mrfatboy
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Registered: 4-17-2008
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Sentri vs Global Entry Help
Hi.
It's been a while since I have been on here. I could use some help with Sentri
and Global Entry info.
Years ago both my wife and I signed up for Sentri plus our car. At the time my wife signed up first as she worked in Mexicali 2 days a week. I
signed up 2 years later so our renewals are out of sync.
Her Sentri is up for renewal and after reading the Trusted Traveler website it seems now that Global Entry is better and cheaper and covers
everything? True?
Can we somehow switch to Global Entry or do we need to reapply?
Would this just be a good time for both of us to signup for Global Entry? Any problems with currently be a Sentri pass holder?
Can we still use our car in Sentri lanes crossing the border with GE?
I don't mind losing the 3 years still on my sentri card and get both of us in sync and overt to the better/cheaper GE program.
Is there anything else I'm missing?
Thanks much
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SFandH
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The only question I can answer is - yes, you can use Global Entry in Sentri Lanes.
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BajaMama
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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When we got our SENTRI we also added Global Entry and TSA-Pre. Seems they have all combined somehow. We had to renew this year and when we did we
just got Global Entry which I'm pretty sure included TSA-Pre. You can use the GE card to enter the US in the SENTRI lane, I just did it for the first
time last month.
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The Wonderer
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Sentri vs GE
I was just faced with this exact issue for my family of four, and I switched from Sentri to GE. GE covers everything we needed. As far as I could
tell, Sentri is more geared to Mexican nationals.
GE is allowed in Sentri lanes, and was ~$20-25 less per person. If I recall correctly, when you go to renew your Sentri, there was a place (box) to
change to GE. Not sure if you can renew yourself that far out... I seem to recall 1 year as a renew date.
We filled out the forms on a weekend, had our approval about 3 days later, and our cards in less than 2 weeks. This was 4-6 weeks ago.
Good luck!
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mrfatboy
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I have made some progress. My wife's Sentri ends in Nov 2021. I have up until Nov to start the renewal process. I started entering data in her
account and see that I can switch to Global Entry.
My renewal application does not start until July 2021 (1 year before expiration). I don't see anyway to change that or start again with Global Entry
so we are in sync.
Now the problem is getting us into renewal sync. I had the idea to move ahead with her GE application and then just delay the interview appointment
until my renewal comes up next year. That way we can now schedule are appointments together. Worst case she will not have a GE card for a year but we
are not really travelling that much lately and we can deal with the slow lanes if necessary.
Would that work?
Any other ideas?
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
7-8-2021 at 08:04 PM |
JZ
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I wouldn't worry about getting them in-sync for renewal timing.
When renewing GE, an interview is not always necessary. https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1298?language=en_US. I don't know the % of time an interview is necessary, but I'd guess it's the
exception, not the rule.
Now, would that be different going from Sentri to GE? Not sure, but seeing as you had to do one for Sentri, you'd think it'd be the same.
Sentri has two benefits over GE, it's free for your minor children and foreign nationals can get it.
[Edited on 7-9-2021 by JZ]
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karenintx
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Global Entry's is good for five years and the expiration date is your birthday.
Just renewed for the second time, was approved in 36 hours and for the second time I did not have to have a face to face interview. Only interview
was for my original application back in 2011.
If you do have to have a face to face interview, and you are having a hard time get an appointment, look into using their "EoA" program.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-...
Do not use Sentri so do not have any info on that.
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mrfatboy
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My wife just got conditionally approved for Global Entry (She has Sentri now). It took 3 days after filling out application. Now she has to schedule
an appointment interview.
There were no Zoom appointments 3+ years out. The soonest appointment was Otay Mesa July 27, 2022 I didn't see any San Diego Airport option either.
There are now giving 720 days to get your interview or you will have to redo your entire application and loose your $100. Crazy.
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JZ
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Quote: Originally posted by mrfatboy  | My wife just got conditionally approved for Global Entry (She has Sentri now). It took 3 days after filling out application. Now she has to schedule
an appointment interview.
There were no Zoom appointments 3+ years out. The soonest appointment was Otay Mesa July 27, 2022 I didn't see any San Diego Airport option either.
There are now giving 720 days to get your interview or you will have to redo your entire application and loose your $100. Crazy.
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There were a couple threads on here where ppl said to keep checking for appt. times, that things randomly open up and you can get get in fairly soon.
Search the board for more details on how.
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Don Pisto
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Mood: weary like everyone else
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might be of help?
https://appointmentscanner.com/?fbclid=IwAR3FEEOAgDMl84R5NK6...
there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
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Don Pisto
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I see many on fb are pleased with it...$29 for 3 months doesn't sound bad!
there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
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tjsue
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I tried this, it was a waste of time, and I got my money back. You'll have better luck stalking the TT website, because you'll get an appointment
faster that way. That's what several of us on here did, and had no problems. Appointment Scanner is just the middleman, and I was never able to get an
appointment through them.
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mrfatboy
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I just checked this morning for any openings. They had some for a year from today. It seems they are automatically scheduling a year from the
current day you check. There isn't even availability after the "year from now" date. Only the one day.
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JZ
Select Nomad
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Registered: 10-3-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by tjsue |
I tried this, it was a waste of time, and I got my money back. You'll have better luck stalking the TT website, because you'll get an appointment
faster that way. That's what several of us on here did, and had no problems. Appointment Scanner is just the middleman, and I was never able to get an
appointment through them. |
How long was it telling you initially and what did you get it down to?
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Mr. Bills
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My initial Global Entry application was submitted 9 jul 2021. My application was conditionally approved 12 jul 2021 and I scored an interview on 9
sept 2021 at the SFO airport.
I looked into changing my interview to another day or at a different California location but there hasn't been an available slot at a reasonable hour
until next spring on any of the occasions that I looked.
It's probably sound advice to stalk the appointment reservation system for cancellations and random openings. I think I was lucky to get an
appointment only 60 days out.
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tjsue
Senior Nomad
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Location: San Diego
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | | Quote: Originally posted by tjsue |
I tried this, it was a waste of time, and I got my money back. You'll have better luck stalking the TT website, because you'll get an appointment
faster that way. That's what several of us on here did, and had no problems. Appointment Scanner is just the middleman, and I was never able to get an
appointment through them. |
How long was it telling you initially and what did you get it down to?
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The system sent me lots of emails with appointments on them, and they came in at all hours of the day and night, too. But as hard as I tried, I was
never able to pick up an appointment, though.
But thanks to someone else on here that just kept checking the TT website, I did the same thing, and was able to move my appt up from this past June
to last November within a week. You just have to go into the TT website, click on reschedule appt, and keep doing it until you get the appointment
that you want.
What I did was this: When I was online, I stayed logged into the TT website, and kept checking it for appointments, and they showed up all the time
even same day appts. Plus, it was a lot easier than using Appointment Scanner, and didn't cost anything.
[Edited on 7-30-2021 by tjsue]
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10561
Registered: 10-3-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by tjsue |
The system sent me lots of emails with appointments on them, and they came in at all hours of the day and night, too. But as hard as I tried, I was
never able to pick up an appointment, though.
But thanks to someone else on here that just kept checking the TT website, I did the same thing, and was able to move my appt up from this past June
to last November within a week. You just have to go into the TT website, click on reschedule appt, and keep doing it until you get the appointment
that you want.
What I did was this: When I was online, I stayed logged into the TT website, and kept checking it for appointments, and they showed up all the time
even same day appts. Plus, it was a lot easier than using Appointment Scanner, and didn't cost anything.
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This info is golden.
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