Yup - you guessed right. VERY short wait - but it could have gotten me a very long wait getting my car back! (luckily, they let me go with no problem)
Mongers, is it true you need your passport now to get back into the US after going to TJ? No more driver's license?
not true, you can use d.l.
was there last friday
Not until Jan 2008 do you need a passport. However having said that, a DL is not proof of citizenship. So you might want to bring a passport along anyways, if you have one.
I have been across three times in the last two months. Each time, they asked me for my passport on my way back in. Each time, I gave them my driver license and they let me back in, the last time four weeks ago. One of the three guys said something like, "Next time bring your passport."
My last time back I got in a line that said something funny on a sign that I didn't understand and when I got to the front after a surpirsingly short wait I was told I was in some special lane and they could take my car or send me back or fine me up to some huge amount of money. I told him I didn't even know I'd done anything wrong. He let me go in without a problem, but I sure as hell am not making that mistake again. I still don't remember exactly what the hell the lane said that I went in, I just remember it was on the highway going back and in the opposite direction of the signs to San Diego but looked like it made more sense to me because I knew the border was in the direction that lane went.
OMGoosh really? all my new info is in my girl name and says female, but my passport is in my old name and old gender.... What do I do?
ok.....i will visiting tj soon
I'm guessing if it was a very short wait,,you had gotten into the sentre (sp?) lane.
Yup - you guessed right. VERY short wait - but it could have gotten me a very long wait getting my car back! (luckily, they let me go with no problem)
of the need for passports for re-entry from Mexico. Not sure why Mr. ATM was asked. I go twice every weekend and have NEVER been asked for a passport. CDLs have been fine. There was a news release last month or so that detailed the future plans....it definitely noted Jan.1, 2007 as the planned start. Many people doubt THAT will even happen by then.
Maybe Mr.ATM drives across? I always walk. Anyway, passports are NOT NEEDED at this time.
I wasn't the one who was asked - I just was the first to post an answer. There's a bunch of guys here who know better than me but I just saw it and wrote what I knew.
Last night I came across and was not asked for a passport at all. I came back around 11PM and followed the signs for San Diego and that led me to a lane that said it was for cars with at least 2 passengers! Yikes again! When I got to the front they said it was no problem cuz the passenger requirement is not required for those lanes late at night. This lane was MUCH shorter than the other lanes - unfortunately, I don't even know how the hell I got in that lane - I just follwed a San Diego sign and it was the only lane to go to.
You were really LUCKY the agent didn't send you to the secondary search area. You would have really been fucked. Real dumb mistake going in the Sentri lane.
The normal wait to cross the border by car can be hours, especially on a Sunday. But with a very long and detailed background check by both the FBI and the Office of Homeland Security, you can get a Sentri pass where you get in a dedicted lane and have a transponder in your car with special ID cards. It takes at least 3-4 months to get a Sentri pass from start to finish.
If you go to Baja a lot, it's worth it to get the Sentri pass.
http://www.bajabound.com/before/sentri.asp
Some times the Sentri lane can be long but for the most part, it's a breeze to get through the border. Total time in line takes a few minutes.
Regarding the border agents. It's all about power and if you're a jerk or have an attitude, the border agents will fuck with you.
There is no need for a passport but they certainly can hassle you over it. As was said, a US driver's license means nothing for proof of US citizenship.
Give them a reason to hassle you and they will, for sure.
Mr ATM, since you've been hassled by the border agents, I'd guess that you're at the very least, a suspicious guy to the agents or don't look like you're an "American."
If I were you, I'd take my passport along the next time. If they've been accessing your info by scanning your Driver's License, I bet there is some negative info about you in their system.
I am always polite, greeting the agent by saying hello and addressing them as "sir" or Ma'am" and looking them straight in the eye.
So far (knocking on wood) I've never had any problems crossing.
As I said, give them a reason and they will fuck with you. Take a look at the agents, most of them are bored or have a rather mean streak. I've yet to meet a very friendly or cool border agent doing the screening for cars or on foot.
They are the first line of defense for our country and are trained for it. But they also get a lot of shit and can have a very bad attitude
he didn't hastle me - he was ok with me - I was grateful he didn't hastle me for getting in that lane. I really had no idea what the hell it meant or what was going on - I think he understood it wasn't intentional on my part and that was why he let me go in without a problem.
Now, as for hastling with a cop down there, I just had an amazing experience yesterday that I KNOW you will tell me how lucky I was and stupid I was...but, as you'll see if you read the new post I'm gonna write after this one...it was kinda cool.
...somebody should update some of these officers at the border. The requirement isn't suppose to take effect until December 31st, 2007.
-- Modified on 10/20/2005 6:35:36 AM
Like foreveryaction said, it is not in effect for foot traffic until either Dec '06 or Dec '07, and ATM, you were probably in the Sentri lane, it's like the PAL on 5N on Pendelton, you apply for a pass and go through a screening process to be approved.
I was hassled three times in a row in Aug/sept for not having a passport. The first time, after I gave the agent my DL, he asked me to see my birth certificate. Note he didn't ask to see my BC but told me to present it. I looked at him like he asked to Fuck my sister. He thought I was being a smart-ass and I quickly explained to him that I had crossed the border a thousand times and had never been asked for my birth certificate. He then took the opportunity to earn his $8 an hour and give me some bullshit story that technically by law every person who crosses into the US has to proove his citizenship and A DL is not proof.
Two times after I was lightly hassled. I think that the problem I had and the other guys have had is that the border patrol is now Offically the Dept of Homeland Security. I noticed that all the guys have new uniforms and badges so I suspect that the hassles stem from this. In any case I got my Passport and now all is well except for the growing feeling that the terrorists have won.
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I no for afact gents it wont go through 06 07 08 never happen if there asking for a passport keep raising heck there just polling your responce
I've crossed three times this past week using only my Calif. DL. None of the customs officals said anything to me about needing a passport now or in future. My understanding is that come Jan. 1, 2008, a passport will be needed--unless something changes.