Originally Posted by wesmills

I'm a NEXUS member and routinely take day trips to Vancouver, BC from Washington state, always for pleasure and rarely have anything to declare. On my past two trips, I've gotten extra questions in both the NEXUS lanes (going north, so CBSA) and in the standard lanes (going south, CBP). I'm usually coming back after 9PM so the US NEXUS lane is closed. My first few trips, I was only asked--in both directions--if I had anything to declare, but all trips after 2013 started have been more in depth. For example, CBSA asked me what I did for work, where I was going, why I rented a car to drive up, who I planned on meeting and why we were meeting in Vancouver, and where my wife lived (I never told CBSA at the border that I'm married but I was asked by CBSA in my NEXUS interview). The last one seemed the most odd. Going southbound, I was asked, again, why I only stayed for a few hours, what I was doing, why my friend and I intended to meet in Vancouver when we both live south of the border, where was "home," and why my previous trip 10 days ago was also for several hours.

I'm not so much complaining as curious. I fully recognize that Canada has every right to ask me whatever questions it likes, NEXUS member or not, though the questions about the rental car and where my wife was tripped me up. I've never driven anything but a rental to Canada because my owned car is a cheap "beater" designed to get around town; I wouldn't want to drive it ~400 miles round trip. On the other hand, I am a bit irked at the US crossing. I showed my EDL--because I got barked at by a last CBP agent last time for using my NEXUS card in a non-NEXUS lane (though the NEXUS lane southbound was closed)--and he spent at least two minutes scrutinizing it. My EDL number is on my NEXUS record, as are my US passport card and regular passport.

So, some questions:

- Is this level of questioning normal after a couple of visits? Do I seem like I'm doing something suspicious?
- Should I have used the same card going northbound and southbound, previous agent notwithstanding?
- What's the deal with CBP being so inquisitive?