Angelos
Junior Nomad
Posts: 47
Registered: 12-3-2010
Location: La Paz, BCS, Mexico/Anacortes, WA
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Sentri vs. passport card help please
Hi there Nomads,
Since living in La Paz 8-10 months out of the year, my mother in San Diego has taken ill and I've had to fly up to help with her care. I fly Volaris
to TJ and walk across the border at Otay Mesa. But the border wait times are getting longer and longer with my Passport Booklet.
So - I was thinking of applying for a Sentri pass, but since I don't live in the area, I don't want to have to make a special trip just to attend the
interview.
It seems like the Passport card would allow me to use the Ready Lane - but it looks like I have to mail in my passport book to get the card. Since I'm
going to be in the US for the next 3 months - I'd like to get this started but it's not clear if the passport book gets mailed back with the card. I
really want to keep my book since I can't use the card to fly internationally.
Anyone out there with a book who applied for the card - can you tell me if you get your book back and how long it took for the process?
Thanks!
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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You get your book back and the card is mailed separately. Process took about 3 weeks total........but that was several years ago.
If you are a senior citizen (60-ish, I think) or use a cane or walker, you get a free pass to the front of the line at Otay, or so I have been told.
You apply for SENTRI on-line (do it now) and when you are approved in about 8 weeks, schedule the appointment for when you are in San Diego. I suggest
doing the interview at the San Ysidro walk-up office.
[Edited on 6-15-2013 by bajaguy]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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You left me a little bit confused. Do you still intend to walk across? I've never heard of a Ready Lane for pedestrians.
I can't answer the other question since I renewed my PP and applied for the card at the same time.
You can pay extra for expedited service which is rapid....they say.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
You left me a little bit confused. Do you still intend to walk across? I've never heard of a Ready Lane for pedestrians. |
Dennis....they have a regular, Ready-Lane and a SENTRI lane for pedestrians at Otay......and I believe at San Ysidro
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Sandlefoot
Nomad
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Registered: 10-31-2011
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If my information is correct you can use a passport card and/or a chipped passport in the ready line/lane. A sentry card is applied for and is
necessary for the sentry line/lane.
Happy Trails
" Don't find fault, find a remedy; anyone can complain." Henry Ford
If you are not living on the edge...you are taking up to much space!
Just because it may not be a good idea does not mean it will not be fun!!!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
Dennis....they have a regular, Ready-Lane and a SENTRI lane for pedestrians at Otay......and I believe at San Ysidro |
Thanks, Terry. That's news to me.
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tjsue
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: San Diego
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Yes, there is a SENTRI pedestrian lane at SY. I've seen the signs pointing to it. The San Ysidro walk-up office is only for pedestrians, they don't
do vehicle inspections.
I have my interview and vehicle inspection on June 25, so hopefully all will go well, and my pass will come in the mail.
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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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There is also a Pedestrian Sentri/Ready Lane at the crossing in Mexicali West...and a seperate line for Handicapped. When I "walked" across there the
ready lane was moving at about twice the speed of the line for those of us with just passport books.Took me an hour and a half to "walk" across.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
You get your book back and the card is mailed separately. Process took about 3 weeks total........but that was several years ago.
[Edited on 6-15-2013 by bajaguy] |
Nothing has changed Terry
Bob Durrell
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Angelos
Junior Nomad
Posts: 47
Registered: 12-3-2010
Location: La Paz, BCS, Mexico/Anacortes, WA
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Thanks for the info on timing. I think I'll do the passport card.
Yes, Dennis, there is a Ready Lane at Otay Mesa now for pedestrians and with a passport card. With the old fashion book, I stand in a separate line
and last time it took me about 3 1/2 hours. I believe the Ready Lane also allows for people with an enhanced drivers license which is not yet
available in California.
This all has to do with the RFID chip in the card - which I really loathe but I dislike that long line even more. So I'll let the government track me
around in exchange for the convenience of going through a faster line.
[Edited on 6-15-2013 by Angelos]
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bkbend
Senior Nomad
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Location: central OR or central baja
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You can get cases that claim to keep prying eyes off your RFID chips. Remove the card for your crossing and at least they will only know where you
are at at that point in time.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Passport card and SENTRI card both come with protective envelopes
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danaeb
Senior Nomad
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Location: San Diego; El Centenario
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FYI - I just crossed the pedestrian line at SY yesterday. There is no Ready Lane for pedestrians yet - only SENTRI. Concidentally, as I was on the
trolley heading into San Diego, I had a conversation with a CBP supervisor who had just just finished her shift. We were discussing the future of
pedestrian Ready Lane at SY. She informed me that they won't implement it until the border construction is complete - about 4 years. So for now, the
only SY option is SENTRI.
I LOVE MY SENTRI CARD!!!
Experience enables you to recognize a mistake every time you repeat it.
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Sandlefoot
If my information is correct you can use a passport card and/or a chipped passport in the ready line/ |
Is that suggesting you can use a chipped Passport Book
in the ped ready Line? It is my understanding the Ready
vehicle lane, is for the Passcard. Is it different if
walking back?
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bajalearner
Senior Nomad
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I believe you can send a certified birth certificate with the application for a passport card instead of your passport.
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 5014
Registered: 8-1-2002
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by danaeb
FYI - I just crossed the pedestrian line at SY yesterday. There is no Ready Lane for pedestrians yet - only SENTRI. Concidentally, as I was on the
trolley heading into San Diego, I had a conversation with a CBP supervisor who had just just finished her shift. We were discussing the future of
pedestrian Ready Lane at SY. She informed me that they won't implement it until the border construction is complete - about 4 years. So for now, the
only SY option is SENTRI.
I LOVE MY SENTRI CARD!!! |
The pedestrian line at SY has (in the past) sometimes had a "Ready" lane/line for those with the most up-to-date documents, and separate lines for
those without. The last time or two through there though, I don't recall there being such.
There's been a separate SENTRI line for quite some time at SY pedestrian crossing.
YMMV
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
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Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
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Photo taken January 19, 2013.
[Edited on 6-19-2013 by BajaNomad]
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sancho
| Quote: | Originally posted by Sandlefoot
If my information is correct you can use a passport card and/or a chipped passport in the ready line/ |
Is that suggesting you can use a chipped Passport Book
in the ped ready Line? It is my understanding the Ready
vehicle lane, is for the Passcard. Is it different if
walking back? |
No chipped PP books are allowed in any Ready Lane, found out the hard way
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danaeb
Senior Nomad
Posts: 991
Registered: 11-13-2006
Location: San Diego; El Centenario
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Mood: groovy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaNomad
Photo taken January 19, 2013.
[Edited on 6-19-2013 by BajaNomad] |
The lines are rearranged now. SENTRI card holders enter in the far right lane. As you get in the pedestrian line, you have to navigate your way to
the head of the line on the far right side of the sidewalk. Now there's a barricade up to separate the pedestrians coming into TJ. The sidewalk is
narrow, congested and not too easy to traverse when you're traveling with luggage - you have to sort of muscle your way through, but still worth it
with SENTRI.
[Edited on 6-19-2013 by danaeb]
Experience enables you to recognize a mistake every time you repeat it.
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