New Features added to border SENTRI plan

[AntwonKeepinItReal]

When I drove across the border to return to the US on Sunday evening, the billboard was announcing the opening of a new pedestrian Sentri lane on September 9th:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom...s/2008_news_releases/july_2008/07012008_2.xml

"Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials at San Ysidro, Calif. today announced a new feature to its frequent traveler program that will benefit both vehicle and pedestrian travelers at America’s busiest port of entry.

The new feature will be the establishment of a permanent Secure Electronic Network for Traveler’s Rapid Inspection pedestrian program at the port, which will allow members to expedite their border crossing on foot or through use of the existing SENTRI vehicle lanes. Current SENTRI members will also have the added benefit of using the SENTRI pedestrian lane.

The nation’s first permanent pedestrian SENTRI lane will open at the San Ysidro port of entry on September 9.

CBP’s SENTRI provides dedicated vehicle lanes and expedited processing at various ports of entry on the Southwest border. SENTRI is a land-border crossing program that provides expedited CBP processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers along the U.S./Mexico border. Currently the SENTRI program in San Ysidro has more than 97,000 members.

The program’s new benefit will give members access to the dedicated pedestrian and vehicle lanes for five years. Applicants must pass a background check, fingerprint submission, and an in-person interview with a CBP officer.

Additionally, program members will receive an enhanced Radio Frequency Identification SENTRI card that meets the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative for proper documents for U.S. citizens who cross the border by land or sea, which will go into effect June 1, 2009.

Interested participants are asked to apply early for the new program by visiting cbp.gov/travel. The application process takes approximately six to eight weeks to complete. The membership fee is $122.25.

Participants in the earlier SENTRI pedestrian pilot program, in effect at the San Ysidro port since August 2004 to test the efficacy of an expedited pedestrian lane, must re-apply now to avoid loosing their membership in the program."