Originally Posted by
König
I guess those kiosks were for CanPASS participants. Pretty much just like GE, but only for Canada. It is a trusted-traveller programme, as all applicants must be approved by the CBSA.
No, this is a slightly different system that was introduced just prior to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents are able to use these kiosks to expedite their customs declarations. The kiosk will scan your passport, and the completed declaration card. You may have to answer a few questions on the kiosk, based on your declaration card. The kiosk will then print a receipt with the scan of your declaration card and a random #. You will then be given a quick interview by a CBSA officer, based on your customs declaration and the random # that is marked on the receipt. If it is your lucky day, that random # will indicate that you have to proceed through secondary inspection. You then have to hand your kiosk receipt to the CBSA officer at the exit of the customs area.
Slightly faster process than speaking to a CBSA officer without using a kiosk, but still not on par with NEXUS. With NEXUS/CANPASS, you only need to speak to the officer that is collecting the receipts at the exit, if they ask you questions.
More info from the CBSA website:
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/travel-voyage/abc-paf-eng.html
I guess the US version will be similar to these kiosks, minus the paper declaration form.