Before approaching the border agent in the SENTRI lane, the RFID card and windshield-mounted sensor show the agent a photo of who to expect. For many, there’s a bit of mystery surrounding the golden ticket we call the SENTRI pass. To get it, you have to submit your weight in paperwork — birth certificate, passport, social security card, drivers license, residence and employment history, vehicle docs (VIN, plates, registration, insurance), proof of residence, employment, pay stubs, bank statements, etc. They run a background check and laser-scan your fingerprints. It’s straight out of Gattaca.
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13 replies on “SENTRI: Privileged Border Crossing”
Man, that’s a lot of info. I can only hope is doesn’t get into the wrong hands since it might be stored in the same place.
Wow, that’s a ton of paperwork – I didn’t even have to have that much when I had my name legally changed!
Btw, haven’t been to the site in a while but I like the new design!
I am surprised you didn’t get a whole lot of grief for taking the pictures. I am sure someone noticed (Big Brother?).
They are fantastic.
i had no idea it was that crazy. also, gattaca is a great movie.
how long did it take for u to get sentri? (im currently in the process)
I waited five months (about two years ago). I hear they’ve adjusted the process to be faster… Let me know when you get it how long you had to wait!
ok i will. i need it by next month because i live in tj and i dont want to wait in line
anyone interested in lobbying to get the sentri lanes open 24/7? the times that i need to use the lanes they’re closed! (at san ysidro).
what time does the sentri open and close?
k baliss,
At San Ysidro, it’s open from 4am to midnight every day. Otay is 5am to 8pm. The CPB.gov site isn’t very easy to navigate, but here’s a page that lists the times:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/ca/2504.xml
it took me less than 2 weeks to get it because i got a immigration lawyer involved. sorry it took my so long
SENTRI pass is great though. Very helpful if you are traveling across border a lot. I travel for work and the pass has proven super useful. It can be a pain, but once you finally get it, it is truly priceless. Here is an article that tells you not only the times of operation, but also the process of obtaining your pass.
http://www.recordgone.com/articles/obtaining-sentri-pass-with-criminal-record.htm
how can I applied to get a sentri pass