It is not quite that open and shut. The NEXUS card is an WHTI card. In that way it can be used instead of a passport but only at a facility with a kiosk. If you go back earlier in this thread you'll find some more details.

...BUT a passport is required if the kiosk is down.

Why anyone would want to be in a foreign country, even the US, without his/her passport is beyond me...

I agree. I would never leave the country without at least one passport.:D

That is not what it says in the members guide:

"When travelling to Canada or the United States

Carry your Nexus Card as well as any required Travel or Identification Documents

Show the CBSA and CBP proof of your NEXUS membership, your personal identification and any other immigration or citizenship documents when requested."

This means that when you are travelling by Air you need to also carry your passport, and by car your birth certificate or passport as well.

Jay

Start at the beginning of the thread and re-read.

Not true. I just rescheduled my appointment for tomorrow in YYZ! Obviously they do fill cancellations and make it available online.

LOL. That's government (in)consistency for you.

The members guide is not the law. The actual WHTI regulations say that NEXUS is only an approved document for travel by air when used at a kiosk. The Cdn regs are similar. If the machines are down, you have to have your passport.

For travel by land, NEXUS is an approved WHTI document and there are no Canadian regs (you just have to be able to prove your citizenship which NEXUS can do). But it's still safer to have your passport when travelling abroad (I can't imagine most American LEOs would have any idea what a NEXUS card was if anything happened and you needed to prove your identity in the States).

Is Nexus valid if one doc not "validated"
 

I had my Nexus interview. Appl form had passport and birth certificate copies, but I could not find my birth certificate on the date of my interview. Had interview, got the Nexus card, but was told by Canadian agent "you should bring your birth certificate into the office so we flag in the system that it has been validated". There were weird vibes between the US and Canadian agent so I didn't want to ask "is my Nexus card valid before I show you my birth certificate", but the thing is I will be travelling before I have time to find the birth certificate. Anyone know the answer? What will happen if I never find the original birth certificate and have to order a replacement? Since we are renovating, all I know is it is not where I expected it to be...

I always bring my passport in addition to my Nexus Card. As I mentioned a while ago in this threat, in the YYZ office about a year ago, I asked about the need to bring a passport with me, just to see their take. The Canadian agent told me that that technically and legally, the card alone is fine. But that some agents (on both sides), firstly don't read the memo's going around about this and secondly, others don't agree with the idea of this program. As I've also said before, I'm not taking a chance in getting randomed and having to argue with an agent about the legality of a document - not with someone who has the power to deny me entry. The rule on the passport, however, is crystal clear.

Not sure about this specifically, but they need to/are supposed to see an actual copy of the birth certificate and take a copy for thier records. I would expect to be pointed toward secondary if you haven't given them the real copy of your documents yet and you use the card.

Alternatively, you can probably bring another valid form of ID that is valid for getting a NEXUS for them to scan, such as a Canadian citzenship card.

I was having the same debate about my address update, though this is probably less critical then with my primary id's used for getting the card. I moved from IL to NJ, got a new license, and updated in GOES, but haven't had a chance to bring to the office as I've only been back on weekends the last while. I was a little worried, but in 3 or 4 trips back to Canada since (6 to 8 NEXUS uses) I was only sent to talk to someone once - by the US side - and even at that it was on trip one or 2, they looked at my NEXUS card, typed something into the comp. for a minute, and then told em to continue on my way. Haven't had an issue on either side since.

NEXUS - Crossing into US at Champlain, NY
 

Quick questions:

Is there a dedicated NEXUS lane at the Champlain, NY border crossing? I know they recently completed re-vamping the entire border crossing. Do we go right with the trucks or do we go straight to normal car lanes. Where is the NEXUS lane? Do they have the card reader? Or do we need to see a border agent?

Also, I am travelling with my dog. Does this disqualify me from using NEXUS lane? My dog has all required vaccines so I have nothing to hide... but I am wondering if I need to "declare" her.

thanks!

Go to the trucks area. Follow the signs that say "FAST" ignore the sign that says Nexus keep left. It is wrong.

At the truck area you need to go the left most lane. The CBP agent comes to the car and takes your cards inside.

I have no idea about the dog. Don't see why you could not use the NEXUS lane with the dog...

I'll have to agree with the above statement. I have no problem taking a Nexus card at face value, but I can imagine some problems developing were you to arrive without a passport and the Nexus machines were out of service. As a Canadian returning to Canada, you don't technically need any documents to enter your own country, but the officers at primary generally expect to see a passport or permanent resident card. Without one of those documents, the officer may refer you to Immigration secondary until an officer is "satisfied following an examination on their entry that the person is a citizen or a registered Indian."

Save yourself some potential headaches: travel with your passport.

Customs Charges??
 

Hi everybody!
(pauses and waits for "Hi, Dr. Nick!")

Just got my Nexus card last week and tried it out on the weekend at the Peach Arch crossing (saved me THREE+ hours!).

I'm wondering what everyone's experiences have been with getting charged duty on the purchases they claimed on their TDC? I claimed everything I bought (around $100), so now I'm wondering when the duty/taxes charge should appear on my cc.

Any suggestions?

Nothing charged if your within your exemption limit. We've also done day trips and ddeclared groceries under $20 and had no charges. Have also had day trips or overnight (less than 48 hrs) and brought back over $100 and been charged to the penny.

I find that because you 'have to' be honest on the TDC, that if gone for less than 48 hrs, it's better to go trough the regular lane and have the officer use his judgement as to sending you inside. With the TDC's all judgement is removed, in my experience.