Travelers wanting to participate in U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s trusted traveler program in the San Luis area will soon have the opportunity to participate in the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection program.
CBP will open a local enrollment center in the fall of 2009, followed by dedicated commuter lanes at the San Luis port of entry in late 2009. Travelers interested in participating in the program are encouraged to apply early for the new program by visiting the SENTRI Web site.
Because the application process takes approximately six to eight weeks to complete, interested travelers are urged to apply now to be prepared for the opening of the enrollment center and so they will have their document when the lane opens. The program membership fee is $122.25 and will give members access to the dedicated vehicle lanes for five years.
SENTRI provides expedited travel to approved members between the US and Mexico border using dedicated vehicle or pedestrian lanes. 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.
In addition to the quick crossings associated with SENTRI membership, program members will receive an enhanced Radio Frequency Identification card that meets the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative for approved-travel documents for U.S. citizens who cross the border by land or sea, which went into effect June 1. The SENTRI card can be used at any land border crossing in lieu of a passport or passport card.
The SENTRI program was first implemented at Otay Mesa, Calif., in 1995, and has grown to include 16 lanes at the nine largest ports on entry along the U.S.-Mexico border including San Ysidro, Calif.; Calexico, Calif.; Nogales, Ariz.; two crossings in El Paso, Texas; Laredo, Texas; Hidalgo, Texas; and Brownsville, Texas. More than 180,000 travelers from both sides of the border currently are enrolled in the program.
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