Texas Border Patrol Prepares for Massive Rush in Holiday Travel

Traveling for the holidays is always a hectic time for interstate roads, let alone for international travel. So, it's no surprise that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has amped up their measures for November and December.

Holiday Travel Along Texas Border

According to the CBP announcement out of Laredo, Texas, officers are urging non-citizens to plan ahead if preparing to cross through border checkpoints.

In efforts to make travel both safer and smoother, tourists are encouraged apply for an I-94 permit online. In order to complete the process, applicants must visit a port of entry within seven days of submitting their application for a brief interview and biometric finger scans.

What is an I-94 Permit?

Good question! I-94 permits are required by all visitors to the U.S. except legal citizens, visitors with immigrant visas, and most Canadian visitors.

As of September 30, 2025, there is a $24 increase to the existing $6 I-94 fee, bringing the total to $30 when applying for a new fee at any border port of entry.

There's a bonus to applying for an I-94 permit early online, though. Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry will allow travelers who properly submit their permits to move to the front of the line during busy holiday travel.

If you are curious about travel wait times along the border, you can always refer to the Border Wait Times website. Here you can see how long most are waiting in line in either commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, or as pedestrians on foot.

Also, in order to know ahead of time which items such as fruits and vegetables that are prohibited from international travel, you can always read the Know Before You Go Guide.