IPVS only process  SENTRI applications for children if they are accompanied by a paid-for adult application. When accompanied by a paid for adult application, child applications are the processed free of charge regardless of the number of children.

Children regardless of age must have their own SENTRI card. SENTRI Cards for children last 5 years. There are no CBP security and background check fees although there will be fingerprint fees payable at the SENTRI Interview.

If your child travels in your car and does not have his or her own SENTRI pass, you will not be able to use the SENTRI lane at the US Mexico border. Your child SENTRI application must contain supporting documentation otherwise your child may be denied a SENTRI pass. All infants and children require the consent of a parent or legal guardian to apply for a SENTRI pass. SENTRI applications for children are scrutinized in the same way as an adult SENTRI application; however fewer child applications for SENTRI are denied entry to the program as few children have criminal and immigration violations compared to adult SENTRI applicants. In most cases when a child is denied a SENTRI card, the reason comes down to incomplete or inaccurate information provided on the application form. You can apply for a child SENTRI pass even if you or their other parent or guardian is not a SENTRI pass holders. Parents who share custody of their children should carry copies of the legal custody documents. It is also recommended that they have a letter of authorization from the other custodial parent to take the child on a trip out of the country. Such a letter will confirm that the child is not being abducted or taken against his or her will. The parents’ full name, address and telephone number should be Included in the letter of authorization.

All infants applying for a SENTRI card must attend a SENTRI interview at a SENTRI Enrollment Center of your choice. At the SENTRI interview, children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by at least one parent or guardian who has legal custody of the child; families will be interviewed in one meeting. The parent or guardian must present documentary evidence proving their custodial rights and proof that there are no restrictions on the child’s removal from the custodial jurisdiction. The SENTRI officer will scrutinize the documents to ascertain that the parents or guardians applying for the SENTRI pass for children is actually the parents or legal guardians of the SENTRI child applicant.

When travelling with a group of vehicles, parents or guardians should arrive at the border in the same vehicle as the children. Adults who are not parents or guardians should have written permission from the parents or guardians to supervise the children. The permission letter should include addresses and telephone numbers where the parents or guardian can be reached. When you arrive at the US Mexican border with children in your car you may be subject to detailed questions about the children travelling with you because customs and border protection officers are constantly on watch for missing and abducted children.

IPVS does not guarantee approval for any Trusted Traveler program. Inaccurate or incomplete SENTRI pass application forms are automatically denied access to the SENTRI cards program.