FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - NEXUS First Time Applications Information and Processing Timelines
Old Jul 31, 2017 | 7:22 pm
  #1403  
mnbp
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Originally Posted by TheBOSman
I'm not, but that is only because the iris scan is only required if using NEXUS in the air mode when entering Canada. If you're using NEXUS to cross the border at land or sea (as many people who have it do), the iris scan is not required. The USA also does not require the iris scan at all.
Originally Posted by xobile
To be honest, I don't quite see the reason why there are differences in the way NEXUS is processed/used depending on the country. Locations that don't take Iris scans right now, which, from my understanding, are generally land crossings run by CBP (as an opposite example, the Peace Bridge crossing in Fort Erie/Buffalo is on the Canadian side and does do iris scans), should implement the technology to do so, as it's a relatively straightforward procedure and the technology exists already, as it's already being used at Canadian interview locations. I wouldn't have even known there was any difference in the types of biometrics taken depending on location if it weren't for Flyertalk. The GOES website only indicates in small print at the bottom of your confirmation page "Special Instructions: Retinal scans are available at this location." As far as I can tell there is no way to see on GOES which locations have retinal scans available without first confirming an appointment--an unnecessary lack of clear information. The NEXUS application page itself makes no mention of any differences in the way the card is used while entering Canada vs entering the US. I'd hate to have only taken my fingerprints, take a trip to Canada, and be rejected by the NEXUS kiosk because I didn't have an iris scan that I didn't even know existed before. Likewise, I know I can travel to Canada with just my NEXUS card, but the Global Entry kiosks are not clear in allowing one to travel with just a NEXUS card back to the US (it is possible, however, though not for Canadian Permanent Residents). All in all the procedures and capabilities of the cards can misleadingly vary depending on interview location and country of departure and citizenship.
Even though Nexus is jointly administered by US and Canada, obviously each country controls their own entry procedures. So, one would refer to information from Canada for authoritative information regarding procedures necessary to enter Canada.

The only Nexus machines which USE the iris scan are the Nexus kiosks at Canadian airports. If you want to enter Canada by Air using one of these Nexus kiosks, you must have an iris scan. If you want to enter Canada by any other means (land or sea), you don't need an iris scan.

Here's a list of the Nexus enrollment centers. Each center's entry in this list identifies whether they take iris scans (check both the Land and Airport lists).

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/location-eng.html
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