Are you entering the United States through a land border port of entry on the northern or southern border using an RFID enabled document? If so, you are eligible to use a Ready Lane for reduced wait times and faster processing.
What are Ready Lanes?
Ready Lanes are dedicated processing lanes for both vehicle passengers and pedestrians traveling with Ready Lane-eligible travel cards, such as those listed below. Eligible travelers can save time at the border by navigating to designated Ready Lanes, keeping their eligible travel cards in hand, and displaying cards to the in-lane RFID card readers before proceeding to a CBP officer for inspection.
How do I use a Ready Lane?
What types of travel cards are eligible for entry Into the United States using a Ready Lane?
- Ready Lane-eligible cards contain Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, and include the following: U.S. Passport Cards, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses, Enhanced Tribal Cards, Enhanced Border Crossing Cards, Enhanced Permanent Resident Cards, and Trusted Traveler Program (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST) cards.
- For a vehicle or group of pedestrians to be Ready Lane eligible, all travelers 16 years-old and older must be carrying a Ready Lane-eligible card.
How can I become Ready Lane eligible?
- Travelers not eligible to use Ready Lanes should consider acquiring Ready Lane eligible cards or joining a Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) for access to lanes with shorter wait times and faster processing.
- Travelers can obtain Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) from a local DMV or government office in the states of Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington, as well as in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. Note: If a traveler has applied and is waiting for their EDL, the receipt or temporary notice the traveler may have received is NOT a Ready Lane-eligible card.
Where can I use a Ready Lane?
To locate a Ready Lane, look for the appropriate signage at each Port of Entry (POE). For participating POEs, additional Ready Lane information can be located on the Border Wait Times website.
What items do I need to declare when entering the United States?
Food and Agriculture
Declare all foods, plants, and agricultural items when entering the United States.
Alcohol
One liter (or three beers) is allowed per traveler each month, duty-free. Anything in excess must be declared.
Tobacco
One carton of cigarettes (200 cigarettes or 100 cigars) is allowed per traveler each month, duty-free. Anything in excess must be declared.
Currency
Currency or monetary instruments in excess of $10,000 USD must be declared.
Pharmaceuticals
Medications (up to a 90-day supply) must be declared, and should be in their original package with a prescription in the traveler’s name.
Additional Resources
- For more information on what food you can bring into the United States, visit Bringing Food into the United States webpage.
- For more information on what you can pack, visit the Don't Pack a Pest website.
- Form 6059B Customs Declaration