Any charges have always shown up on-line within 3-4 days.

Frankly, I'd rather pay $20 in duty/taxes than wait 2+ hours in a border lineup!!!

Thanks for the info!

You can (or rather, still have to) be honest going through the regular lineup and hope the agent will just wave you through (worked for us a few times even) - thankfully the line was short. That was what the CBSA agent at the Blaine Nexus office advised back in 2002.

Ain't that the truth! We generally only use TDCs when the lineup is about >10-20 cars (usually it's much less, or much much more).

I was amazed at the line coming back into Canada on Saturday -- the regular line and the Nexus lane both started at the same place! I actually had to squeeze around another vehicle just to get into the Nexus lane, that's how close it was!

*That* right there made the $50 fee the best $50 I ever spent (whatever duty I paid for that day, well, that's just gravy for them I guess)

I noticed while trying to fill out the NEXUS application that they disallow PO Box numbers.. we have a legal land description, can this be used instead?

Sanosuke!

Excellent experience at Blue Water Bridge
 

I've been using my Nexus for airport travel since they first came out, but this was the first time I did a land border crossing. Wasn't sure if my Nexus would be valid so I asked the agent when I paid the toll on the Cdn side. She asked if I had my "yellow card", and I said no, so she handed me one to hang from my rear view mirror. Since this was yesterday (Memorial Day), there was a long line-up in the regular lines, but absolutely no one in the Nexus line. So I was thrilled to scoot up the Nexus line.

Bottom line: no problem using the Air Nexus for land border crossings.

Now to answer the dog question. I've often taken my dogs to the US and always used to take my rabies certificates, but no one has ever asked to see one. I've even picked up a rescue from the Detroit pound, and again was not asked for paperwork or anything. (Good thing since they didn't give me a rabies certificate.) Yesterday, I had my dog with me, and realized I didn't even remember to bring paperwork. The gatekeeper (the one who lets you into the Nexus lane), reached in, patted my dog, asked the breed, etc and that was it. The Nexus customs officer did not give her a second look.

Bottom line: no problem taking a dog through the Nexus line!

MG, can you explain this? What is the difference in the programs - and how do you enroll in Air Nexus? I thought Nexus was Nexus... :(

Thanks,
bawm

Maybe I'm the one who's confused. When I applied for Nexus, I remember the form asking if I wanted Airport or Land Crossing. Maybe in the end, it's all one and the same. I just thought that there might have been peculiarities to one or the other. (Maybe it's the retina scan which is required at airports, not at land crossings?)

Anyhow, I certainly had no problems crossing at the border with what I thought was an airport approved Nexus.

Trying to bring my question up again... since nobody seems to see it yet.

Sanosuke!

There used to be separate programs for Air (and actually separate ones for private aviation and airline passengers), Marine, and Land. A few years ago they were all merged into one program. Those who enrolled when they were still separate were then eligible to use the other modes (subject to getting a retina scan if they hadn't already for airport use).

My question is what is the "yellow card"? Can't say I've ever heard of it (although we've only used our cards while flying or at the Upper Whirlpool NEXUS-only bridge).

If I'm not mistaken their is nothing to pay on groceries period.

Also to avoid paying extra duties for non-US made items just buy some groceries . The rule is if 51% of your items are US made then you can check off US made on the card. So if you buy a 100$ clothing item made overseas just buy 101$ of groceries to off-set.

Not sure that it does anything other than to flag your car as being allowed to speed past everyone else in line. The agent didn't ask for it when I reached him. It specifically says "Blue Water Bridge" on it.

That's largely correct, though there are limits to what you can import with regard to cheese, turkey and some other foods.

I don't think it's that easy. I think the difference is whether you are assessed just GST/PST/HST or duty + the previous. Haven't got any data points.

Call and explain the situation.

I think that was the point. If you buy $100 of sheets made in China (since they're all made there), you'll check "made elsewhere"and they'll charge PST, GST, and duty (20% or whatever it is, don't have a TDC card). If you buy $100 of sheets from China and $101 of groceries from US, you'll check "made in US", and they'll chare PST, and GST, on the sheets, and probably nothing on the groceries (if they're all tax-free, but even if some are taxable like boxes of Tide or diapers or whatever, as long as they're US-made they tip the scales in favour of the "made in US" box).

What I find strange is that (again from memory) things made in Canada fall into the "other countries" (other than US, that is) category on the TDC?

=aw