Passport card or SENTRI? Passing customs faster when coming back from Mexico

[45user]

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Went to the homeland security web site and found this.
I guess we can use them in the "ready lane", what ever that is. Is that not the express lane.

What documents can I use to enter the Ready Lane?


WHTI-compliant, RFID-enabled cards approved by the Department of Homeland Security include: the U.S. Passport Card; the Enhanced Driver's License (EDL); the Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC); Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry and FAST cards); the new Enhanced Permanent Resident Card (PRC) or new Border Crossing Card (BCC). Ready Lane locations can be found here.

SENTRI and NEXUS lanes are reserved strictly for the use of SENTRI, NEXUS and Global Entry card holders.

All travelers in the vehicle over the age of 16 must have an RFID-enabled card to use the Ready Lane. Children 15 years old and younger may travel in the Ready Lane with adult travelers if all adults in the vehicle have an RFID-enabled travel card.

U.S. Passport Cards can be obtained through the Department of State.

NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST cards can be obtained through the CBP website.

Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) can be obtained from a local DMV or government office in the states of New York, Washington, Vermont, and Michigan, as well as in the Canadian provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Manitoba. Note: If you applied and are waiting for the EDL, the receipt or temporary notice you may have received is NOT a valid travel document.

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So last July when I was coming back from Bahia de Los Angeles, my friend had a passport card and I had a passport book. We saw a line that was going considerably faster but it was not a drive through fast however they had to flash their card (not transponder) at this machine then proceed to border agent then drove off.. Way faster than passport book lane. So my friend asked the border agent why the other lane was faster and we were told the same thing as ful-rac was told.
And I looked up passport card and I found out about SENTRI..I guess I will wait for someone's report back from baja as my planned trip is not until July.
45

[buddha]

Originally Posted by 45user

So last July when I was coming back from Bahia de Los Angeles, my friend had a passport card and I had a passport book. We saw a line that was going considerably faster but it was not a drive through fast however they had to flash their card (not transponder) at this machine then proceed to border agent then drove off.. Way faster than passport book lane. So my friend asked the border agent why the other lane was faster and we were told the same thing as ful-rac was told.
And I looked up passport card and I found out about SENTRI..I guess I will wait for someone's report back from baja as my planned trip is not until July.
45

I guess if you go down to Mexico a few times a year it is worth it to get the Sentri card. It seems like the "ready lane" is 30-50% faster than the regular lane. Not a bad idea to get a passport card also and use it when you enter by car or walking in.

[Phatford]

I accidently ended up in the centri lane and was Told I screwed up and got sent to Secondary inspection... They gave me a warning and said next time I screw up I could end up with a fine of UP to $5000... Anyway he said he knew how bad the signs were on the mexico side and said just get a sentri pass....

I was through everything in about 25 minutes and the wait in the normal lanes was over 3 hours... All in All totally worth screwing up... ha ha With that said I am getting a Sentri pass! Its like the Car Pool lanes before they added Hybrids and Prius POS's and 2 riders...

[buddha]

Here is information on the sentri program.

http://usa.immigrationvisaforms.com/...pass-interview

[ful-rac]

Found some videos on Youtube about the ready lanes.

Check'em out