CBP Sentri Program

My personal experience with the enrollment part of the SENTRI program was excellent. The enrollment process takes time because it entails a rigorous background check and an in-​person interview with CBP. After conditional approval, the appointment for personal interview with CBP may take few weeks depending on availability at a specific enrollment center.
After I applied for SENTRI, it took several weeks to get a conditional approval. Then I scheduled an appointment with the SENTRI office for an in-​person interview. My appointment was at 6:30 a. m and I arrived 30 minutes early and checked in. My name was called out around 7:00 a.m. The office is busy so a few minute delay was expected. The officer who conducted the interview was very professional and friendly. Towards the end of interview, I was told that I should get the card in 1 – 2 weeks.
Officer asked few questions and also answered my questions regarding the program and then directed me to the place to pay program fee. My picture and fingerprints were taken prior to payment. I was in and out of the office in approximately an hour and a half. I received final approval notice via email two weeks after the interview. It took few more days before SENTRI card arrived in mail. Overall the entire enrollment process took close to ten weeks. This looks like a very good program as benefits also include Global Entry and TSA Pre. For parking at this location, follow the driving directions from other Unilocal users or those given via GOES account.

Following Jon G’s suggestion, I input 32.551 551, –116.937 456 into Google Nav and it took me right to the parking lot. (It looked like Google probably knew where the street address was correctly too, but it was definitely correct with the GPS coordinates.) The instructions on your letter are helpful too. In particular, don’t miss the last freeway exit before Mexico; keep an eye out for the USA Gas to turn right; and drive past two «Road Closed» signs (the second is a barrier.) If you keep that in mind, it’s actually pretty easy to find.
I did Global Entry, and the whole process from application to interview only took about two weeks. The waiting room is fine (just seemed like normal waiting room chairs to me!) I went in the afternoon and they were running a little bit late, but it wasn’t too bad. And yeah, they’re more hospitable than you might expect from a place that deals with customs and immigration. Considering all the background checking and admin stuff involved in these programs, it really runs pretty smoothly!
Update: The officer said at my interview they were a little backed up so the final approval might take 3 days. After a week I gave them a call, and the person on the phone checked on it and said she wasn’t sure why the delay, but I should be approved by the end of the week. It came through a few hours later. Mine might have just been a glitch, but it sounds like they are somewhat backed up on the final approvals. San Ysidro apparently does Global Entry interviews too, but only in the mornings — I am not sure if they might be less backed up.

I cross the US/​Mexico border at Tijuana or Otay often enough that I thought I’d look into the SENTRI program. Why wait in hours-​long lines if I don’t have to, right?
So I went online and completed the application. Easy-​peasy. Not too long afterward, I received an email notification that I was tentatively approved and I could schedule my in-​person interview. I did so online and quickly had an appointment at the Otay port of entry.
I walked in at my scheduled time (thanks to nearby and free parking) and was met by CBP supervisor Gonzalez. He couldn’t have been nicer or more professional.
He took my digital fingerprints, verified my info and I was done. Just like that…15 minutes in and out.
My card arrived in the mail about a week later and I’m now eligible to use the rapid SENTRI lanes! I may do a tequila run just to celebrate and try out the new card.
One note of warning: You may add a vehicle for FREE at the time of your initial application. After that, there is a charge ($ 45?) so do it when you first sign up.
This is an excellent program staffed by friendly, professional and knowledgeable CBP officers. Highly recommended.

These folks were great with my Global Entry application. Wait was not long at all maybe about 45 mins for the entire process and the officer was supercool. Really glad I did it too

Sentri Line is usually MUCH faster. My average crossing time was 20 mins to 45 mins for prime and holiday crossing times. My only complaint is when adding another vehicle to your Sentri. You need to pay $ 42 and wait to be approved! I have been waiting almost 7 weeks and my vehicle has still not been approved. My initial application and interview process only took a few weeks! Why does it take soooo long to add a vehicle to Sentri? I still have the same expiration date and cant use the Sentri in my new vehicle! Has anyone had this problem?

Why does the SENTRI line take longer than the Redi line? Saturday night we waited almost an hour to cross the border. There were only four lanes open in SENTRI; sometimes we didn’t move for 10 minutes. The Redi line had six lanes open and they were passing us. There were 13 «all open» lanes!!! Argh. When we finally got to the front of the line, our review took about ten seconds. What a waste of time! Next time, we’ll go through the «all open» lanes.

I agree with one of the previous posters that the car sentri line can take longer than the regular car line especially since they now renovated the lanes. The first time I used my car sentri that’s what happened and I took it out on the inspector. It took me about 4 months to get mine, but that was a few years back. Be aware if you get your car sentried it will be thoroughly inspected, including with a dog at the time of your interview. There was a lady getting interviewed before me and I got to hear some of it. Her tax returns showed she only made $ 600 the previous year, but she had just returned from a trip to Europe. the interviewer wanted to know how she could afford a trip like that. She claimed her son paid for the trip.

I’m not sure why people think this process takes a long time. I applied online and heard back within a few days to schedule my in-​person interview. I could have had that interview within a week or two but had to keep putting it off due to recent foot surgery. Once I went in at my appointed time, I had to wait about 45 minutes, but I expected that (have you been to the DMV lately?!). Once my interview was conducted and I was verbally approved, I just had to wait about 5 minutes for the cashier to check me out and I was on my way. Within a week my Sentri pass arrived in the mail. Looking forward to getting back and forth over the border easier and faster, as well as being TSA pre-​checked for domestic travel and go through the Trusted Traveler Program lane for those airports (usually at major U.S. cities) that have them.

Excelente servicio y rapido, vale la pena la espera. Solo tener cuidado con no hacer que te rechacen a este gran programa de acceso rápido.

Yes, it can take a long time. I applied 4/​23, got conditional approval 6/​10, had the interview about 1 month later (b/​c I had to schedule time to drive down from Oregon). I intended to register my car but at the interview my vehicle info didn’t show up on the registration form… not sure what I did wrong but some problem with the online form. Long story short, I got the approval and my card by 10÷9÷14. Now I can walk over the border without waiting LOL. So I started the process over again to add my car.
The upside is that with the new lanes added to the San Ysidro port of entry, the crossing never takes more that 30 minutes in the regular lanes so Sentri pass is almost unnecessary. Also, the staff at the CBP facility is friendly and competent so aside from it taking a long time it’s not a bad experience.

Went down in Otay Mesa for our SENTI card application. It was a breeze. After filling out the form on line, we registered for an appointment. Finding the Sentri office can be a challenge as the parking lot is past a sign that says «No Entry» but just followi the directions. We waited about 5 minutes. Officer Howard was so nice.
We should get our SENTRI cards in about two weeks. Now we can drive to Mexico without the hassle of the Border Wait! We also get PreTSA check in at airports!

Fast service, I was in and out in 30 minutes, had my appointment at 8:45 am was out by 9:15 am, follow the directions they provide because google maps will give you something different. I had a great experience. Now, I wait! Thank You!

Getting your Sentri pass takes a l o n g time. Months. But once you do, you can cross the borders from Mexico to the US all fancy free without waiting in line. They also give you global entry — so at airports you can go through TSA pre check. Again, skip through the lines and you don’t take your shoes off.
Patience is a virtue. THis is a government agency. Sentri can be taken away from you in a heartbeat if you abuse it. It is good for 5 years and cost aout $ 125. You have to interview in person at the order with a US offcicial and go through a background check. And then you are golden.

1. As a recent customer to the Otay Mesa CBP facility (by accident !!) I feel obligated to come forward to relate my sincere gratitude to an outstanding employee working here. Specifically, I had my SENTRI pass interview scheduled for May 29^th 2014 at the San Ysidro facility (i.e., done via internet several months ago). I thought I had all in order to make this important date, but when the actual day arrived I’d been absolutely swamped at work — and forgot that I’d made my appointment at San Ysidro. As I looked at my confirmation letter driving south on I-​5 it only listed Otay Mesa as an interview site; so that’s where I drove off to with less than an hour to spare.
2. Although I arrived with literally 3 minutes to spare before 14:00, the customer service representative offering to help me (Ms. «Rosa Maria») could not find any record of my appointment (logically — as I stupidly came to the wrong office!). In what I figured was going to be the «perfect ending» to what had been a bad day, I was instead astounded to be totally saved by this magnificent professional.
3. Specifically, after good-​naturedly smiling at my error, Rosa Maria quickly called to staff there to see if they could «fit me in» between properly-​scheduled SENTRI interviews that day. After almost immediately accomplishing this, she called San Ysidro to explain my mistake – and thus cancelled me there so others might use my slot. After telling me all was OK and to have a seat, I barely had 5 minutes to wait before a great, very professional agent called me for a thorough but efficient interview. I’m sorry I didn’t get his name too to pass you; but hopefully with my SENTRI# XXXXXXXXX they can determine who it was in a database and also thank him… In all from entering the front door to paying my fee it was 19 minutes.
4. Although this may seem like «nothing»; BELIEVE ME it was SO important. I had applied for special leave to depart work early this day for my SENTRI interview — which would have been a TOTAL waste of 4 vacation hours. In addition, I would have obviously had to go home, reschedule ANOTHER interview — and then wait another 4 – 8 weeks to try again.
5. In summary, all this potential mess was my own doing, for which Ms. Rosa Maria had EVERY right to just tell me that I’d come to the wrong office, that there was «nothing she could do», and that I would just have to go home and reschedule for another time in July. HOWEVER, she was totally sympathetic to my plight and did everything possible to salvage my appointment (i.e., between two CBP offices). This is indeed extraordinary in government bureaucracies — and reflects SO well on both the CBP and specifically the Otay office !! I’ve never been helped in such situations by someone like Rosa Maria — and won’t forget it.
MISC COMMENTS:
(a) YES, others are right that GPS devices CAN’T be relied on… as they say, zero– in on the McDonalds. Also, there IS a customer parking lot ALL the way down the long street, right across from the SENTRI office. I turned around too early at the employee lot (before) that had Tow-​Away warning signs for non-​workers.
(b) Regarding other Unilocalers’ slamming to physical facilities, as a govt employee this waiting room is what it’s meant to do: Give folk a place to wait … If you all want Leather chairs, free 100 mbps WiFi and 60″ TVs with 100 cable channels please write Paul Ryan and the other Tea Partiers wanting to cut taxes /​gut the budget (and give tax breaks to the 1% to get tax write-​offs for entering their show horses in the Olympics, etc…)
© On wait times, I’m sure agents don’t cause delays or screw customers for «fun.» Crossing international borders is a BIG deal now (unfortunately after ⁹⁄₁₁) and is something I don’t want rushed or done in error.
(d) I think that for the background check and processing being done my fees paid were fair. This is ESPECIALLY true if you realize the extra registrations you now get in all the other airport TSA, Customs & immigration border crossing «Trusted Travellor» programs too now. Before, you had to make separate applications and go to the nearest participant airport (LAX –yuck !) for the airport border entry programs.

Unlike the previous reviewer, I had a great experience with Officer Anita Anderson! I was there for my Global Entry interview. She was so friendly and answered all my questions. She even complimented my cute Longchamp bag (she’s got great taste too!). I think the interview lasted maybe 10 minutes. And I waited only 5 minutes to be seen. Maybe going on a Sunday helps. Btw, I was approved!

Very good program for those who qualify. Very close to a security clearance procedure. If you have ever done anything wrong, you are not getting the pass. The pass allows a driver to cross with border by virtually not stopping. It is not cheap and it is not a fast process to get a card and window sticker. Saves hours of waiting at the border.
The cheaper and faster alternative is to get a Passport Card from the US State Dept instead of a passport. The passport cards are used in the «Ready Lanes» at the border which move at least three times faster than the normal lanes.

Interview went fine — about an 90 minute wait, 5 minute interview.
But! Make sure you check out the directions thoroughly first. The directions they gave weren’t that clear, and I ended up taking an unintentional detour across the border because my GPS thought the office was on the 905. Had to go through both border checkpoints… luckily the 90 minutes the SENTRI office was running late gave me plenty of buffer.
If you have a GPS that takes coordinates, I’d put in this: 32.551 551, –116.937 456
It’s at the end of Roll drive, near the McDonalds, one block east of the 905 off Siempre Viva Rd. You have to go through two barricades that say Road Closed to get to the (free) parking. It’s worth checking it out on Google Maps for a while before driving there if you’re not familiar with the Otay crossing.

Very Good Experience.
I came because I applied for the Global Entry Card and apart of the process requires an in office interview by a custom’s officer.
— I had an appointment booked for 3.45pm
— I arrived at 3.40pm
— I left at 4:45pm
It was a full house, almost all seats were filled. The check in sign was clear. Sit and wait till your name is called.
Officer Navarro helped me and was super nice, happy, helpful providing information on the card that I was applying for, and giving me the insider scoop on all the cool things you can do with this card. Got me pumped up to use it. Also, the interview questions were basic and he was just super nice about it. Not Jerky at all which… some people just expect.
That being said, people need to keep your expectations REALISTIC:
— Uncomfortable plastic seats — yep… I would be pissed off if the government was spending our tax dollars on plush fancy chairs wouldn’t you?
— Not every employee there is going to be a nightmare. I got Mr. Prince Charming, super nice and helpful. Bringing a good attitude with you doesn’t hurt either.
— This is not a country club or retail establishment. Remember folks, this is a government office located at a very busy international border. There is going to be a wait so y’all need to come prepared and bring lots of magazines, books, or practice meditation.
Final Tip — it’s worth the wait to get a Global Entry Card. Go for it!

I completely understand all the hate directed toward this program. Visiting their office is similar to visiting a DMV office along with the plastic chairs, cheesy TV programming and the overall dirty feel.
To their defense, they have streamlined the process since the early days and visits are now fewer and far between. If you are starting out with the initial application and vehicle inspection, I would just plan on being here for a few hours and bring something to read or do. And during our last visit, we only had to wait about 45 minutes passed our appointment time.
The benefits of this program definitely outweigh the hassles. Once you get cleared, your good for 5 years. Average border waits are about 10 – 15 minutes compared to 1−2+ hours trying to cross in the regular lanes. If you are a frequent visitor to Mexico, this pass is a must.

The IDEA IS GREAT! If it was run privately but the US GOV always messes up a good idea:
Fantastic government program:
— Wait 3 months 2 make appointment only to sit 4 over an hour once U get here 4 your scheduled appointment. WTF?
–Y is our government so lame?
–C’mon people… We have better things 2 do rather than sitting an waiting 4 over an hour when we have an appointment!!!

Our appointment was at 2:00. Two kids and I got registered with Sentri AND Global entry, photographed, fingerprinted, paid at the cashier, and out the door in exactly 1 hour. Can’t ask for better service!
The only crappy part was the bathroom nazis. Kids don’t know what cleaning schedules are, they just gotta pee and the woman wouldn’t let us in despite the urgency. She literally turned her back, put up a 3 ft. yellow bar and slammed the door. So they peed in the potted plants. None of this was really Sentri’s fault, but I can’t really review Border Sanitation, or can I…