LAREDO, Texas — With the Fourth of July holiday around the corner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) Laredo Port of Entry (LPOE) will soon begin to process larger volumes of international travelers to the United States through the South Texas border. The LPOE is recommending that travelers apply for tourist permits online and consult Border Wait Times on www.cbp.gov to minimize trip delays.
“Our frontline CBP officers and agriculture specialists are preparing for an increase in vehicular traffic this coming weekend,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “We strongly encourage travelers to utilize the CBP One app to obtain tourist permits in advance, consult the border wait times before they travel and choose their border crossing port location accordingly.”
The Laredo Port of Entry will implement a variety of effective measures to facilitate a smooth, orderly traffic flow, including electronic tourist permits, and a satellite, off-site I-94 processing facility, located on the first floor of the Outlet Shoppes of Laredo starting Friday, June 30, 2023, to the first week of August 2023, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
U.S. citizens are reminded to bring a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document, such as a valid U.S. passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, Enhanced Driver’s License, or Enhanced Tribal Card, when re-entering the United States and should be prepared to present a WHTI-compliant document if requested by a CBP Officer during a border inspection.
Individuals who cross the U.S. Southwest Border between ports of entry or without appropriate documentation will be subject to consequences. To avoid these consequences, individuals are encouraged to use the many lawful pathways the United States has expanded over the past two years, including use of the CBP One app to present at a U.S. Port of Entry.
CBP encourages all travelers to have their WHTI-compliant entry documents in hand as they approach primary inspection booths and to declare all agricultural items, liquor, and currency or monetary instruments in excess of $10,000.
To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of facial biometrics and the CBP One™, which is a single portal for CBP mobile applications and services.
Members of the traveling public can monitor Border Wait Times or also obtain the BWT app on their smartphone via Apple App Store and Google Play so that they can observe the wait times and make an informed decision on which bridge to use. These wait times are updated on an hourly basis.
Know the difference between prohibited merchandise (which is forbidden by law to enter the U.S.) and restricted merchandise (items needing special permit to be allowed into the U.S.). In order to avoid any potential delays or fines due to travelers bringing prohibited/restricted agricultural items, CBP encourages travelers to declare all agricultural items to a CBP officer upon arrival and before making their journey to consult the Know Before You Go guide.
Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on Twitter at @DFOLaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos.