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Old 10-30-2015, 01:14 PM   #38
Baja_Traveler
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co.
Posts: 943
Just got back from 2 weeks in the Yucatan ( a small fishing village south of Cancun called Puerto Morelos that we are just in love with).

This is a reply to Bobs request for Sentri Info. If you travel the border more than once a year, it is totally worth going through the hoops to get. Border crossings are a complete breeze (crossings that have Sentri lanes that is - Tecate does not - San Ysidro, Otay and Mexicali do).

Another benefit of having one of these Sentri cards is if you are flying into Mexico with the family like I just did - Enter your card number when you book, and you will have a "TSA Pre-Cleared" stamp on your boarding passes. The wife and I just flew through the TSA check lines flying out and coming back - and most airports have a Pre-Check line that hardly anybody is ever in. No taking off your shoes, and no B.S.

If you go through it and get your card - make sure you log into GOES within a week to activate it! Just because they sent it to you does not mean you are good to go like in the past - you'll get immediately diverted into secondary if you do (Don't ask me how I know...)

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/tr...tri/sentri.xml

SENTRI Program Description
Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection

(09/03/2013)SENTRI provides expedited CBP processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Applicants must voluntarily undergo a thorough biographical background check against criminal, law enforcement, customs, immigration, and terrorist indices; a 10-fingerprint law enforcement check; and a personal interview with a CBP Officer.

Applicants may not qualify for participation in the SENTRI program if they:
Provide false or incomplete information on the application;
Have been convicted of any criminal offense or have pending criminal charges to include outstanding warrants;
Have been found in violation of any customs, immigration, or agriculture regulations or laws in any country;
Are subjects of an ongoing investigation by any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency;
Are inadmissible to the United States under immigration regulation, including applicants with approved waivers of inadmissibility or parole documentation;
Cannot satisfy CBP of their low risk status or meet other program requirements.

SENTRI was first implemented at the Otay Mesa, California port of entry on November 1, 1995. SENTRI Dedicated Commuter Lanes also exist in El Paso, TX; San Ysidro, CA; Calexico, CA; Nogales, AZ; Hidalgo, TX; Brownsville, TX; Anzalduas, TX; Laredo, TX; San Luis, AZ and Douglas, AZ.

Application Information

Applicants to the SENTRI Program may submit their application online using the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES). Once the application is certified as true and complete, it will be submitted to CBP for processing. Applicants can monitor the status of their application by logging back into GOES, and will be advised of "Conditional Approval", or "Denial" through the GOES account posting. A $25 application fee will be charged at the time of application submission.

Step 1
To complete a SENTRI application via the Internet, click on the GOES link to be transferred to the online application.

Step 2
Once notification of conditional approval is received, you will be directed to schedule your appointment online through your GOES account. Applicants have 30 days from that date to schedule an interview. Otherwise, applicants will be denied further enrollment consideration for failure to schedule an interview, which is the final requirement in determining program membership. This denial will not prevent an applicant from submitting a new application in the future. However, a new payment fee will be required. At the time of interview, payment of the fingerprint fee, lane fee, and any additional vehicle fee will be required. Applicants must bring the following original documents with them to the interview. Please ensure the exact documents you provided during the online application are those presented at the time of interview.
Originals of evidence of citizenship that you listed on your application
If not a U.S. citizen, originals of evidence of immigration admissibility to the U.S., that you listed on your application
Valid driver’s license (or state identification) issued in state where applicant lives
Vehicle registration and evidence of US automobile insurance by a company authorized to write automobile insurance in the US.
If the vehicle is not registered in the name of the applicant, a notarized letter authorizing its use by the applicant is required. A company vehicle requires written authorization on company letterhead.
Evidence of employment or financial support. (For instance, most recent years tax return, pay receipt, or direct deposit salary statement. Those self-employed must present a business license, current tax information and bank statement)
Evidence of residence, (Mortgage or rent payment receipts)

During the Interview, information provided on the application will be verified and upon acceptance, CBP will:
Take a photograph of applicant for identification card purposes
Take applicant’s fingerprint
Provide terms and conditions of the program
Answer any questions the applicant may have
Issue an RFID enabled identification document

The Enrollment Process and SENTRI Enrollment Centers

Applicants who do not have access to a computer with an Internet connection, may complete the CBP SENTRI program application Form 823S. SENTRI applicants will also need to apply for Dedicated Commuter Lane (DCL) access. Please read the instructions for Form 823S carefully and fill out items 1-12 AND the section titled, “DEDICATED COMMUTER LANE PARTICIPANTS” found on page 7 of Form 823S. ( CBP Form 823S - SENTRI Application )

Visits to the enrollment centers will be by appointment only. To schedule your appointment, please schedule online, or call the nearest enrollment center. ( SENTRI Enrollment Centers )

Required Fees

Application Fee: $25.00 per person (or a maximum of $50.00 total for husband, wife and minor children)

Fingerprint Fee: $14.50 (applicants 14 years and older)

System Costs Fee: $80.00 per person (or a maximum of $160.00 total for a husband, wife and minor children)

Total Fee: $122.25 per person

If an approved participant wishes to register more than one vehicle for use in the SENTRI DCL lane (maximum of 4 vehicles), or an approved participant wishes to be registered in more than one vehicle (maximum of 8 persons per vehicle), an additional fee of $42.00 per vehicle will be assessed. Enrollees will be charged a $25.00 replacement fee for a lost, stolen, or destroyed card and a $42.00 replacement fee for a lost, stolen or destroyed vehicle ID tag.

Payment of fees may be made online, or by cash, check, money order, Master Card, VISA and American Express at the Local Enrollment Center. A $30.00 charge is imposed if a check is not honored by the bank on which it was drawn. All fees are non-refundable.
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