bajacrawler
Junior Nomad
Posts: 41
Registered: 6-12-2006
Location: San Felipe/Sun City CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
Calexico East Ready Lane
I have been looking for information on how you find the entrance to use the Calexico East Ready Lane.
I found the following information on the Customs and Border Protection web site. The approach to the Ready Lane will be in Mexico, next to Sentri
Lane, to the west side of the regular traffic lanes off the of the main boulevard that leads to the Calexico East Port of Entry.
It sounds to me like what they are saying is you turn off the east west main street right by the Sentri Lane and the new Ready Lane is right next to
the Sentri Lane away from the regular lanes to the east.
Is there anyone out there that has used the new Ready Lane and does this sound like the way it really is? Does anyone have a picture.
|
|
|
nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
|
|
Yes. We used it two weeks ago. It is right by the sentri lane BUT it does not start its own lane for quite a ways up there. Just be sure you are in
the left lane when you turn in to get in line at the main street or you will not make it over there once you are in line. If you are coming from the
direction where you will turn right to get in line go up and street and there is a place to do a U turn around so you will turn into the proper lane
We have used it several times and have not made a decision on how much it has helped. Good luck. Let us all know how it works for you. Nancy
|
|
|
bajacrawler
Junior Nomad
Posts: 41
Registered: 6-12-2006
Location: San Felipe/Sun City CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
That sounds easy. Just turn into the far left regular lane from the main street. Follow it till till you get to the Ready Lane. If you are coming from
the east you probably should not use the sweeping right turn. You should go a little farther and make the sharp right turn into the far left regular
lane. If for some reason they will not let you make the sharp right turn keep going as you said and make a uturn and come back an make a left turn
into the left lane. jack
|
|
|
nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
|
|
It is easy! Believe me if we can do it anyone can do it, there is actually a U turn spot that tells you to U turn for sentri and you do it but
don't go into sentri land but the one closest to it. nancy
|
|
|
mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
|
|
It is very easy...Nancy is correct here. One can be blind ....and still find that lane :-)
The ready lane at the new crossing is even faster ......and easier. Use the new crossing to save time from being in the construction nightmare in
downtown Mexicali.
| Quote: | Originally posted by nbacc
It is easy! Believe me if we can do it anyone can do it, there is actually a U turn spot that tells you to U turn for sentri and you do it but
don't go into sentri land but the one closest to it. nancy |
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
|
|
|
nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
|
|
there is not one yet at the old crossing.......so don't go there. At least as of several weeks ago. Nancy
|
|
|
wornout
Senior Nomad
Posts: 595
Registered: 10-24-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Bad Days
|
|
Calexico East Ready Lane Got Me!
I would NOT use the ready lane if the traffic is NOT backed up over the bridge. Reason being, I used it two weeks ago up and over the bridge only to
come to a complete stop about two car lengths over the bridge. It was 20 minutes from there. I immediately stopped and started to back up but the car
behind me wasn't going for it. The good thing is, she also had a 20 minute wait behind me. They had two ready lanes open and then opened a third and
of course I took the third one only to sit there for the 10 minutes the gentleman took to go back and get his you know what together and then start
accepting cars.
If I had of been able to back up and get out of the ready lane, there were a maximum of three cars at each of the non-ready lanes and those folks were
long gone by the time I went through.
When returning, I see this is a regular occurrence as the same was going on when I looked over upon entering Baja.
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
|
|
|
mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
|
|
A little more info on the Calexico East crossing......
Right before entering the crossing FROM Baja.......there is a super clean....new'ish......gas station. Has snacks in there too. This station is a easy
in...easy out. One cant miss it.
Leaving Baja .......there is a gas station right outside of the crossing also. Cant miss it. Has a Jack in the Box inside too. There are no other
visible businesses otherwise. Easy hook onto Ca 8 or 111
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
|
|
|
meme
Senior Nomad
Posts: 756
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: San Felipe,BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
We have used the Ready Lane about 3 times now at Calexico East & each time has been an advantage time-wise. Biggest problem is people that get
into it & then try to get out again--Not good!
|
|
|
mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
|
|
We saw a lot of that too.......almost got caught up in that confusion. One must stay a hard left when entering the crossing.
| Quote: | Originally posted by meme
We have used the Ready Lane about 3 times now at Calexico East & each time has been an advantage time-wise. Biggest problem is people that get
into it & then try to get out again--Not good! |
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
|
|
|
BajaIan
Newbie
Posts: 23
Registered: 1-28-2014
Location: Canada
Member Is Offline
Mood: Obajasessive
|
|
Excuse my ignorance but what is a Ready lane and a Sentries lane?
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
I think this is the short answer:
Ready Lane if you have a chip in your passport (newer passport) or a passport card. It just means they can check your ID faster than just looking at
your passport and punching in data to get a reply if you are a terrorist.
Sentri if you paid and got accepted for a Sentri Pass (everyone in the car must have one, otherwise they need to get out and walk across.
|
|
|
BajaIan
Newbie
Posts: 23
Registered: 1-28-2014
Location: Canada
Member Is Offline
Mood: Obajasessive
|
|
Thx David. On the Sentri pass item, where/how do u pay in advance? Is that the tourist card that has to be validated/paid for at the bank?
|
|
|
BajaIan
Newbie
Posts: 23
Registered: 1-28-2014
Location: Canada
Member Is Offline
Mood: Obajasessive
|
|
Never mind, just googled it. From Canada, know much about hockey, little of US immigration items
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaIan
Thx David. On the Sentri pass item, where/how do u pay in advance? Is that the tourist card that has to be validated/paid for at the bank?
|
For others:
Tourist Cards (FMM) are something Mexico requires if you go south of the 'Border Zone' or stay longer than 3 days ANYWHERE in Mexico. The U.S. side
(northbound) has no interest in Mexican required paperwork.
|
|
|
dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I think this is the short answer:
Ready Lane if you have a chip in your passport (newer passport) or a passport card. It just means they can check your ID faster than just looking at
your passport and punching in data to get a reply if you are a terrorist.
Sentri if you paid and got accepted for a Sentri Pass (everyone in the car must have one, otherwise they need to get out and walk across.
|
NO.
Chipped passports will not be read by the reader are NOT accepted in the Ready Lane. Only RFID cards are accepted:
- Passport Card
- Resident Alien ("Green") Card
- Border-Crossing ("Laser Visa") Card
- Enhanced Driver Licenses (WA, MI, NY, VT, MN, BC, MB, ON, QC only)
- Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI Card
(Source: http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/rfid/RFID_FAQ.html)
You pull up to a large reader when you are third in line for inspection (two behind the car at the booth) and hold your RFID-enabled card up. The
number on the screen verifies the number of cards read. By the time you show up at the booth, the system has done its scan; you make your declaration
and then are released, either to the freeway or to secondary.
David K's answer on SENTRI is correct except that the car must also be registered in SENTRI. It doesn't have to be your car, but it has to be
registered, which takes time and an inspection at either Calexico or Otay Mesa. If you use the SENTRI lane without having a SENTRI card, they'll
either turn you around back to Mexico after yelling at you, or they'll ship you to secondary and fine you up to $5000.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
