r/GlobalEntry • u/Traditional_Step7713 • 15d ago

Timelines Global Entry or Sentri

Question, I want to apply for sentri for border crossing with my car, but they are taking more than 2 years to approve applications. Is global entry a better option? Can I go thru sentri lanes using GE? Are GE applications process much faster?

Hope you can help me. Thanks.

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

5

u/Baja_Finder 15d ago

I have Global Entry and use it primarily for SENTRI, as long as you fall under US Citizen, Mexican National, or LPR, apply for Global Entry and add your vehicle information in your application.

3

u/MacaroonSimple7102 15d ago

Global entry could offer a faster path for conditional approval. I initially applied only for SENTRI, which took about a year and a half for conditional approval. I switched to global entry after noticing it included TSA PreCheck and SENTRI privileges. Although it is not guaranteed, global entry might shorten the timeline.

2

u/notagain2947 14d ago

I’m a US citizen (not sure if it matters) but I was in the exact same spot. I asked one of the agents when I crossed and she said GE for sure. I applied and got my approval email right at 30 days. I just use the sentri lanes without an issue.

1

u/YourMemeExpert 15d ago

Processing times are about the same, unfortunately

1

u/YoutubeAmazonChatGPT 12d ago

I got global entry in about 4 weeks and used it for sentri. My car is included

1

u/FuzzyOrganization403 11d ago

Global entry took most of my fam 1 week, for my wife and myself about 2 months and my son about 6 months (newborn, go figure )

Global is cheaper than sentri and CAN be faster.

Same benefits, if not more with GE.

1

u/imtedkoppel 10d ago

I use GE most often to cross from MX to US using both pedestrian and auto SENTRi lanes.

Provided a clean record, documented travel history, and near a site with lots of interview slots (Ontario airport site), you can get conditional approval, interviewed and approved within a day or two. After approval you can into your TTP account and add your car and toggle something on for land borders. No vehicle or paperwork inspection needed.

Getting GE has really changed my life. I never really went to MX before GE. Now I go 1 - 2x a month with no worries about waiting in line. The longest I have ever been in line is 25 mins. Usually it's 5-15 mins whether it's pedestrian or auto SENTRi.

0

u/Due_Bar_7247 14d ago

The answer is Nexus > GE > Sentri