Baja California
California
Is SENTRI worth it at San Ysidro?
Yes
SENTRI: ~1h 35m less per crossing in the history
READY: ~25m · vs. the General lane · largest mean hourly difference: ~1h 57m
Scenario for your crossings
I cross 8× a month
≈ 12h 40m
DIFFERENCE / MONTH
≈ 152 h
DIFFERENCE / YEAR
$0.16
COST / ESTIMATED HOUR
Example: adult SENTRI application, $120 USD for 5 years. If the historical average repeated with 8 crossings a month, the cost would be $0.16 per hour of difference. Check CBP conditions; savings are not guaranteed.
We compare General with this lane at the same hour across 1368 matched pairs. We review 57 profile dates in a 56-day window. We average the wait differences, excluding closed hours and missing readings. The displayed peak is the largest mean difference by hour. Your future savings are not guaranteed. How border wait times are calculated
Savings throughout the day
SENTRI
READY
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM11 PM
12 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM11 PM
| Hour | SENTRI savings | Ready savings | General wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 AM | 88 | 27 | 98 |
| 1 AM | 83 | 27 | 91 |
| 2 AM | 75 | 22 | 82 |
| 3 AM | 71 | 20 | 80 |
| 4 AM | 74 | 23 | 84 |
| 5 AM | 78 | 25 | 92 |
| 6 AM | 83 | 27 | 98 |
| 7 AM | 100 | 34 | 118 |
| 8 AM | 94 | 22 | 114 |
| 9 AM | 100 | 22 | 120 |
| 10 AM | 103 | 19 | 123 |
| 11 AM | 106 | 21 | 126 |
| 12 PM | 110 | 23 | 130 |
| 1 PM | 112 | 22 | 133 |
| 2 PM | 116 | 22 | 137 |
| 3 PM | 117 | 26 | 137 |
| 4 PM | 114 | 27 | 133 |
| 5 PM | 112 | 29 | 130 |
| 6 PM | 107 | 30 | 125 |
| 7 PM | 101 | 32 | 118 |
| 8 PM | 93 | 28 | 109 |
| 9 PM | 82 | 24 | 97 |
| 10 PM | 81 | 27 | 96 |
| 11 PM | 84 | 20 | 98 |
Historical reference at 4 AM
General
~1h 24m
Ready
~1h 1m
SENTRI
~10m
In these profiles, SENTRI had ~1h 14m and READY ~23m less than General.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does SENTRI save at San Ysidro?
- The history shows ~1h 35m less per crossing than General. The largest mean hourly difference is ~1h 57m. These compare CBP profiles; your future wait and savings can change.
- Is SENTRI worth it for me?
- If the historical difference at San Ysidro repeated, 10 crossings would represent roughly 16 h less in line. Consider crossing frequency, eligibility and costs; check current waits before leaving. This is not a prediction.
- What are SENTRI’s requirements?
- SENTRI is issued by CBP through the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP). It needs an interview appointment and an enrollment fee.