With peak summer travel season approaching, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Laredo Field Office will open additional traffic lanes and has encouraged travelers to secure tourist permits ahead of time and to enroll in trusted traveler programs to help reduce wait times.
CBP has also partnered with local officials in Laredo, Texas, to establish mobile processing centers capable of issuing I-94 permits. And the Laredo Field Office will provide front-of-line privileges to travelers who submit I-94 applications electronically and obtain provisional I-94 permit receipts online.
“Our ports of entry have been conducting outreach campaigns to inform the public of the various trusted traveler programs available, as well as coordinating with their local partners to establish mobile I-94 sites,” David Higgerson, the director of field operations at the Laredo Field Office, said. “These initiatives encourage travelers to get their I-94s early, urge frequent border crossers to enroll in SENTRI and those with RFID-enabled documents to use the Ready Lanes in addition to operational facilitation measures.”
Travel documents like passports, resident alien cards, and newer border crossing cards are equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to enable travelers to use the Ready Lanes. RFID documents, coupled with securing travel documents ahead of time, allows for faster processing.
CBP will broadcast travel tips about required documents and updates over AM 1610 in Laredo and Brownsville. Travelers can also download the Border Wait Times application to plan their trips during lower-volume times or select a bridge with the shortest wait time. Additionally, CBP will monitor traffic volumes at international bridges and open additional lanes when required.