Saturday, October 22, 2011
San Diego CBP Officials Remind SENTRI Members to Renew Before Membership Expires
San Diego — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are reminding SENTRI members that they should apply for renewal in the SENTRI program before their current enrollment expires.When a current SENTRI member applies for renewal through GOES, the Global Online Enrollment System, before their membership expiration date, they can continue to use the dedicated vehicle lanes at ports of entry along the southwest border. Members who have applied for a renewal can continue to use the dedicated SENTRI lanes while they wait to learn the results of their background check and other requirements for renewed membership, even if their expiration date passes in the interim.SENTRI, the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection, is the CBP trusted traveler program along the southwest border. Persons who enroll in SENTRI provide additional information, fingerprints, and a photo, and pass a background vetting classifying them as a low-risk traveler. In exchange, SENTRI members use dedicated lanes when crossing the border, and can usually expect a wait time of 15 minutes or less. Enrolling in the program costs $122.25, and memberships last for five years.Every five years, SENTRI members must renew their membership to remain in the program. SENTRI members should follow the instructions provided after logging into their GOES account to renew their membership.In addition to dedicated vehicle lanes, there are also dedicated SENTRI lanes for pedestrians at San Diego-area ports of entry. Since October 1, SENTRI pedestrian lanes at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry have been operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.More information about the SENTRI program is available at the attached link. All travelers with inquiries can get information from CBP online at the attached site or by calling 877-227-5511.U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.