( Aduanas y Proteccion Fronteriza Iniciara Renovacion de Pases SENTRI )

SAN DIEGO - Cross-border participants in the SENTRI fast-pass program whose enrollment has or soon will expire may begin next week to renew their membership in the popular traveler program, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials in San Diego announced today.

CBP officials also announced that all SENTRI participants will be required by June 21 to utilize a newer version of the detection technology that helps facilitate their rapid entry into the U.S.

The Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) is a Southern Border passenger/vehicle program, which expedites the processing of registered travelers.

Over the last year, CBP has focused on implementing new SENTRI detection technologies and opening new SENTRI lanes at the ports of entry across the Southwest border, including two new lanes at the San Ysidro port and a new lane and enrollment center at the Calexico border station.

The focus now will shift to the renewal of a large number of SENTRI accounts that have or soon will expire in the San Diego-Tijuana region and to the replacement of older transponder devices on participating SENTRI vehicles in favor of newer Radio Frequency Identification Technology port-pass cards and windshield decals, officials said.

SENTRI participants are required to renew their accounts every two years. Currently the program has about 70,000 participants in the San Diego-Tijuana area, 25,000 of which soon will need to renew their membership in the trusted traveler program. Additionally, about 20,000 current program participants still need to return their old port passes and outdated white transponders to receive the newer equipment. CBP began converting to the newer equipment last July.

New enrollees and members renewing their membership now automatically receive the new RFID cards and decals, officials said. Failure to renew expired memberships or complete the technology trade by June 21 will mean that participants who arent up to date will no longer be able to use the SENTRI lanes.

To enhance customer service for these renewals and exchange of equipment, the Otay Mesa enrollment center will offer expanded business hours beginning February 21, said James A. Hynes, CBP Port Director in San Ysidro. The new hours will be from 6:00am to 10:00pm daily including weekends. All SENTRI participants due for renewal are urged to call and schedule an appointment, and we are increasing staffing at the enrollment center to handle the increased workload."

All renewal applicants must provide an original and one copy of each of the following documents at the time of their appointment:

1. Evidence of Citizenship. Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, or Naturalization Certificate
2. Valid Passport/Visa or other entry document, if applicable
3. Evidence of Lawful Permanent Residence in the United States, if applicable
4. Valid Drivers License issued by the state in which the person resides
5. Current vehicle registration (not vehicle title) and evidence of U.S. automobile insurance. If the vehicle is not registered in the applicants name, a notarized letter authorizing use by the applicant is needed. Company vehicles require written authorization on company letterhead. Vehicles registered in Mexico must be covered by an insurance policy written by a company authorized to write motor vehicle liability insurance in the U.S.
6. Evidence of employment or financial support. Most recent years tax return, most recent pay receipts, or direct deposit salary statement. Self-employed applicants must present business license, current tax information, bank statements.
7. Evidence of residence. Mortgage or rents payment receipts and utility bills.

The fees for renewal are $129.00 per person with a cap of $258.00 per family. To schedule an appointment interested persons should call the Otay Mesa enrollment center at (619) 690-7601/7602/7603. For more information or to download the SENTRI application form, on the web, visit:

( SENTRI Program Description )
( CBP Form 823S - SENTRI Application )

To make an equipment exchange, existing program participants must present their old hard plastic transponder, current SENTRI card(s), current vehicle registration and insurance to the SENTRI enrollment center located at SENTRI enrollment center located at 2500 Paseo Internacional, San Diego, California, 92154. Parents of minors who are SENTRI enrollees may bring their childs card for conversion; minors do not need to appear in person to receive updated cards.

CBP has made a significant investment in RFID technology in order to provide better and more efficient service to the SENTRI user base, Hynes said. We need to get this conversion completed, so we can realize the full benefit that this enhanced technology will afford CBP and SENTRI program participants.

A technology exchange takes about 15 minutes to complete, and CBP will process program participants making this equipment exchange on a walk-in basis, Hynes said.

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 the nations 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.

prev | next (11 of 24)

back to February 2006 News Releases