I have tried unsuccessfully to use NEXUS/Global Entry security line at YVR. I was denied because I did not bring my GE card. Now I have NEXUS as well as GE, I do bring my NEXUS card. In the last two months, each time I tried to use NEXUS/Global Entry security line at YVR and YYZ, each time I had to show my NEXUS card or entry would be denied.

The receipt that the global entry kiosk prints has always gotten me into the GE security line at YYC.

Global Entry kiosks are placed after security check in YVR & YYZ. Since YVR & YYZ are pre clearance airports, you are in a way entering into the U.S. after security check.

I'm confused. In these Canadian situations, CATSA aside, is a GE member prevented from reaching a GE kiosk as a result of lacking a membership card (similar to a MIA line dragon mentioned above)?

Huh. When I transited YYZ (before they switched the security to being before CBP), the US customs officers took my receipt before I got to CATSA. How do they collect receipts in YYC?

Non-US citizens/perm residents get their own receipt with their leave by date on (which is effectively the paper version of the stamp).

YYC has pre clearance as well but you take your checked bags through US customs with you, and then drop your bag off. So they have to have security afterwards.

Ah, good to know! I suspect me getting an X meant I wasn't yet admitted, hence the lack of second receipt (and also the reason for fingeprinting/stamping by the officer). Let's see what happens in future, although I have a suspicion I might get an X every time on my current Visa. (I'm guessing an O means you're admitted but need customs inspection, in which case the second receipt should also appear.)

It does suck that you can't get an X if you want to then use expedited security...

No. Without a Global Entry card or a NEXUS card, you are not allowed to use Global Entry/NEXUS security line, similar to U.S. Pre Check line. Once you pass security check line, you proceed to U.S. immigration/customs. That is where you will find GE kiosks.

I just passed through YVR this week and it did take some convincing to obtain access to the GE security line without the card. We both still have the CBP sticker on the last page of our passports, which was enough to persuade her that we belonged there.

This is not the case in YYZ terminal 1 as of a month ago. I've been through 3 times this year and security is after customs/immigration.

They do offer the expedited screening line and they have asked to my GE card.

I'll be going through again on Thursday...

I just flew through Miami on my way back from Europe, and nobody asked me to present my GE card to be allowed to use the GE kiosks.

Since this was my first use of GE, it made me wonder if having the physical card on your person, when re-entering, is actually necessary. My sense was that the act of inserting your passport into the GE kiosk, identified you in the system. If you aren't GE eligible , wouldn't your passport be rejected by the GE kiosk?

I'm curious about LTKernel Panic's suggestion that CBP doesn't require you to present the card upon re-entry. Is this official policy stated somewhere? Ultimately the question is: is it absolutely necessary to carry the GE card with you when coming back into the country?

We've encountered the same at YVR. We don't have GE cards but we were able to haul out our NEXUS cards to prove to the line monitor we belonged there, as it's also a NEXUS lineup.

Without some card at YVR, it seems we would have been SOL. :(

British Citizens among others don't even get a global entry card.

I've only used my GE once so far at ORD and nobody asked for my card. There have been several reports here that at certain airports (MIA being one of them) that airport contractors have refused people access to the GE machines unless they show their GE or NEXUS card. That is pure bull because neither the officer who did my GE interview nor the CBP GE website say you must present your card to access the kiosk. Also only US citizens, US LPRs (green card holders) and Mexican nationals get GE cards yet Canadian citizens and LPRs can get GE benefits through NEXUS and citizens of the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Korea, and Panama are also eligible to apply for GE but *do not* get a card upon approval.

All that being said I do actually carry my GE and passport cards in my travel wallet so if I ever run into one of those nitwits it wouldn't be a problem but if I didn't have it with me and was denied access to the kiosks I'd be demanding to speak to a CBP officer.