U.S. Borders

Re-Entry Requirements -

The U.S. Customs & Border Protection website lists the identification documents necessary for re-entry back into the U.S. at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel or

 http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/  

As of Jan 31, 2008, the requirements are:

A)  A U.S. passport book, or

B)  A U.S. Passport Card, or

C)  An ENHANCED Drivers License (shows citizenship), or

C)  A State Issued Photo I.D. AND a certified copy of your birth certificate.

NOTE: A standard drivers license by itself is not proof of U.S. citizenship.  Some states are now issuing ENHANCED Drivers Licenses that will work as proof of U.S. citizenship.  Please check with your Driver's Licensing Department for more information.

As of June 1, 2009, you will be required to have either a passport book, a U.S. passport card or an ENHANCED Drivers License that indicates Citizenship to cross by land into the U.S. from Mexico. 

Border Crossings -

Please see the discussion under maps for additional information.  We recommend you travel via the TECATE border crossing.  An alternate border crossing would be the OTAY MESA border crossing:

Border Wait Times -

A real-time listing of wait times at the San Ysidro, Otay Mesa and Tecate border crossings.  This nifty web application will also work on any internet enabled PDA or phone that has service in Mexico.  Click on this link, or point your browser to: