You are free to use separate customs forms for each family member.

However, the CBSA agents have access to your PNR, so if you have all just travelled on the same flight/PNR, and present yourselves separately, that may raise some 'red flags' ...

Until I got my Nexus pass I was 18 years an not secondary... now with my Nexus pass I have been to secondary 5 times in 4 months...:td:

And even more frequently than that sometimes.

I've also gotten a card once that had no R or V.

Thank you, I was always wondering what to look for

I find that hard to believe. At the big custom halls they have could have 20-30 agents working. Where / how would they be able to communicate the code switch?

You've gotta be kidding me -- do you actually think I'm going to tell you how it can possibly be done?

No. But I don't think it is illegal to wonder out loud for us mere mortals :D

The codes also tell quite a lot about the immigration officer's discretion. Sometimes when you approach them, they will assess where you came from by asking you where you originated your journey and the last time you left canada. All to see if you're condricting the info you present on your customs form. They will sometimes ask for your itenitary even if its a E-ticket.

Last year I had to go through secondary when arriving YVR from LAS, which was the first time I've done that routing (drove into YVR and flew to LAS and back). Apparently the routing you do can trip flags -- I'm pretty sure they communicate with the US immigration folks upstairs at YVR.

Sanosuke!

Prior to getting my Nexus, I was 4/5 times pulled into secondary at YOW. I guess they don't like under-20's with a passport full of visas.

YOW and DTW always ask 'how can a student afford to travel so often?'. Before I used to tell them 'saving', and 'backpacking', and that usually got me pulled into secondary. Now my answer (albeit not true), is 'my Grandparents', and they seem to prefer that answer.

Jeez...the computer must think you are an Al Queda or Abu Sayef member!

Ummm...do they not all have computers hooked up to the scanner that they swipe your passport through? Perhaps, email, IM or some internal program is used to broadcast out the changes? No different than any other company needing to get time sensitive information out.

I'm sure they can also communicate with each other in case one notices someone/something suspicious in another line. They often look up and scan other lines where the LOS of other agents might be blocked.

And do you think lying to a CBSA officer is a good idea? If they catch you in your lie one day, secondary will be the least of your worries.