Welcome to the Air Canada Forum Nexus Information Wiki! This resource will appear at the top of every page within this thread to help users learn more about this program.
About NEXUS
NEXUS is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States.
If you are approved to participate in NEXUS, you will receive a membership identification card to use when entering Canada or the United States at all designated NEXUS air, land and marine ports of entry.
Membership will enable airline passengers to save time by:
using automated self-serve kiosks in dedicated areas at designated international airports;
using the Trusted Traveller Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) Security Line at major and select medium-sized Canadian airports to expedite airport pre boarding security screening. For detailed information, please visit the CATSA Web site.
Join NEXUS
Here are the steps for becoming a member. There is a non-refundable processing fee of CAN$50 or US$50 per applicant for a five-year membership card.
Key points about the program as found by forum members:
NEXUS cardholders must advise of ANY changes to their vital information such as passport numbers/validity, visa status, legal names, primary residence, criminal convictions, and employment if it impacts your eligibility in the program.
it's normal to find the first in-person NEXUS interview to be months into the future but a little patience and regular checks on the GOES website almost always yields an interview date much sooner.
each person who wants to participate in the NEXUS program must fill out a separate application form. There is no fee for applicants under the age of 18.
If travelling with non-NEXUS family members NEXUS cardholders are required to use the regular customs lines.
if travelling in air mode you must still carry your passport as proof of identitity and citizenship as the NEXUS card does not replace this document.
travellers are still expected to complete a customs declaration card.
there is a zero tolerance policy and membership can be terminated for infractions including not having your NEXUS card on you and using the NEXUS lane and not declaring items on your customs declaration card, though members have reported some leniency being granted for such infractions in the past.
private companies may offer services for submitting your application and charge an additional processing fee but these extra charges are not part of the official NEXUS application fee. Expedited services offered by such companies will not assist in speeding up the application process.
Next week will be my first time going through "regular" customs voluntarily - I'm bringing back a case of wine on my next trip which means I can't use the NEXUS line - at least that's what the Montreal staff told me when I called. Silly really, seeing as they have provisions there for you to declare overages.
This is gonna be painful. The customs line at YUL ALWAYS sucks on Thursday evenings.
I was under the impression that as long as they're not commercial goods, and you declare it, you can bring back whatever you want....
Got a letter from Nexus today indicate a new membership card to all NEXUS members with enhanced security features. Need to call 1-88-281-5778, or go to enrolment centre, or go online to confirm address. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexu...nnees-eng.html
Received the same letter today. The new cards will contain the same high tech features as the new US passports, but I'm sure the TSA agent at PDX will still not recognize it as acceptable ID. (BTW I did post this on the TSA blog site so hope it might reach the management at PDX.)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phedre
Next week will be my first time going through "regular" customs voluntarily - I'm bringing back a case of wine on my next trip which means I can't use the NEXUS line - at least that's what the Montreal staff told me when I called. Silly really, seeing as they have provisions there for you to declare overages.
This is gonna be painful. The customs line at YUL ALWAYS sucks on Thursday evenings.
the yul staff are simply wrong on this one! You can still use the nexus line just go to the kiosk but when you get the question about answering yes to any of the checkbox questions, answer yes. The receipt that prints out will have a code on it for the officers at exit to send you to secondary where they will deal with the wine and u can pay duty. I've done this before with dried fruit (didn't want to take any chances). My mom who is a shopper has also declared over her exemption several times this way and there has never been a problem. Of course YMMV, they always like to do things differently in la belle Provence.
I applied online for a Nexus card through the GOES web site https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/ Took 2 weeks to get a letter to move onto the second step. I drove to the nearest Nexus office - 2 hour drive and completed the interview process.
I was pleasantly surprised with the quick turn-around time and the friendliness of the custom agents at the ground location.
Here is to hoping the traveling is as easy.
My main routes will be through YYZ or YUL. Any experience on these routes, where the Nexus machines are located would be appreciated.
I applied online for a Nexus card through the GOES web site https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/ Took 2 weeks to get a letter to move onto the second step. I drove to the nearest Nexus office - 2 hour drive and completed the interview process.
I was pleasantly surprised with the quick turn-around time and the friendliness of the custom agents at the ground location.
Here is to hoping the traveling is as easy.
My main routes will be through YYZ or YUL. Any experience on these routes, where the Nexus machines are located would be appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
after years of not doing this, we just applied for the family. i am glad it is pretty quick...well it should be for us, unless there is a criminal out there with my name
Received the same letter today. The new cards will contain the same high tech features as the new US passports, but I'm sure the TSA agent at PDX will still not recognize it as acceptable ID. (BTW I did post this on the TSA blog site so hope it might reach the management at PDX.)
At LAS the other day, TSA accepted my NEXUS card as ID after studying it for a better part of a minute, while my father (in another line) was denied and had to show his passport. So YMMV.
If anyone's interested, I can report on the exact length of the Nexus access lane northbound at Lacolle: 58 cars.
CBSA site was and is reporting a 2hr wait, but it took 40min to get to the Nexus access point, and it seems unlikely they're processing cars on an average of 1.3min each.
Next week will be my first time going through "regular" customs voluntarily - I'm bringing back a case of wine on my next trip which means I can't use the NEXUS line - at least that's what the Montreal staff told me when I called. Silly really, seeing as they have provisions there for you to declare overages.
Entering Canada
All persons entering Canada by air must complete Form E311, CBSA Declaration Card.
Proceed to the self-serve kiosk located in the Canadian inspection services area.
Stand in front of the camera to have your irises captured. Follow the prompts on the screen and complete the entry process. You will then receive a self-serve kiosk receipt.
The self-serve kiosk will direct you to the cashier for collection of duties and taxes owing, if applicable.
Proceed to the baggage claim and then to the exit. Present your self-serve kiosk receipt and the completed CBSA Declaration Card to the border services officer.
Unless you are directed to an inspection area or the cashier, you may proceed into Canada. Declaring goods
If you are a Canadian resident returning with goods that you want to import for your own personal use, you may choose to report them by completing a CBSA Traveller Declaration Card (TDC) in advance and depositing it in the designated box located at the kiosk. Duties and taxes owed on goods that exceed your personal exemptions are automatically charged to your credit card number on file. If you do not choose the TDC option, the self-serve kiosk will refer you to the cashier to pay duties and taxes on the excess amount.
If you are a United States resident with goods to declare, you may use the NEXUS self-serve kiosk for goods that are part of your personal entitlement. If you have goods that exceed your personal entitlement, you will receive a receipt that will refer you to a cashier for payment.
the yul staff are simply wrong on this one! You can still use the nexus line just go to the kiosk but when you get the question about answering yes to any of the checkbox questions, answer yes. The receipt that prints out will have a code on it for the officers at exit to send you to secondary where they will deal with the wine and u can pay duty. I've done this before with dried fruit (didn't want to take any chances). My mom who is a shopper has also declared over her exemption several times this way and there has never been a problem. Of course YMMV, they always like to do things differently in la belle Provence.
And the other piece of advice is that if you're only over the limit by $100-$200 - go to an agent.
Because the machine is absolute, if you're over your exemption, you're going to the cashier.
If you're only slightly over your exemption, the customs agent has discretion to waive your overage and send you on your way (2/2 for me when I've been ~$200 over the 48 hour limit)
strange, I crossed yesterday and got nothing. guess i'll just keep an eye on the mailbox.
Nothing at Peace Arch 2 weekends ago either. However, the card reader heading north was down resulting in the longest Nexus lines (and wait) I've ever experienced. The CBSA drone had to type in every card.
I had my wife and son go through enrollment yesterday and I believe they got the new cards upon enrolling, though I can't be sure. It's definitely different than mine, though I've had mine 2+ years now. Their's have the machine readable infomation on the back (similar to passports) and more details (passport number, expiry, etc.) printed on the front. No hologram though.
Have they been already isuing these for new users, or could this actually be the 'replacement'?
I had my wife and son go through enrollment yesterday and I believe they got the new cards upon enrolling, though I can't be sure. It's definitely different than mine, though I've had mine 2+ years now. Their's have the machine readable infomation on the back (similar to passports) and more details (passport number, expiry, etc.) printed on the front. No hologram though.
These are not new. Not too hard to add and print new information. The ones issued in late 2002 were pretty much blank on the back except where to send the card to if found. By very late 2006, an expiration date was added. In 2008, the OCR info as you saw.
Thanks ... I didn't think it was. I guess they don't have them ready for new enrollments. I do recall they said to expect them in the 'fall' when I crossed at Point Roberts a few weeks ago so I guess we have some time to go.
