Border Crossing Glossary
Quick definitions of the terms, acronyms, and lane names you'll see on this site and on official agency feeds. For longer explanations, see the guides.
Terms
BWT / bwt.cbp.gov
Border Wait Time — CBP's public wait-times feed.
BWT (Border Wait Time) is the dataset CBP publishes at bwt.cbp.gov/api/bwtnew. Updated as officers at each port submit new estimates (~hourly while staffed). This site re-polls it every five minutes and serves a cached, slimmed version to your browser. See our how CBP wait times work guide.
CBP
US Customs and Border Protection — the agency that staffs US-side land border crossings.
US Customs and Border Protection is the federal law-enforcement agency responsible for admitting people and goods into the United States. CBP officers staff every land port of entry, process inspections, and publish the wait-time numbers you see on this site.
CBSA
Canada Border Services Agency — the Canadian equivalent of CBP.
The Canada Border Services Agency staffs all Canadian land ports of entry and publishes wait times for Canada-bound traffic. CBSA wait-time data drives the US-to-Canada direction on this site.
CBX
Cross Border Xpress — a private pedestrian bridge from San Diego directly to Tijuana airport.
CBX is a private toll bridge that connects an enclosed walkway in Otay Mesa, San Diego to the Tijuana airport terminal. Lets ticketed passengers cross between TIJ and the US without using the public San Ysidro or Otay Mesa crossings. ~$35 round-trip. See our CBX guide.
Criminal Rehabilitation
Permanent fix for Canadian inadmissibility based on a past offense.
Once at least 5 years have passed since the completion of all sentencing, an otherwise-inadmissible traveler can apply for Criminal Rehabilitation. Successful approval permanently removes the inadmissibility (vs the temporary TRP). CAD $1,199 application fee. See our denied entry guide.
EDL
Enhanced Driver's License — accepted in place of a passport at US land crossings.
An Enhanced Driver's License is a special state-issued driver's license with an RFID chip and proof of US citizenship encoded. Currently available in WA, MI, NY, VT, and MN. Accepted for US re-entry at land and sea borders but NOT for international air travel.
Enrollment on Arrival (EoA)
A way to complete the NEXUS interview at a participating airport or land crossing without a scheduled appointment.
CBP's Enrollment on Arrival program lets conditionally-approved NEXUS applicants complete their interview at a participating US airport, preclearance facility, or land crossing while on a planned international trip. Massive time-saver — appointment wait at major centers can be 6+ months; EoA is on-arrival.
ESTA
US entry pre-clearance for Visa Waiver Program nationals arriving by air.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is required for visa-waiver-country citizens flying into the US. $21, valid 2 years. Not required at land borders, but recommended if you may ever fly into the US under VWP.
eTA
Electronic Travel Authorization — Canada's entry pre-clearance for many non-Canadian air arrivals.
The Electronic Travel Authorization is required for citizens of visa-exempt countries flying into Canada. Not required for US citizens. Not required at land crossings. CAD $7, valid 5 years.
FAST
Trusted-trader program for commercial truck drivers — dedicated commercial lanes.
Free and Secure Trade (FAST) is a US-Canada and US-Mexico program for pre-vetted commercial truck drivers carrying low-risk cargo. FAST lanes at participating crossings move significantly faster than the standard commercial lane.
FMM
Forma Migratoria Múltiple — Mexico's tourist permit for stays beyond the border zone.
The FMM is required if you travel into Mexico beyond the 20-30 km border zone, or stay more than 7 days. Free for under 7 days, otherwise ~$30 USD. See our FMM guide.
Global Entry
CBP trusted-traveler program for air arrivals into the US.
Global Entry expedites US entry at international airports through kiosk-based processing. $120 for 5 years. Includes TSA PreCheck. Global Entry alone does NOT include NEXUS/SENTRI land-border benefits — NEXUS and SENTRI members get Global Entry as a perk, not the reverse.
I-94
US arrival/departure record for non-US citizens.
Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) is the electronic record CBP creates for non-immigrant visitors to the US. It establishes the period of authorized stay. Lookup and printout: i94.cbp.dhs.gov.
Land Border
A crossing reached by car, truck, foot, or bus — as opposed to air or sea.
Land border crossings are the focus of this site. CBP and CBSA publish per-port wait-time data for land ports; air arrivals are tracked differently (we may add airport wait times in a future version).
NEXUS
Joint US-Canada trusted-traveler program with dedicated land-border lanes.
NEXUS is a joint US-Canada program for pre-vetted, low-risk travelers. Membership ($120 for 5 years) gets you dedicated lanes at every NEXUS-equipped land crossing, plus Global Entry and TSA PreCheck benefits. See our NEXUS application guide.
Port of Entry (POE)
A staffed location where CBP processes people and goods crossing the border.
A port of entry (POE) is any officially staffed border crossing. Each POE has a unique CBP port number. Most land POEs handle both passenger and commercial traffic, though some are passenger-only or commercial-only.
Preclearance
US Customs and immigration processing performed on foreign soil before departure.
US Preclearance facilities (most Canadian international airports, plus a few others) let travelers clear US immigration before boarding. Arrives in the US as a domestic flight. Land crossings are not preclearance — you clear US inspection on entry.
Ready Lane
Dedicated CBP lane for travelers with RFID-enabled travel documents.
Ready Lanes are dedicated US-bound lanes for travelers carrying an RFID-enabled document: a US passport card, enhanced driver's license (EDL), enhanced tribal ID, or trusted-traveler card. The RFID chip lets CBP pre-load your information before you reach the booth. Faster than standard lanes, slower than NEXUS/SENTRI.
Secondary Inspection
Additional questioning, paperwork, or vehicle search in a separate area after the primary booth.
Secondary is the dedicated area officers use for follow-up after primary inspection. It can be random or triggered by a flag (visa question, declared item, prior record, vehicle search). Usually 15-60 minutes. See our secondary inspection guide.
SENTRI
US-Mexico trusted-traveler program with dedicated lanes for US-bound travel.
SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection) is the US-Mexico equivalent of NEXUS. $122.25 for 5 years, includes Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, and gives access to dedicated lanes at every SENTRI-enabled crossing. Cars must be specifically registered. See our SENTRI application guide.
Standard Lane
The default lane open to all travelers with valid travel documents.
Standard lanes accept any traveler with valid documents — passports, passport cards, EDLs, or trusted-traveler cards. This is the slowest option but works for everyone. Wait times shown without a lane qualifier on this site refer to the standard passenger lane.
TRP
Temporary Resident Permit — Canadian admission for travelers who are otherwise inadmissible.
Canada issues Temporary Resident Permits to travelers who are inadmissible (usually due to a past criminal record) but have a compelling reason to enter. CAD $230 application fee, single or multiple entry, validity at CBSA officer discretion. See our denied entry guide.