I did mine at the Whirlpool Bridge and there seemed to be the normal few minute lag as with any appointment. Definitely not 45 minutes.

The Canadian guy was really nice. Not at all like some of the CBSA officers I have dealt with in the past. The US guy was more interested in talking about my girlfriend's car and making jokes than anything, and basically reminded me that any fruit grown in Canada was ok to bring in the US, but don't bring oranges or mangoes.

New? That is where I interviewed months ago. I do wish I hadn't, because it doesn't have an IRIS camera, while Ft. Erie does.

My goodness, aren't they terrible when you are a NEXUS holder? As I mentioned before, I didn't get to scan my irises when I did my interview, so I just decided to do them on an upcoming trip where I flew into YYZ instead of BUF. The woman at T1 customs, who I handed both my card and my passport to, actually sounded pissed and demanded to know why I even had a card if my irises had not been scanned. What an awful human being.

I went to the NEXUS office after to get the scan done and asked the officer who did it why a CBSA officer would not know that, and his response was that line officers weren't always trained on NEXUS. That is a huge :td:.

Likely not; daily maintenance is usually done long before the first flight of the morning.

Has nothing to do with the time of day. I find many machines to be troublesome like that, regardless of airport or direction of travel.

I was curious if anyone has any experience with a denied Nexus application? Here is my story (sorry, it might be a bit long):

In mid 2006, I made a very stupid decision to not fully declare the total value of clothing I purchased form the US on a shopping trip. I left out a sweater and a few shirts that the passenger that I was with had purchased. Anyways, the customs officer sent me inside for the amount that I declared (and I do think he knew I wasn't fully delcaring everything). I went inside with the slip and my passenger and I were immediatly seperated. I was asked what the total value was that I was bringing back with me. I knew at this point that it was time to come clean as this was probably my only chance and I redclared the total value. I was advised that I had they would not seize the clothing as long as I paid a fine (which I did). I was advised that I would probably be searched everytime I came back.

Fast forward to now, and I have pretty much had no problems at all with the CBSA in terms of being searched. I have probably only been searched a maximum of three times (I'm thinking only twice) since 2006 and I cross a minimum of once a week (frequently, I cross two or three times a week). I have brought back and fully declared everything and have only had to pay taxes once.

So I figured I would try and apply for Nexus as perhaps my crossing history and the fact that its been a number of years might work to my favor. I declared the customs violation on my application and submitted it. A week later, I receieved a letter from the CBSA that was dated a day or two after I submitted my application that I was denied because I have been found in violation of customs law. The letter instructed to write a letter to the indicated Nexus facility if I wanted to request a review of the decision. I decided to contact the facility by phone, as I wanted to see if I was SOL. The person there told me that I should contact the Nexus office in Ontario as the denial came from there and that I should contact them.

So I contacted the Nexus office in Ontario and they advised me to write a letter to the Redress Committee there as usually after 3 to 5 years they can lift a Nexus denial. Anyways, I forgot to get the address, so I called back and they were closed. I called my local Nexus office to get the address and they checked with a coworker who advised me to send a letter to a specific person, as letters to the Redress Committee end up going to that person.

I tried to contact the person that I sent the letter to at the Ontario Nexus office, and I was given his office number. Someone there told me to contact the Nexus office in Ontariom which I called right back and got the original person who told me to contact his office. She was a bit frustrated dealing with me again (saying she couldn't figure out why they wouldn't help me). I made it clear that I didn't want to talk with him about my letter, only to ask if he receieved it and to check that it didn't go into the garbage as I didn't follow what was set out in the letter (as I was advised otherwised). The person at the Ontario Nexus office told me that because I failed to declare something, I would never be able to get a Nexus pass since I had a record. She asked me if I appealed it and I told her I didn't because I was in the wrong and I did what I did. I told her what my local Nexus office told me (3-5 years) and she said it is actually 6 years and it all depens on what the circumstances were (ie if a vehicle was seized). I told her that my vehicle wasn't seized and she checked my record for which she didn't have full access to. I was advised that addressing my letter to the specific person wasn't a bad thing, I just skipped past a few steps. However, there was no note on my file about receiving the letter.

So I'm not sure what I should do. I am now 15 days into the 30 that is given to ask for a review. I was told to call the Ontario office again in a few weeks to see if they got my letter, however that would put me really close to the end of the 30 day period and I'd hate to get screwed because of that. I'm also frustrated because I keep being told to call different offices and they all say different things.

The letter I did write was sincere, I basically statred the I regret what I did since then, realized what I did wasn't worth the hassle for myself or the CBSA, I would never do it again especially if I got a Nexus pass as I wouldn't want to risk losing that privelage, etc.

If I need to wait a few more years to get a Nexus, I am fine with that. But I am curious if anyone has any experience with getting denied a Nexus application and going through the steps to request a review.

Just a quick follow up to my last post. There is a note on my file that the redress committee receieved my letter. I was also transfered to another CBSA agent who I left a message with to call me back. I will keep this thread updated so that perhaps I can help out if there are any issues such as mine, that may arise.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk about this, but you have to remember that NEXUS is a Trusted Traveler Program. You violated the Customs law, therefore you cannot be trusted right now. Therefore, it does make sense for you not to be enrolled in this program.

The fact that you cross frequently and have had your nose clean for a few years, I would imagine, bodes in your favor. However, it really depends on who you talk to. I've had some candid conversations with CBSA folks (candid, positive conversations), and I've learned who you talk to can make a difference.

In addition to the redress issue through NEXUS, I would send a quick note (as brief as possible) to the Station Manager at the border crossing point you were caught. I would be very mea cupla-ish, mention you've been a good boy (or girl) and see if they will have mercy on you. If it doesn't get you cleared for NEXUS, it might reduce your border inspections.

Good luck.

Does anyone have experience with updating your driver's license information in your NEXUS file? I recently renewed my license. My old license expired on April 25. I called the NEXUS office at YUL and the lady I spoke to said I should be able to update my driver's license online in my GOES account. I tried to do that but was unable to do so. The official NEXUS website actually says that the only information you can change yourself on GOES is your passport and address. I called again and I spoke to another person who took my new driver's license expiry date. She said she'd update my file, but when I log into GOES, the old expiry date is still there. Has anyone had a similar problem? Thanks.

Thanks for the reply, and you didn't come across as a jerk :). I did apply to Nexus knowing that I would have an issue because of that infraction. However, I put that behind me pretty much the day it happened, and I am willing to do whatever is necessary to prove that I can be trusted again. As I mentioned in my first post, I have probably only been searched two or three times since 2006. One was a very late (4am) gas run, and the other, more recently was sending me in with a goods declaration of $100 that after they searched, I didn't pay duty or taxes on (which happened a a few days after the denial letter was sent to me). Compare that to probably well over 250 times I've gone back and forth, it I'd say only 0.8% of my trips have resulted in a search.

If anything, I wish they would search me so atleast there is some record on my file showing that I declared what I actually had and wasn't trying to pull a fast one. There have been countless times I've been waved through without them even looking at my passport (even the American CBP officers occasionally do that too). I've brought through $400 worth of tires that I declared after only being in the USA for 20 minutes and wasn't sent in, I've gone on a $600 afternoon shopping trip with another person that we fully declared and didn't get sent in to pay anything. Even now, noone asks me if I have ever been found in violation of customs laws. Officers did everytime I crossed for a few months after I got caught, but I haven't been asked in years.

Thaks for the tip of sending a quick note to the station manager. I will definatly do it, as I want to show that I am quite a bit more mature than I was when I got caught.

Should I mention in the letter that I applied for Nexus and was denied and sent a letter to the redress committee?

EDIT: Called CBSA and they said that there are numerous Station Managers at the crossing I was caught at. It was suggested to send a letter addressed to the superintendant, and one of the station managers will read it when they receieve it.

There does seem to be a real disconnect between CBSA and the NEXUS/Canpass program. Last week, I had a CBSA officer ask me for my passport when I entered with my NEXUS card (I couldn't use the kiosk). I reminded him that the point of NEXUS was that passports were not required for entry into Canada from the US, which seemed to irritate him more.

Bottom line - if CBSA takes the fees and submits applicants to full security screening, the line agents shouldn't pretend the program doesn't exist.

Since you refer to the kiosks, can I assume you arrived in Canada by air? Nexus cardholders entering by air are still required to carry their passports. This is nothing new.

delete

Just as a note, came into YYZ T1 this evening at about 9:15, and all six Nexus kiosk's were down. Had to tell 3 people as I was walking back to the regular line that they all weren't working. Luckily, the customs hall wasn't too busy, so not too long of a wait (crew line was pretty long, so I didn't try there.

Correct - by air you still need a passport. And even if you think you think you don't, its always a good idea. Leave it in your pocket/purse/bag or wherever for most times when you don't need it with Nexus, but then you have it and can pull it out if oyu do need it, like at a random secondary or if you need to deal with an officer that doesn't know/want to play by the rules. It's nice to think we don't need a passport, but in reality, do you really want to try to win with a customs officer who is being insistant, when in reality, you just never will. Just curious about what happened - because this is definitely something that can (and likely will) get you removed from the program.

Don't think its possible to update DL in GOES - you likely have to go into a Nexus office and do it. Even with the passport updates, I've got conflicting information - the phone agents at the 1-800 number seem to indicate passports can be updated online, while those working in the offices (not to mention, the Nexus guide you get when you first enroll) states you need to do it in person so that they have a photocopy.

Actually, the bottom line is that you decided to get a little smart in response to a reasonable and legitimate request for the Passport.

I've seen how arrogant and abrasive they can get. They really can make your life miserable if they want to.

For me, getting confrontational over producing something that you are supposed to have anyway as part of the terms and conditions of the program is not worth jeopardizing, or watering down your privileges.

Since I got my NEXUS card I've had to do a secondary screening EVERY time. There has yet to be a time I've just been able to pass freely ( when doing the US side) I have to wait in the secondary area. twice at YYZ this took 50 minutes and I almost missed my connection! In Montreal it took about 45 minutes just to be seen.
I don't know what's going on but I'm going back to my local YHZ office and demanding an explanation. It's so frustrating.

Quick note:

If you arrive in Canada by air and have to see an officer (special services, crew line, or the regular queues) instead of using the kiosk for whatever reason, hand your passport over with your declaration form. The officer will likely request it anyway as a machine-readable passport is easier to scan than a Nexus card.