Kiraly

That's what CBSA's official rules have always said—that in-person visits to a NEXUS office are not required for passport updates and that updating through GOES is enough. This is nothing new. You'll find the same information in the Nexus program User's Guide.

The confusion comes from CBSA agents telling NEXUS members entirely different information from what the official program rules say. Is it a lack of training and the front-line agents don't know what they are talking about? Is there some sort of computer glitch and GOES updates aren't getting to CBSA like they should be? Or are the NEXUS official published rules simply wrong? Nobody knows. This is a problem that has gone on for years now.

agpt

The center in Sweetgrass, MT, is closest to me. However, there are comments in this forum about the iris scan. What, exactly, is the MT center missing? I want to apply for NEXUS primarily to get Global Entry and TSA Precheck. Can I get those if I go to the MT center?

CKDGM

Yes.

The longer answer: the iris scan is only required to enter Canada by air using NEXUS. Entering the US by air using NEXUS/Global Entry is done by checking fingerprints, not iris scans, even at the preclearance airports. (Entering the US or Canada by land uses the card but no biometrics apart from the officer looking at you to see if you resemble your picture.) TSA Precheck doesn't need the card or the biometrics, just that your PASS ID is in the Known Traveler Number field on your reservation and matches your Secure Flight info.

Note that if you do want to fly into Canada and use NEXUS, you can get the iris scan done later as a drop-in at any of the NEXUS offices in Canada without an appointment.

agpt

Thanks for the detailed response. Now the next thing is figuring out whether to take the "short" route (300 miles drive) or the "scenic" route (500 miles through Glacier).

BH8489

A couple of points relevant to these latest revelations:

A CBSA clerk confirmed for me this week that you DO need to update documents in person (walk in) at a Canadian-side enrollment center. He said update it in GOES first, but that GOES is a US CBP system and is only used for CBP's purposes. Updating in GOES will let you continue using GE, TSA Pre, etc.... you'd only need the Canadian side to have the latest documents for entering Canada. He also noted that if you're at a Canadian airport with an enrollment center for the purpose of updating your docs, and you try to use a NEXUS machine to enter Canada-- it may throw a red flag, but if you explain to the CBSA agent that you're entering for the purpose of updating your documents immediately they'll "probably" (read: maybe) let you through.

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Separately, the same CBSA clerk confirmed that an interview is NOT required to issue a replacement lost/stolen/damaged card. I was dealing with it this week for a friend who lost hers, and sure enough she was approved ~1 hour after reporting it lost in GOES. (Presumably that means the card will arrive in about 10 days.) That is in contrast with the official documentation online, but in agreement with lots of the recent posts here.

I hope this and the new laxer renewal / GE-->NEXUS rules are here to stay! For now, just one more data point...

flyquiet

I got a new passport, updated in GOES, went to Europe and back, used the NEXUS to re-enter Canada, got the card and off I went. Down to bag claim, nipped into the washroom while the bags were coming in, came out of the washroom, and found a CBSA guy asking for my passport. Never thought anything more of it, but now I wonder if it was related to that. Being deaf, I might have been walking away from him hollering at my back all the way down the escalator, too. I guess I'm lucky he didn't Tase me.

emcampbe

I will deny.

I know what the website says and I know what many in here will say. I also know what every CBSA agent has told me when I ask them, including a couple of months ago when I went to update. Basically what was said above: Update in person, as GOES only updates the US.

So what I always do: update GOES right away, and next time I'm at the airport, update at the office.

Truth be told, 10 minutes at an office to update is well worth it as opposed to the potential to have to argue with an officer about why my membership is out of compliance. Anytime that argument starts, it's already lost.

flyquiet

Datapoint:

Updated in GOES, travelled to Europe and did not have enough time to stop at NEXUS office prior to that trip. Re-entered Canada using NEXUS (but see post 9757). Next transit transborder, stopped in YYZ NEXUS office to ensure all in order.

Sign in. Wait. Long wait, considering. Maybe 20 minutes. Seemed to be about three teams of agents, serving two parties of applicants. Although that leaves some free agents, by my estimation, nobody comes to check the sign-in sheet. Several other people waiting. Eventually, the CBSA gets me, does the thing. Hands off to the CBP to check - he's busy doing an email. Okay, so the CBSA takes me to a different CBP who is just sitting there talking with his CBSA. CBP checks my record. Neither makes any indication that I did not need to do this. Very much the impression that they completely expect this visit, and BOTH agencies want to check.

Proceed to the new YYZ TB crossing. Still badly in need of signs and arrows. Used the machine and forced the X by saying "other", in order to get my visa transcribed into the new passport. Yellow vest lady sends several non-NEXUS people to an agent before dispatching me. Must have waited there 5 minutes, at the front of the line.

Agent specifically asked me "did you update your passport at the NEXUS office?" and of course I said I just did. I would think agents would be able to see that but whatever.

Aside from what seemed to be unjustified delays, I think it's well worth the peace of mind, particularly since I didn't get an eyeroll or a "pshaw" from any of the agents at any position in the process. They weren't just humouring me. It seemed expected to do what I was doing.

seawolf

Age old questions still unanswered by those professing the need to update in person.

1.) For someone based in US who updates in GOES, how will they be aware of the requirement to update in person in Canada given the most up-to-date official resource (CBSA website) states no update required in person?
2.) If update is required, is US based NEXUS member suppose to use regular lane or NEXUS kiosk during next entry to Canada? How are majority of US-based NEXUS members suppose to know that?
2a.) If NEXUS kiosk is used but neither the kiosk or the agent collecting the NEXUS receipt informs member the need to update passport in person, how is member suppose to know update in person is required (refer to my question 1.)? Most resonable conclusion member will arrive at is they followed CBSA website instructions to the letter and no further action required.

flyquiet

While those comments are valid, it could equally be a critique of the website being out of step, rather than the practices out of step. A member could attempt to rely on the website in their defence, but some of us prefer not to be in that position.
"How would someone know?" is a valid question. However, the opposite argument can also be made. I have crystal clear recollection being told to update in person. Why would it occur to me to check the website for contrary instructions?
We can go around the mulberry bush ad infinitum, but it appears clear that the website may be at odds with instructions at least some of us were given and which are reinforced by comments by at least some of the officials, and at least some of us find it unacceptably risky to ignore a simple process in case the "must update" interpretation is enforced (properly or improperly). However, I read those posts as disclosure of personal decisions, and not insistence on the practices of others. Other readers are responsible to make their own decisions.

Kiraly

It's not just the website that would be out of step. It would be all of the official documentation. Here's the official member's guide, updated in 2014, which on page 12 clearly says that passport updates can be done in GOES and visits to the office are not required. The hard copy of the same documents I received at my interview in 2012 says the exact same thing.

flyquiet

Well, again, if it hits the fan, you're arguing with a person, not a paper. If a person told me X, and another person or people reiterated X, and those people are from the same population as the population that would be holding the fan when I hit it, I am not going to be prioritizing the paper. Like most people that buy consumer products, I would most likely only even open the manual if it stops working

VibeGuy

CBSA and CBP both reinforced the requirement for an in-person visit to update the passport at the Seattle center ten days ago.

txviking

1) Many of us were told by CBSA during our interviews. Yes, CBSA statements and CBSA web site conflict

2) Unknown

Reasonable people will conclude that they can trust official information on official government web sites. And most of the time, they can.

But this is not an argument I want to have with an officer who can decide to yank my NEXUS membership at any time, with no appeals process, based on the OFFICER's perception that I've somehow broken the rules.

As someone else pointed out earlier, once that argument starts, it's already lost. I won't presume to tell anyone else what to do, but for my money, a quick visit to the nearest NEXUS office to update the passport in person is worth it to avoid the risk of that argument occurring.

seawolf

Just because the words come out of the government official's mouth does not make it correct.

Go to the Global Entry food thread, several reports of CBP agent telling GE members NOT to declare certain food (cookies chocolates etc) when documentation states and kiosk question all state food must be declared. Following the person's advice against published documentation would increase risk of losing GE.

US/Canada ABTC thread. Various Asian country immigration officers mistakenly turning away US/Canadian-issued ABTC because the back of the card has no country endorsements.

There is a reason FT mantra is HUCUA. When you call speak with an airline agent going against policy, you don't roll over.

Au contraire there is an appeals process.

If you feel better updating in person, it is your prerogative, but recognize that it is not necessary.