
If it's urgent, go to a hospital in TJ to get stabilized and then they will arrange an ambulance to get you to the border with an ambulance on the US
side waiting to take you to the hospital.
Bring your wallet.
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del mar
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it was never intended to be for medical emergency's, if you have a medical emergency hit the sentri lane....be aware that "medical lane" can really
bite you in the a$$!
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fruitdoc
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I had applied for global entry but recently , i read it has been taking many months for conditional approval (
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fruitdoc
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del mar
Do you mean , i can use the sentri lane if i have a medical emergency even if i do not have the sentri card yet , but i would have to pay money for
this to the Custom border patrol for using it a "medical lane " ?
Thanks
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by fruitdoc | del mar
Do you mean , i can use the sentri lane if i have a medical emergency even if i do not have the sentri card yet , but i would have to pay money for
this to the Custom border patrol for using it a "medical lane " ?
Thanks |
In an emergency, you do what you gotta do.
But it really is Best to go to nearest med care, and get stabilized, then have the med fac arrange transport.
The sentri people will be able to see if you really have a med emergency, they will call you an ambulance. If you decline an ambulance, then it
probably is not an emergency justifying use of sentri lane.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
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fruitdoc
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Thank You for your explanation much appreciated .
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | | Quote: Originally posted by fruitdoc | del mar
Do you mean , i can use the sentri lane if i have a medical emergency even if i do not have the sentri card yet , but i would have to pay money for
this to the Custom border patrol for using it a "medical lane " ?
Thanks |
In an emergency, you do what you gotta do.
But it really is Best to go to nearest med care, and get stabilized, then have the med fac arrange transport.
The sentri people will be able to see if you really have a med emergency, they will call you an ambulance. If you decline an ambulance, then it
probably is not an emergency justifying use of sentri lane. |
Good advice.
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bajatrailrider
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News to me as Tj was improving border travel by letting hotels sell passes for 10 bucks . To use that lane witch are still for sale to date. Has the
Law changed ? As I know few people that used pass few months ago. No questions asked about Medical needs?
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BajaNomad
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| Quote: Originally posted by fruitdoc |
has anyone obtained and used a fast pass recently for crossing san ysidro faster in case they are not feeling well and they urgently need to go to a
hospital in the US ? |
That's counter to the purpose of the Fast Pass program. As noted by others above, the passes are intended to enhance the flow of money to businesses
in the Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada area. And more specifically businesses that generate more revenue. It's a "medical" lane in that if you are a
USA or Canadian citizen that needs to see your medical professional in Tij-Ros-Ens, they can provide a pass to help you get back home quicker to make
it a better "experience" to come see your doctor, dentist, etc.
If there was ever a reason to use it for an emergency taking someone north, I feel confident that an ambulance would need to be involved in transport
either on both sides of the border or at least on the USA side of the border.
The passes are purchased (by approved business establishments) through the Tijuana city government. I'm sure the connection to the medical
professionals and hotels (which have been in and out of the program for many years) is coordinated with the BCN dept of tourism. With hotels, it's
intended to be for overnight guests. They're not intended to be sold for anyone that walks in and wants to just buy a pass.
Baja Bound Insurance states the following on their site: "The Baja California Tourism Board has confirmed that the Fast Pass program has been
suspended and is currently being restructured. It is unclear when the program will resume at this time." They also list businesses where the pass was
available.
https://www.bajabound.com/before/returning/borderfastpass.ph...
More info was written about the system and the issues at the time (October, 2019) here:
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/border-baja-califo...
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ehall
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I have been sitting in line many times watching healthy looking people drive down the medical lane.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by ehall | | I have been sitting in line many times watching healthy looking people drive down the medical lane. |
the lane is for medical tourism (such as dental or elective med procedures in mexico).
the lane is not for urgent/critical medical transport. if you are transported by ambulance, the ambulances know way to get to the border quickly.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
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David K
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Not sure about the current methods, but years ago, if you had someone sick or injured, needing to get to the hospital as fast as possible, you would
go to the far (left or right), first closed lane, and they will open it for you with the briefest of formalities.
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AKgringo
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Say it isn't so!
| Quote: Originally posted by ehall | | I have been sitting in line many times watching healthy looking people drive down the medical lane. |
That would be like people abusing the handicap parking stickers, just so they can park by the front door. Who would do a thing like that? 
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
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