The only issue at YUL was understanding that you need to go to the Nexus machines first and then to the OSS line. The signs aren't clear. I was there on Friday, went to the OSS area, realized I needed to go to the Nexus machines and then came back. By then there were 5 people in front of me with regular passports and only one agent. Still a good experience.

i don't have Nexus, so here is my question. As a Nexus, do you "have" to use it? In this case, it will faster if you fill up one of the form in advance and go to the regular line. Can you do that? As mentioned on another post off another thread, I did a Gate 81 landing to Gate A47 in 9 min yesterday.

You are never obligated to use your Nexus privilege. You can use regular lanes if you prefer to.

A bit off topic, but just a reminder that you need your passport if doing this. You should always carry both when travelling by air, but most of the time no on really cares if you have your passport when using the NEXUS lanes at an airport...

So if I fly on AC ORD-YUL-PVG, there is security screening at ORD, but not at YUL, is that correct?

What if I fly ORD-YYZ-NRT?

Thanks!

For YUL that is correct and confirmed.

For YYZ almost certainly yes as well but since I never witnessed myself I can't say 100%.

No security check at YYZ from ORD to NRT. Just a quick passport check.

This thread is becoming all muddled with non OSS questions.

There are some situations where you don't require another security check that doesn't have OSS.

I went domestic to US on Sunday, and I noticed there was a way for international to domestic to walk basically the inverse path I was taking. I haven't tried it, but it looks like it may be improving.

Glad to hear that. I will be doing US to domestic Thursday, I will report back on my experience.

I find OSS to be slower than using Nexus and re-enter through security most times. The only time when OSS worked well was when I travelled with my wife back from LGA, but I had to do that as she doesn't have Nexus. We landed during a quiet time, so there was no line up. However, there were three or four agents within 50 feet distance checking our boarding passes three or four times. Like seriously, you expect our BP to be altered three or four times within your line of sight?

I assume you are talking about YYZ. I agree. It is spectacularly irritating. I tell them so every time. I try to be polite about it, but I am unsure if I always succeed. :)

[MENTION=740656]jasdou[/MENTION]: est-ce que vous avez vu le carrefour?

Nope, but since we had to wait for 30 minutes to get a ground agent to let us my inbound aircraft, my confortable 1h15 connection became a stressful 45 minutes run in the airport. I went through the usual CBP OSS counters and was directed down to the bus. Of course, the bus was empty so we waited for another 10-15 minutes before moving. I ended up at my gate as the last boarding group was called. So, no, I did not notice anything different with OSS at YYZ but that may have been because I was stressed and had to hurry. Also, it was a bit late (21:30ish) so maybe they are messing around with things due to staffing or who knows what other reasons.

Had OSS on my SFO-YVR boarding card. Was handed a yellow card on arrival, continued to the Nexus machines and went down some corridors to be ejected near domestic security. Asked the SE check-in if I did something wrong. SE checkin thought OSS meant I had priority security privileges, their ignorance is quite funny considering it's an AC boarding card and I told them it represented "one stop security." They do work at the airport though, so what do I know.

Maybe it's coming soon, and maybe it will allow use of the Nexus machines.

What was the yellow card about?

The yellow card just identifies you as a connecting passenger, so that downstream airport staff can direct you to the Connections CBSA booths. But, as discussed a bit upthread, YVR has no OSS, nor will it for a long time without renovations. If you have Nexus, there's no point to the connections process in YVR. We skip it, use Nexus, exit with YVR-destined passengers and go back in to domestic from the "Outside".

Of course, we never have checked baggage, so I'm not sure if that is a problem if you have checked baggage and don't go through the Connections hallway.

Thanks - I've never seen this before. I will be transiting YVR international-domestic in a few weeks, so this is useful information.

You'll find YVR employees at the top of the stairs near "connections" signs handing them out.

It seems that it has been fixed now lmao

Not only that, there are times you CANNOT use Nexus.

Bringing commercial goods across the border, for example

Even bringing chocolate. You go to the normal line, you are fine. Go to the nexus one and declare, they send you to secondary. And miss your connection at YYZ.

And yesterday at 9:30am (!!) in YYZ the lineup was still 30+ people deep with 2 agents. Went downstairs through the regular NEXUS lane and then re-cleared security (zero lineup) -- much faster than standing in the OSS line and then taking the bus. Also had the advantage of walking by the transfer desk so I could get myself on standby for an earlier flight to YOW.

I want this to work so much, and when it first opened and there was no lineup I was pretty excited about saving some time and security re-clear. But the setup they have at YYZ is such a disaster (too few agents, no NEXUS machine, bus instead of walking) they might as well shut it down and save the cost of operating it.

Meanwhile, last night in YUL, there were 4 agents waiting for me - zero people in line - and I went from a US gate to a domestic gate in less than 10 minutes.

Comments like yours and moos from others have me plotting to transit YUL instead of YYZ when flying to exotic Winter destinations like BOS. These trips are unfortunately necessary even though they violate one of my personal travel rules.

Yet another reason to avoid YYZ.

Not anymore. If you say Yes to food, they will process that right where all the customs agents are, so you can skip secondary

I am hoping/assuming that sooner or later, Nexus machines and a walkway will appear there. There is already one from Domestic to International. Does not seem so impossible to go back the other way

So nexus entry is different for each entry? I came back via YUL and used the machine for nexus and it never asked for food. It had a very generic question if I have anything to declare and I said no which would be the same as using the card. Am I missing something?

The Nexus machine asks if you are over your limit or have something to declare. It isn't food specifically but it will stop you.

I know in YYZ, there is the Nexus agent you flash your card when you pass. Last time I declared food (Chicago Pizza) I was processed before going down the escalator so I just walked out as per normal

Why would I declare items that are permissible? Pizza most likely is not permissible but chocolate, candies, etc are

That's not how it works. They ask you to declare food. Which chocolate is. Then they decide what's permissible.

YUL OSS - kudos
 

Do I like it! 15 min. from touching the gate to DOM MLL^

Yup, this. Yes to food. Tell the person what the food is. They update the computer, write on your Nexus slip and off you go.

Regardless if food is allowed or not, I would always click yes. Not worth loosing Nexus over something simple

Recently used 'OSS' connecting US > Intl at YVR. There is no separation on the arrival hallway, after deplaning, for OSS eligible flights. If they are saying passengers from non-OSS eligible flights need to be re-screened prior to boarding their connecting flight, what prevents them from handing off their bags to OSS eligible passengers during the walk down the arrival hallway, before the security checkpoint?

I've only experienced Germany's and Switzerland's version of OSS - and there is physical separation between passengers arriving from "OSS" eligible flights - i.e. they are directed to different arrival hallways/levels.

I expect there eventually will be (~5 years from now), but someone's assessed the risk and given them leniency in the meantime to use a makeshift solution.

Who are they? On the declaration card, it is specified the food categories that must be declared, it does not say food. I am referring to CBSA.

On the E311 declaration card it asks for "plants and animals or their parts/products". Does animal and plant products not include food for you? What is the food you eat based on?

Quite obviously chocolate is a plant product, so it has to be declared.

Quick question. If the line is really long for OSS and I go the traditional way for Nexus, does it matter if I have a checked bag? The bag will still be transferred directly US-->Domestic so will anyone bat an eye if I leave airside without my bags? Or is the no-pickup checked bag scheme a separate program? I'm talking about YYZ here.

No problem, it will not make a difference. The bag will still be transferred.