Valued Contributor
Posted 27 June 2013 - 09:36 PM
I went for my SENTRI interview today and was denied. The officer said that he couldn't disclose why, but gave me a sheet of paper with the information on it to appeal.
I received an email that said that I didn't meet their strict standards, so I have to find out which of their strict standards I didn't meet. So I plan to send an email tonight to see how fast I get a response.
Valued Contributor
Posted 27 June 2013 - 11:50 PM
Sorry to hear the news. Some of the things to consider is if you have an arrest record, don't pay taxes etc. from your past or if you are married or have someone in the family with these issues that would make you a high risk.
Valued Contributor
Posted 27 June 2013 - 11:58 PM
Sorry to hear the news. Some of the things to consider is if you have an arrest record, don't pay taxes etc. from your past or if you are married or have someone in the family with these issues that would make you a high risk.
I don't have an arrest record, I pay my taxes, I'm not married, and no one in my family has any type of issues. I sent an email to the CBP Ombudsman's office to see what standards I didn't meet. After I get a response, then I'll appeal it. At least I don't have to cross the border every day or drive every day.
Valued Contributor
Posted 28 June 2013 - 12:11 AM
Then it would be interesting to see why they denied you. Good luck.
Valued Contributor
Posted 28 June 2013 - 12:41 AM
Thanks. That's what I want to know. Maybe I was too dressed up, but I dressed for an interview. If I had dressed like a slob, maybe they would have approved me.
Posted 28 June 2013 - 05:43 AM
Wow, Sorry to hear this.
How long did it take before you were given an interview?
My review is still pending. I put in my initial request in May.
Please keep us posted.
I only have to cross twice a week, but that would kill me if I still had to wait in the regular lane.
Thanks for sharing.
Valued Contributor
Posted 28 June 2013 - 02:33 PM
I applied on April 10, and was notified on May 20 that I was conditionally approved.
Luckily, I'll only have to cross once, sometimes twice a week with my van, but I have a passport card, which will help. I try to conserve gas and take the bus and trolley most of the time.
I got a confirmation email from the Ombudsman's office, so after I find out the reason for denial, I'll appeal.
It won't stop me from moving, though. I just keep getting rid of stuff and packing, plus trying to make some more money.
Valued Contributor
Posted 28 June 2013 - 03:51 PM
This is one of the reasons that only 20% of people who cross the border have SENTRI. If you have any kind of infarction including DUI, etc. on your record it will be denied.
Living in Mexico is NOT necessary...many people cross the border daily without one so don't think you will perish if you don't have SENTRI. If you don't cross every day for work what's the big deal??
There are plenty of things you can do with the time spent waiting to cross including learning Spanish and/or reading a book.
There seems to be the opinion on all of these expat boards that if you don't have SENTRI it will be difficult to live in Mexico but that is not true. Just ask the 80% of people who don't have SENTRI.
I think you are imposing more stress on yourself than is necessary. And your life in Mexico will be much easier if you adopt the mentality that anything can happen and roll with the punches. This is why the majority of Americans who move across don't last more than 6 months; they simply can't adjust their mentality to life in Mexico.
Valued Contributor
Posted 28 June 2013 - 06:52 PM
There's nothing on my record AT ALL, and never has been.
This is one of the reasons that only 20% of people who cross the border have SENTRI. If you have any kind of infarction including DUI, etc. on your record it will be denied.
Living in Mexico is NOT necessary...many people cross the border daily without one so don't think you will perish if you don't have SENTRI. If you don't cross every day for work what's the big deal??
There are plenty of things you can do with the time spent waiting to cross including learning Spanish and/or reading a book.
There seems to be the opinion on all of these expat boards that if you don't have SENTRI it will be difficult to live in Mexico but that is not true. Just ask the 80% of people who don't have SENTRI.
I think you are imposing more stress on yourself than is necessary. And your life in Mexico will be much easier if you adopt the mentality that anything can happen and roll with the punches. This is why the majority of Americans who move across don't last more than 6 months; they simply can't adjust their mentality to life in Mexico.
I've never been arrested, and it would be very hard to for me to get a DUI, since I don't drink. I don't have infractions, and I work in the security field where you also have to be squeaky clean. I'll be able to fill up my gas tank which I can't do now, in order to do other things.
I'm not stressing out over the denial, I was surprised not to be approved, so if I don't get approved after the appeal, I'll apply again at a later date.
Valued Contributor
Posted 28 June 2013 - 07:22 PM
Definition of an infarction: An infarction is tissue death (necrosis) caused by a local lack of oxygen, due to an obstruction of the tissue's blood supply.
Posted 28 June 2013 - 07:31 PM
Definition of an infarction: An infarction is tissue death (necrosis) caused by a local lack of oxygen, due to an obstruction of the tissue's blood supply.
I tried to explain this to her once before, but I guess not successfully. LOL BIG difference between infarction and infraction.
Valued Contributor
Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:31 PM
I tried to explain this to her once before, but I guess not successfully. LOL BIG difference between infarction and infraction.
Maybe it'll sink in this time. If not, maybe we should start a separate thread for it.
Posted 29 June 2013 - 09:54 PM
This thread has been really helpful. I thought I would sail through Sentri, but now there's no way.
I got a DUI over 20 years ago (I think the same year Bush got his). I don't even remember what year. At that time, it was just traffic school. I've gone through two security checks for my current job and it never came up. I completely forgot about it until I saw this thread (I know, not a valid excuse, totally ignorant on my part). I applied in late May. Sounds like my 'goose is cooked'. Nothing I can do about it now. I really like the positive advice about 'rolling with the punches.' That really helped. The proverbial milk will not clean itself up once it is spilled; no matter how much you cry about it. Everything happens for a reason. Apparently a higher power realizes I need lots of help with my Spanish. The border line is a perfect learning environment.
Please keep me posted on your appeal.
I talked to a girl yesterday that had a recent DUI (full arrest). Somehow it was waived. She got Sentri on her first try. This is the first denial I've heard of. It's shocking considering there's nothing obvious that would indicate denial. It sounds like the decision is purely objective.
There's another thread on here that explains the appeal process, including a number for Jerry Brown's assistant who is supposed to help. The post is from 2005, however, The guy's email is still on the thread, but he wants $100 for all the info.
Valued Contributor
Posted 30 June 2013 - 12:04 AM
Might also be about income, if you have very low income or are not employed, you may be considered "high risk", i guess the logic is that you are more likely to be tempted to smuggle stuff across for a quick buck. This is probably why most of the cars with baja plates are newer models.
It might be time to buy a moto or scooter, also the Otay Mesa Ready Lane has been quite light every weekend with less than 30 minute waits in the afternoons, its been great for a while now.
"YO heart BC"
Valued Contributor
Posted 30 June 2013 - 01:11 AM
I'm on Social Security, and work part-time. I can't do too much about my low income. I had a pretty good income until I lost my job in 2009. If I didn't have an income, I wouldn't have applied for it, because I wouldn't have been able to afford to pay for it.
Valued Contributor
Posted 30 June 2013 - 01:36 AM
During my wife's Sentri interview a few years back, the agent flat out told her that Sentri was about having a squeaky clean criminal record and a good income that can be compromised by committing a smuggling crime. Please keep us posted on the appeal, this is interesting stuff. Maybe you can apply for GOES, which is the airport version of Sentri. I hear if you have this GOES card then you can also use the Sentri lanes.
"YO heart BC"
Valued Contributor
Posted 30 June 2013 - 04:26 AM
I have no plans to buy a scooter, and wouldn't use one anyway. I don't have any type of criminal record, but I am low income, which happened when I lost my job, like lots of other people. I'd like it for to go up, but it's virtually impossible. The company that I work for just lost a very large, well paying contract, so I'll be working less, unless I can find another part-time job.
I can't apply for GOES, because it's the same website, and it says, "denied." I don't know when the appeal will happen, because I have to wait for the denial reason email to sent to me, and I'll take it from there.
Posted 01 July 2013 - 10:36 AM
During my wife's Sentri interview a few years back, the agent flat out told her that Sentri was about having a squeaky clean criminal record and a good income that can be compromised by committing a smuggling crime. Please keep us posted on the appeal, this is interesting stuff. Maybe you can apply for GOES, which is the airport version of Sentri. I hear if you have this GOES card then you can also use the Sentri lanes.
This makes a lot of sense. In our interview, the agent didn't care about seeing any of the paperwork that we were told to bring--just wanted to know our annual income and where we worked. Our income isn't all that high since we are currently just working part time, but we are community college instructors and so if we had any kind of criminal record then we could lose our jobs and career prospects. Maybe that is why we got it?
Valued Contributor
Posted 01 July 2013 - 04:00 PM
If they want to quibble about my income, they can discuss it with www.sandi.net. I was making close to $30 per hour when I was let go due to budget cuts.
The officer kept asking for my original car registration and insurance card. The paperwork didn't say to bring the originals, so I didn't He asked me if they were in the vehicle, and I said, "no, I only carry copies," and copies are just as valid as the originals. I brought a copy of last year's tax return, and also copies of my SS statement, paycheck stubs, and unemployment claim form stubs. I wish my income was higher, but it's impossible to even get another part time job these days.
In any rate, I plan to appeal it, after I have the reason why I was denied.
Posted 01 July 2013 - 06:31 PM
Oh, then maybe the original documents was the issue. We did bring originals of everything. My fingers are crossed for you that this was the only issue and that your appeal will be successful! Sounds like Sentri is not essential for you since you won't be crosing as often as we do, but still it is very nice to have!
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