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brewer
Nomad
Posts: 419
Registered: 1-4-2011
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Grateful
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So did I screw myself out of ever getting a Sentri?
I always cross Tecate going home. Last Jan. went to secondary and the guy finds an avocado. He says guacamole is O.K., but not the skin and seed.
So I laugh and scoop out the avocado. He takes the skin and seed. When he comes back he gives me a sheet of what is not allowed back across.
So I cross last week, get sent to secondary because I said I was bringing fish back. I tell ya, everytime I've said I'm bringing nothing back, I
don't end up in secondary. So he first asks if those are my dogs or did I bring them back from Mex. WTF? Never been asked that before in 40 years.
By chance I had their papers. They are Mexican rescues. So he does his search and comes out with 4 eggs and an apple. I just threw everything from
our refer into the cooler not even thinking about it.
So when he comes back with the passports, he tells me it's my second violation and one more time I will be issued a $300 fine. Maybe some of you have
dealt with this Mr. perfect Boarder agent. Anyways, what do you think my chances are for getting a Sentri pass now?
I really hope I haven't messed up the chance with 1 avocado, 4 eggs, and 1 apple.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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You're OK. There was no arrest.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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you are a poor example of an honest citizen. you should be ashamed! the guy who scolded me for an UNOPENED package of lunch meat sounds just like the
turd you encountered.
go to the interview and tell them how you feel like you're back in 2nd grade, the way the guvmint treats its people!
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fandango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 1-30-2006
Member Is Offline
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Prolly not.
BUT, once you are in sentri their paperwork says zero tolerance. They say you will lose sentri and not be invited back.
sbwontoo
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Kalypso
Nomad
Posts: 147
Registered: 5-17-2011
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | ... Anyways, what do you think my chances are for getting a Sentri pass now?
I really hope I haven't messed up the chance with 1 avocado, 4 eggs, and 1 apple. |
You're probably okay. Apply and be honest in the interview.
I usually travel back from mainland Mexico with all kinds of food products, you just need to know what's okay and what isn't. Everytime I've flown
back through IAH (Houston International) and declared anything remotely related to a food item I've been diverted to secondary. Nothing has ever been
confisgated, including the excess bottle of home brew mezcal that wasn't sealed.
If it's fresh, it generally can't come across the border. Dried, pickled, preserved or otherwise processed, it generally is allowed.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64757
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I think Tecate is where they are putting all the newbie agents... last week was really a piece of work, and I have almost 50 years of border crossing
experience to compare with!
Brewer, can you scan and post (or email me) the sheet you were given? I have one from 2002 (I think) and would be nice to see what is different.
Here's a close-up of the list:
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brewer
Nomad
Posts: 419
Registered: 1-4-2011
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Grateful
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David K.,I'll on work getting that to you.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13195
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Perhaps, to be on the safe side, give away all the food items you have.
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55steve
Senior Nomad
Posts: 857
Registered: 4-24-2006
Location: Warner Springs, CA
Member Is Offline
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I applied for Sentri one month ago - The GOES site says it is pending review. How long does this usually take?
Would partying with the leader of a socialist country hold up this process?
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5898
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
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I learned today that a big azz banana is just fine to bring back. Who would've known?
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 667
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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55steve,
I applied during the last week of March. It took 26 days to review and receive notice by e-mail of a status change. The appontment for interview and
vehicle inspection was another two months out (the last week in June).
Log in to the GOES web site every few days to check your status, just in case you don't receive an e-mail.
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mrfatboy
Nomad
Posts: 478
Registered: 4-17-2008
Member Is Offline
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About 5 years ago I came back thru tecate after a long weekend at canyon Guadalupe. I totally forgot I had an apple from the states in the center
console of the car. When asked if I had any fruits or vegetables I remembered I had it and offered it up like a good citizen or dumbass depending on
how you look at it. Off to secondary I went for 45 minutes. Got the lecture and paperwork 
I applied for Sentri 4 months ago without noting the apple incident on the application. Received my Sentri card 30 days later. 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Sad to see how Homeland Security has terrorized us. My Gawd....an apple??
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tjsue
Senior Nomad
Posts: 519
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by 55steve
I applied for Sentri one month ago - The GOES site says it is pending review. How long does this usually take? |
I applied April 10, and got my email notification on May 22. I have my interview and vehicle inspection on June 25. You can change your appointment
in their online calendar if you don't like the time and date. If I get scheduled to work, I'll change it, otherwise, I'm going.
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55steve
Senior Nomad
Posts: 857
Registered: 4-24-2006
Location: Warner Springs, CA
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Maderita
55steve,
I applied during the last week of March. It took 26 days to review and receive notice by e-mail of a status change. The appontment for interview and
vehicle inspection was another two months out (the last week in June).
Log in to the GOES web site every few days to check your status, just in case you don't receive an e-mail. |
Thanks for the info! I'm hoping to have it for a Fall trip.
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Kalypso
Nomad
Posts: 147
Registered: 5-17-2011
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by 55steve
I applied for Sentri one month ago - The GOES site says it is pending review. How long does this usually take?
Would partying with the leader of a socialist country hold up this process? |
The GOES site says to contact them after 8 weeks if you haven't heard anything. When I applied for my SENTRI 8 weeks came and went, so I contact them
as instructed and got a message back saying there was an unexpected backlog and initial intake and review was taking longer.
So I continued to wait. 12 weeks came and went, so I contacted them again. I got the same backlog message back. However, 48 hours later I got the
message that my status had changed and I should call to schedule the interview appointment. Luckily, the appointment schedule was pretty open and I
got an interview at Otay about a week after that. From start to finish my SENTRI took 4 months which is the longest I've heard for anyone.
I've had 5 friends apply for SENTRI after me and all of them without fail had a far, far shorter wait time than I did. One was processed in less than
10 days. She elected to go to Calexico for the interview and had her card in about 2 weeks. The other 4 all took in the 4-6 week range. Bottom line
is, if you think the wait is taking too long, be a squeaky wheel. I probably should not have waited 8 weeks as proscribed on the GOES web site and I
probably shouldn't have waited the additional 4 after I contacted them.
Additionally, if the interview options are all really far out, or Calexico is the only option, book an interview anyway. Then go down to the CBP
window in San Ysidro (close to the trolley stop and where the south pedestrian crossing is) and ask them if there are any opening sooner than your
scheduled one. They usually have some open slots that are held back for flexibility, emergencies and other situations such as immediate travel plans.
I know 1 couple and 2 singles that have all successfully rescheduled their original SENTRI interview by going to the San Ysidro CBP window.
Getting the SENTRI pass is one of the best moves I've made. It doesn't solve the border crossing pain, but it sure does make it a lot easier.
P.S. When you get your SENTRI, have the interviewing officer put the GOES program sticker in the back of your passport. It will get you through
customs and immigration at major airports in the U.S. much quicker. Whether you travel by air internationally or not, many airports are now beginning
to have separate security lines for travelers with proof that they are the GOES program
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: |
.... Apply and be honest in the interview.
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A friend of mine was way too honest in the interview, when asked, "have you ever smoked pot?", he replied, "Yes"... and was forever denied.....
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob H
| Quote: |
.... Apply and be honest in the interview.
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A friend of mine was way too honest in the interview, when asked, "have you ever smoked pot?", he replied, "Yes"... and was forever denied.....
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...but all pot smokers and criminals in general are more than welcome in the fast pass and regular lanes. Go figure.
Bob Durrell
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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In the days before 09/11 I used to cross with a clipboard. A list of stuff gotten in Mexico, driver's license clipped to the top. Honest to god, one
Customs agent remarked to me "This is impressive organization" I was waved on...
This happened the year after I was secondaried in Texas. Bad bad luck. I ran into freshmen Customs agents all full of urine and lone star vinegar. I
overheard clearly one say to the other "There just has GOT to be something here". Towing a trailer with pickup and camper. A two-hour search. They
actually were angry they didn't find anything. Final words "Please leave quickly we need the space". FSOAB's
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by 55steve
Would partying with the leader of a socialist country hold up this process? |
When were you in DC? 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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