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
Aug 1, 2011, 3:30 pm
#3256
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 709
FYI : No more NEXUS lane at Rainbow Bridge
As a heads up, it's been awhile now that they've closed the NEXUS lane at the Rainbow Bridge.
Aug 1, 2011, 10:33 pm
#3257
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold Mariott Gold Aeroplan E25K SAS Gold NEXUS
Posts: 1,308
I read that. Not really a bad idea actually, just drive down the road (not far) to the Whirlpool bridge. Less chaotic anyway, though a different toll system on the way home I guess.
Aug 2, 2011, 4:27 am
#3258
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 709
except that when you've gone on a day trip and have stuff to declare at the whirlpool bridge do you still need your paper forms or can you just verbally declare, i've not got a straight answer from Cdn immigration yet…
Aug 2, 2011, 11:50 am
#3259
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Glen Abbey
Posts: 639
You can do a verbal at the Whirlpool Bridge. On Canada Day we came back across, I said "I would like to make a verbal declaration", agent said "go ahead", I told him what I had and he said "see ya!"
Aug 2, 2011, 12:21 pm
#3261
Join Date: May 2010
Location: YOW
Posts: 31
Quick question: I had my interview on July 6th in Ottawa and was told my card would arrive in the mail in a couple weeks. I still haven't received it and from a few posts up I see someone who got theirs within a week. Should I call the office at YOW? The GOES website still has my status as "Interview Scheduled" and doesn't really give much direction on who to contact.
Aug 2, 2011, 12:28 pm
#3262
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New York/Moscow
Programs: Aeroflot Gold, DL Silver, Marriott Gold, Global Entry, NEXUS
Posts: 243
Quick question: I had my interview on July 6th in Ottawa and was told my card would arrive in the mail in a couple weeks. I still haven't received it and from a few posts up I see someone who got theirs within a week. Should I call the office at YOW? The GOES website still has my status as "Interview Scheduled" and doesn't really give much direction on who to contact.
Aug 2, 2011, 12:56 pm
#3263
Join Date: May 2010
Location: YOW
Posts: 31
So a call to the YOW office told me I was misinformed - it's 4 to 6 weeks to get the card delivered. But the officer offered to look into my application to double check and found that the little button on the application that says "Approved" hadn't been checked off!
He changed it and said the clock starts now on the 4-6 week delivery time frame. Hopefully I'll be as lucky as other posters and get it sooner than that
So glad I called!
He changed it and said the clock starts now on the 4-6 week delivery time frame. Hopefully I'll be as lucky as other posters and get it sooner than that
So glad I called!
Aug 2, 2011, 1:21 pm
#3264
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Glen Abbey
Posts: 639
Yes it was a few hours, crossed at 09:00 and back in time to have a picnic lunch on the Niagara Parkway; got some clothing, medical stuff, and groceries, total value around $60.
But didn't want to take any chances re the groceries - if you can poop it you must declare it, we were told when we joined the program.
But didn't want to take any chances re the groceries - if you can poop it you must declare it, we were told when we joined the program.
Aug 2, 2011, 1:21 pm
#3265
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New York/Moscow
Programs: Aeroflot Gold, DL Silver, Marriott Gold, Global Entry, NEXUS
Posts: 243
So a call to the YOW office told me I was misinformed - it's 4 to 6 weeks to get the card delivered. But the officer offered to look into my application to double check and found that the little button on the application that says "Approved" hadn't been checked off!
He changed it and said the clock starts now on the 4-6 week delivery time frame. Hopefully I'll be as lucky as other posters and get it sooner than that So glad I called!
He changed it and said the clock starts now on the 4-6 week delivery time frame. Hopefully I'll be as lucky as other posters and get it sooner than that
So glad I called!
Aug 2, 2011, 1:35 pm
#3266
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO
Programs: UA G
Posts: 4,866
For MIA-YYZ, where does customs/immigration happen? In MIA or YYZ? If YYZ, how long does it take to get through there on a weekday ~4pm?
Is it still possible to walk-in to the enrollment center at YYZ to get retina scans done or do I need an appointment? I already have a NEXUS card.
Lastly, I have an 8:40pm weekday International flight out of YYZ. Assuming I get my retina scan done earlier that afternoon, what time should I get back to the airport to make my flight? I'd like to go out for some dinner before my flight.
Thanks!
Is it still possible to walk-in to the enrollment center at YYZ to get retina scans done or do I need an appointment? I already have a NEXUS card.
Lastly, I have an 8:40pm weekday International flight out of YYZ. Assuming I get my retina scan done earlier that afternoon, what time should I get back to the airport to make my flight? I'd like to go out for some dinner before my flight.
Thanks!
Aug 2, 2011, 1:55 pm
#3267
Join Date: May 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, Fairmont Pres Club, Starwood Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 109
For MIA-YYZ, where does customs/immigration happen? In MIA or YYZ? If YYZ, how long does it take to get through there on a weekday ~4pm?
Is it still possible to walk-in to the enrollment center at YYZ to get retina scans done or do I need an appointment? I already have a NEXUS card.
Lastly, I have an 8:40pm weekday International flight out of YYZ. Assuming I get my retina scan done earlier that afternoon, what time should I get back to the airport to make my flight? I'd like to go out for some dinner before my flight.
Thanks!
Is it still possible to walk-in to the enrollment center at YYZ to get retina scans done or do I need an appointment? I already have a NEXUS card.
Lastly, I have an 8:40pm weekday International flight out of YYZ. Assuming I get my retina scan done earlier that afternoon, what time should I get back to the airport to make my flight? I'd like to go out for some dinner before my flight.
Thanks!
Aug 2, 2011, 2:25 pm
#3269
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
As far as I know all US and Canadian customs/immigration takes place in Canada. Then you are on a 'domestic' flight into the US. I got my retina scan done at YVR, walked in without an appointment. Problem is, you can't use it right away, I think there's a 24 hour or 2 day wait so you could potentially use it on your way home but not same day.