Mar 3, 2013, 10:24 pm
Last edit by: TWA884
Current NEXUS Information messages can be found in the following thread:
The NEXUS Information Thread
The NEXUS Information Thread
Welcome to the Travel Safety/Security Trusted Travelers Forum Nexus Information Wiki! This resource will appear at the top of every page within this thread to help users learn more about this program.
About NEXUS
NEXUS is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States.
The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) are cooperating in this joint venture to simplify border crossing for members while enhancing security.
Program benefits
If you are approved to participate in NEXUS, you will receive a membership identification card to use when entering Canada or the United States at all designated NEXUS air, land and marine ports of entry.
Membership will enable airline passengers to save time by:
- using automated self-serve kiosks in dedicated areas at designated international airports;
- using NEXUS/SENTRI lanes at land crossings when/where available. NEXUS lanes entering Canada will likely have a constant red traffic signal. This is to discourage non-NEXUS members from using the lane. Canada-bound NEXUS land crossing operating hours. All occupants must have NEXUS cards when using NEXUS lane entering Canada. At some locations, the NEXUS lane, the inspection booth is not staffed but there should be a call button. When entering US in a NEXUS/SENTRI lane, all occupants must carry either NEXUS, Global Entry, or SENTRI cards (or any combination thereof). Notable exception is Whirlpool Bridge which requires a NEXUS card to open the toll gate on the Canadian side to cross to the US..
- As of 17 MAY 2017 - NEXUS members no longer need to complete a paper CBSA Declaration Card (Form E311) when using a NEXUS self-serve kiosk at any Canadian airport where NEXUS is available. (Refer to post #10421)
- using the Trusted Traveller Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) Security Line at major and select medium-sized Canadian airports to expedite airport pre boarding security screening. For detailed information, please visit the CATSA Web site.
Join NEXUS
Here are the steps for becoming a member. There is a non-refundable processing fee of CAN$50 or US$50 per applicant for a five-year membership card.
About NEXUS
Eligibility
How to apply
Enrolment process
Key points about the program as found by forum members:
- NEXUS cardholders must advise of ANY changes to their vital information such as passport numbers/validity, visa status, legal names, primary residence, criminal convictions, and employment if it impacts your eligibility in the program.
- It's normal to find the first in-person NEXUS interview to be months into the future, but a little patience and regular checks on the TTP website almost always yields an interview date much sooner.
- Each person who wants to participate in the NEXUS program must fill out a separate application form. There is no fee for applicants under the age of 18.
- If traveling with non-NEXUS family members NEXUS cardholders are required to use the regular customs lines.
- There is a zero tolerance policy and membership can be terminated for infractions including not having your NEXUS card on you and using the NEXUS lane and not declaring items on your customs declaration card, though members have reported some leniency being granted for such infractions in the past.
- Private companies may offer services for submitting your application and charge an additional processing fee but these extra charges are not part of the official NEXUS application fee. Expedited services offered by such companies will not assist in speeding up the application process.
Updating Passport with Canada for NEXUS
As per CBSA website, updates to passport information can be handled on TTP.
Please note that NEXUS members are not required to report to an Enrolment Centre to update or change their passport information with the CBSA.
Some FT members don't trust instructions provided by CBSA and recommend the following:
Call the Canadian Processing Centre with responsibility for residents of the United States:
After going through the phone tree to reach a Nexus representative, advise them that you need to update your US passport with Canada.
The representative will give you an email address and instructions to scan your updated passport picture page (include your trusted traveler number on the scan) and then email it to a particular email address. I was advised to put the representative's name in the email message so that he could process the update on the Canadian side. He confirmed that any passport update in TTP does not reach Canada. NOTE: FT members have been able to enter Canada without any issues by updating passport online only.
He specifically requested that only the telephone number be posted (and not the email address).
In case the telephone number doesn't work, here's the webpage where the phone number is posted: Canada Border Services Agency - NEXUS - General Information
- 800-842-7647 --- Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (Eastern Time)
After going through the phone tree to reach a Nexus representative, advise them that you need to update your US passport with Canada.
The representative will give you an email address and instructions to scan your updated passport picture page (include your trusted traveler number on the scan) and then email it to a particular email address. I was advised to put the representative's name in the email message so that he could process the update on the Canadian side. He confirmed that any passport update in TTP does not reach Canada. NOTE: FT members have been able to enter Canada without any issues by updating passport online only.
He specifically requested that only the telephone number be posted (and not the email address).
In case the telephone number doesn't work, here's the webpage where the phone number is posted: Canada Border Services Agency - NEXUS - General Information
US citizens/residents who have both Global Entry and NEXUS cards and who renew the Global Entry membership whilst their NEXUS card is active, will not be able to renew the NEXUS card until after it expires. The option to do so disappears from the TTP website.
Dear mxzblftspk,
Your NEXUS membership is not set to expire until July 11 2016.
As an approved NEXUS member, you added Global Entry for an additional $100. When you completed your Global Entry application, you received a Global Entry card. When you activated the Global Entry Card, your NEXUS Card was deactivated and the option to renew NEXUS was removed from your account.
If you wish to renew NEXUS, you will have to wait for your NEXUS membership to expire. Once it expires, you will have the option within your TTP online account to renew NEXUS. After you follow all of the steps to become a NEXUS member again, including the completion of an interview at a NEXUS Enrollment Center near the Canadian border, you will receive a new NEXUS card and will have Global Entry benefits at no additional cost.
When your Global Entry account expires 5 years after your application, do not renew it. Global Entry benefits are included with your NEXUS membership.
It is our goal to provide you the best information we have in response to your question. If you follow the information provided in our response, and still need assistance, please reply to this email and we will investigate how we may further assist you.
Thank you again for contacting the CBP INFO Center.
Sincerely,
CBP INFO Center
Your NEXUS membership is not set to expire until July 11 2016.
As an approved NEXUS member, you added Global Entry for an additional $100. When you completed your Global Entry application, you received a Global Entry card. When you activated the Global Entry Card, your NEXUS Card was deactivated and the option to renew NEXUS was removed from your account.
If you wish to renew NEXUS, you will have to wait for your NEXUS membership to expire. Once it expires, you will have the option within your TTP online account to renew NEXUS. After you follow all of the steps to become a NEXUS member again, including the completion of an interview at a NEXUS Enrollment Center near the Canadian border, you will receive a new NEXUS card and will have Global Entry benefits at no additional cost.
When your Global Entry account expires 5 years after your application, do not renew it. Global Entry benefits are included with your NEXUS membership.
It is our goal to provide you the best information we have in response to your question. If you follow the information provided in our response, and still need assistance, please reply to this email and we will investigate how we may further assist you.
Thank you again for contacting the CBP INFO Center.
Sincerely,
CBP INFO Center
Archived: The NEXUS Information Thread
Jun 2, 2008, 3:47 am
#301
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ at this time
Programs: ACMM / Altitude S100K / HH Diamond
Posts: 6,285
Yes, you need to give them your passport to scan as soon as you have a new one. This is even more important with passports than for DL's, as they have access to the passport system and can probably tell your old one was replaced. If this is the case, you will definitely get a secondary to have it copied anyway, and could possibly have your NEXUS pulled if the officer is having a bad day - T+C's say you need to provide new/updated documents before you travel again.
Jun 2, 2008, 5:57 am
#302
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA Plat, HH Gold, SPG Gold, HH Gold, Marriott Silver, Amex Plat, GlobalEntry, SW A-List Preferred
Posts: 866
I had a good day with my Nexus on Friday. I was able to use my Nexus card only as ID coming through EWR. It was accepted at check in (granted, Air Canada), through the TSA checkpoint (no questions asked, even) and for id to get on board the flight. Particularly with the TSA I was impressed - its the first time I have actually been able to use it without being questioned on whether it was a valid ID or not.
I'm wondering if this is luck or they are starting to learn - I hope the latter.
I'm wondering if this is luck or they are starting to learn - I hope the latter.
Jun 2, 2008, 10:52 am
#303
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,629
My girlfriend thinks that the serial numbers on the TDCs identify the person to whom the booklet was issued. But if that's the case we're worried that we may have filled in the wrong cards- since both our booklets have just been lying in the car for the last few months since we became members as we've never had to use them. We certainly don't remember now which booklet was issued to which one of us.
Jun 2, 2008, 11:10 am
#304
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 92
Thanks todd-r.
I'll do that right away. I just hope we don't get into trouble for having (possibly) filled in the wrong cards last time. There's a 50% chance we did that. But it may not matter since neither of us was over the limit.
I'll do that right away. I just hope we don't get into trouble for having (possibly) filled in the wrong cards last time. There's a 50% chance we did that. But it may not matter since neither of us was over the limit.
Jun 2, 2008, 11:45 am
#305
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ at this time
Programs: ACMM / Altitude S100K / HH Diamond
Posts: 6,285
Answering my own q for future reference to others. With old and new passport in hand I showed up at the YYZ Nexus office in T1. Signed in under the "update" list not the "appointment" list and was taken immediately. Information updated in the system and I was out in about 10 min. They do not reissue the Nexus card and indicate it is valid until expiry and has been updated with the new passport information.
Jun 2, 2008, 1:54 pm
#306
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: AC MM 50K, Marriott LTT
Posts: 535
Answering my own q for future reference to others. With old and new passport in hand I showed up at the YYZ Nexus office in T1. Signed in under the "update" list not the "appointment" list and was taken immediately. Information updated in the system and I was out in about 10 min. They do not reissue the Nexus card and indicate it is valid until expiry and has been updated with the new passport information.
Jun 2, 2008, 4:49 pm
#307
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
Nexus iris scanners at YYZ T1 - use the new ones
Today I went to the first iris scanner you come to at T1 - one of the old ones. After doing the Nexus waltz four times (please step forward a little step back a little step right a little - scan failed start again etc) I noticed people being successful on an adjacent machine. An AC crew member told me that he noticed some machines work better - though he was observing not using them. So I went to the one closest to the exit and hit approval on the first try. I noticed that machine is a newer type. I recommend that you look at the machines and choose a new one.
Jun 2, 2008, 6:32 pm
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,944
Today I went to the first iris scanner you come to at T1 - one of the old ones. After doing the Nexus waltz four times (please step forward a little step back a little step right a little - scan failed start again etc) I noticed people being successful on an adjacent machine. An AC crew member told me that he noticed some machines work better - though he was observing not using them. So I went to the one closest to the exit and hit approval on the first try. I noticed that machine is a newer type. I recommend that you look at the machines and choose a new one.
Jun 3, 2008, 9:28 am
#309
Join Date: May 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, SPG Gold, HH D
Posts: 1,130
... then I got selected for random screening by the CATSA agents. I got the most thorough frisking of my life - she really should have at least bought me a coffee first. Yikes.
Jun 3, 2008, 12:37 pm
#310
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: St Louis
Programs: AA Plat, NWA Silver, UA 2P, SPG Plat
Posts: 25
Where's the best place to park near the Blaine truck crossing if I want to just walk across into the US for the appointment? There looks to be a duty free just north of the border crossing...
Jun 3, 2008, 12:43 pm
#311
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE100K, HH G
Posts: 2,454
Really? I have driven US rental cars into Canada twice -- once after September 11th, and once after the March snowstorm this year. At neither time did I have any hassles at customs.
Jun 3, 2008, 12:50 pm
#312
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,858
Any particular reason besides just making it faster to return to Canada because I won't have to wait in a line of cars?
Duty-free may not work as it may be oneway (forced to head south once you enter). At least that's how it works for the Peace Arch crossing.
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Jun 3, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Jun 3, 2008, 12:52 pm
#313
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,858
FWIW, even the oneway rental may be iffy. See this excerpt from National.ca's site:
http://www.nationalcar.ca/itemDetail...mID=ONE#Canada
The Canadian Import Law prohibits Canadian Citizens from taking a U.S. owned rental vehicle from the U.S. into Canada. The rental vehicle will be seized by Canadian Customs at the border, whether the Canadian renter plans to return the vehicle to a U.S. or Canadian location. The U.S. owned rental vehicle cannot be imported into Canada, even to temporarily cross the border. However, a Canadian may rent a Canadian owned vehicle in the U.S. and return it to Canada or cross the border without the vehicle being seized. Any U.S. Citizen renting a vehicle in the U.S. may drive across the U.S./Canadian border with no restrictions. The driver may be asked by Customs to show a rental agreement and a form of identification, such as a driver's license.
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Jun 3, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Jun 11, 2008, 7:15 pm
#314
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,944
Thoughts on Global Entry and NEXUS
Yesterday, the US launched Global Entry, a pilot project at 3 US airports, IAD, JFK and IAH. Basically, its like NEXUS except for US citizens and residents who go overseas a lot.
To sign up, you get a background check, pay $100 (yup, NEXUS is still cheap!), do a fingerprint and interview. Once approved, when you arrive back in the US, .you skip the customs line, go to a kiosk, activate it with a machine-readable passport or permanent resident card, get your fingerprints checked and a digital photo taken, and then answer the customs questions on screen. Pretty similar to NEXUS, but with the loss of the eye scan and the addition of having your passport scanned and picture taken. More information on this article on Kiplinger: http://www.kiplinger.com/businessres...rs_080610.html
I had always kind of wished there were NEXUS machines at US airports for when you come back on an overseas flight via the US. So here comes the interesting part for us NEXUS users, which is mentioned at the bottom of the linked article: "The government also is looking at ways to marry this program with domestic registered traveler program and other trusted traveler cards such as NEXUS and SENTRI."
Anyway, just thought I might put this out there as food for thought.
To sign up, you get a background check, pay $100 (yup, NEXUS is still cheap!), do a fingerprint and interview. Once approved, when you arrive back in the US, .you skip the customs line, go to a kiosk, activate it with a machine-readable passport or permanent resident card, get your fingerprints checked and a digital photo taken, and then answer the customs questions on screen. Pretty similar to NEXUS, but with the loss of the eye scan and the addition of having your passport scanned and picture taken. More information on this article on Kiplinger: http://www.kiplinger.com/businessres...rs_080610.html
I had always kind of wished there were NEXUS machines at US airports for when you come back on an overseas flight via the US. So here comes the interesting part for us NEXUS users, which is mentioned at the bottom of the linked article: "The government also is looking at ways to marry this program with domestic registered traveler program and other trusted traveler cards such as NEXUS and SENTRI."
Anyway, just thought I might put this out there as food for thought.
Jun 12, 2008, 7:08 am
#315
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: Earned: AC SE, AA PLT - Comped: DL PLT, Avis PC, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 781
Yesterday, the US launched Global Entry, a pilot project at 3 US airports, IAD, JFK and IAH. Basically, its like NEXUS except for US citizens and residents who go overseas a lot.
To sign up, you get a background check, pay $100 (yup, NEXUS is still cheap!), do a fingerprint and interview. Once approved, when you arrive back in the US, .you skip the customs line, go to a kiosk, activate it with a machine-readable passport or permanent resident card, get your fingerprints checked and a digital photo taken, and then answer the customs questions on screen. Pretty similar to NEXUS, but with the loss of the eye scan and the addition of having your passport scanned and picture taken. More information on this article on Kiplinger: http://www.kiplinger.com/businessres...rs_080610.html
I had always kind of wished there were NEXUS machines at US airports for when you come back on an overseas flight via the US. So here comes the interesting part for us NEXUS users, which is mentioned at the bottom of the linked article: "The government also is looking at ways to marry this program with domestic registered traveler program and other trusted traveler cards such as NEXUS and SENTRI."
Anyway, just thought I might put this out there as food for thought.
To sign up, you get a background check, pay $100 (yup, NEXUS is still cheap!), do a fingerprint and interview. Once approved, when you arrive back in the US, .you skip the customs line, go to a kiosk, activate it with a machine-readable passport or permanent resident card, get your fingerprints checked and a digital photo taken, and then answer the customs questions on screen. Pretty similar to NEXUS, but with the loss of the eye scan and the addition of having your passport scanned and picture taken. More information on this article on Kiplinger: http://www.kiplinger.com/businessres...rs_080610.html
I had always kind of wished there were NEXUS machines at US airports for when you come back on an overseas flight via the US. So here comes the interesting part for us NEXUS users, which is mentioned at the bottom of the linked article: "The government also is looking at ways to marry this program with domestic registered traveler program and other trusted traveler cards such as NEXUS and SENTRI."
Anyway, just thought I might put this out there as food for thought.