bocastephen

not a box really, but little packs of two cookies...I should declare those? Actually I'll just eat them and save the hassle.

I usually bring a few flats of Smarties and a couple boxes of Shreddies with me heading back to the US through Nexus...the inspector in secondary always nods in approval as if I'm one of hundreds doing the same thing.

Well, either Markham near Pacific Mall, or yes, downtown at Furama...but keep in mind the worst bun in Toronto is 1,000% better than the best (almost non-existent) bun in South Florida.

yyzvoyageur

No need to declare cookies.

bocastephen

OK...cookies and biscuits are the same thing to me

Ari

They're fine as long as you declare them . . .

okazon69

What about chocolate? Is it considered a "dairy product"?

canolakid

bad advice- always, always, always declare anything edible then explain 'a snack' if questioned; risking NEXUS in this day and age of 'the computer never forgets' is simply not worth taking any chances.

yyzvoyageur

As far as Canada is concerned, chocolates are fine as are cookies.

okazon69

Are you not excluded from using NEXUS if you check "Yes" for any of the questions on your E311 form? Or is that only for commercial goods?

N1120A

1) They do need to update the question, though the law is pretty specific in stating that bakery goods, confections, etc are not subject to inspection, which means they don't need to be declared.

2) There are appeal options. The OP can call the local supervisor at YYZ or any other NEXUS enrollment centre regarding the NEXUS revocation itself. They can also appeal the violation itself, especially since the apple in the lunch bag was pretty open to see and arguably presented for inspection and also if there was a mistake of fact. Further, the penalty sounds rather stiff given that this was, at most, a negligent violation.

See, this is the issue - the reality is that the declaration form doesn't jive with what the law actually is and that difference is abused by customs agents on power trips. The published regulations say you don't have to declare items that are allowed, unless there is a specific requirement to declare them. Indeed, the CFR is extremely clear on the legality of "importing" any and all fruits and vegetables from Canada, with a single exception of potatoes grown in Newfoundland and a certain part of B.C. See 7 CFR 319.56-3.

Now, even Canadian fruit is subject to inspection, though there is no violation if a failure to declare is based on mistake of fact.

No, its not. Chocolate is fine and both CBP and CBSA list it on their websites as an example of what can be brought.

The person giving the advice is a border guard. Its really not bad advice in that case.

No, they just ask you about them at customs.

bocastephen

If you answer 'yes' to a question on the kiosk, you are generally (100% in my case) referred to the secondary inspection area - when you check-in, make sure they know you're a Nexus person as they will try and take you ahead of anyone else waiting.

I've used this to my advantage at YYZ T1 - when the lines are backed up due to security taking its time and the Customs hall fills up, going through secondary can save you an hour+ wait as the exit dumps right into the security area and you'll bypass everyone waiting to get in.

InkUnderNails

I was told in my interview, US side, that if I could not come through the line with a clear declaration that I could not use the Nexus lane and if a subsequent inspection showed that I would not have been cleared I could lose the NEXUS and be subject to fines. This was confirmed in the Canadian interview.

The reason it came up is that I carry "commercial equipment," specifically the interface boxes I use to connect machines to my computers to gather data. I am required to check the "commercial equipment" box if I fill out a form. They ask what I have and when I explain, I am good to go.

This is only required by Canadian customs and I can clear US with no problems as my equipment was made, purchased, and owned in the US. So, I use the regular lanes passing into Canada and the NEXUS when I return if I have my tools.

Bottom line: The use of the NEXUS is an implied declaration that you have nothing to declare.

pacer142

By contrast, there were a couple of Customs officers present at the UK airport I arrived into this week, and I recall thinking that was rather unusual. At some UK airports, the "red channel" is an "honesty box" - a telephone.

What other countries operate a UK-style approach to these things? By that I mean the Customs being concerned only with the "big boys" and adopting a targeted, intelligence-led approach rather than worrying about whether an individual has one bottle of wine too many?

Is the US or UK approach in the majority?

Neil

N1120A

Incorrect. You are conflating the NEXUS Land and NEXUS Air requirements. Since you don't do a written declaration with NEXUS Land, it is implied that you don't have anything to declare (though, Canadian citizens/residents are required to still write some sort of declaration). With NEXUS Air, you are subject to separate customs and immigration inspections. The immigration part doesn't usually involve human interaction, since such violations are much less likely to happen, but customs still technically does.

N1120A

All of the EU runs things basically the same way as the UK.

Ari

I'm in TLV right now-- they do Red/Green here. HKG also Red/Green . . . China, not so much.