Screen at land crossings?

I had that happen to me last week at YVR going into the US. One of the US Agents was standing behind the first inspection booth on the right, waving everyone who used the Nexus machines into secondary. He pulled over 4 people in front of me and 2 behind me.

Yup, there is usually an LED sign...

Proceed arrow up'
Secondary arrow to the right

As a trusted traveller (aka Nexus cardholder) entering the USA you are required to make a declaration of any goods you are bringing in. So, considering the treatment you received, I would consider this a seconddary.

Entering the US thru Peace Arch (with Nexus) is a bit of a nightmare now that the righthand side is closed down. While they do have a Nexus lane on the left-hand side, it is not set up the same. You need to hand the officer your card(s) and he scans them, verifies it's you and sends you on your way...

Note: the treatment you described above is pretty standard for going thru the regular line, so maybe the system was down, or something?!?

Either the guy had too mych time on his hands or he was just being an a$$.

You let a crossing guard check your trunk? What next: a bus driver searching your luggage?

I guess that was a secondary examination; it's sort of a broad concept meaning any further examination beyond the primary inspection.

Wasn't like that 2 Saturdays ago. My shortest visit to the U.S. - crossed and came back across in 9 minutes.

A few years ago, they used to do that to every vehicle using the Nexus and regular lanes whether Canadian or U.S. Looked into trunks, back of vans, pickups, everything (not just post September 2001 either). Had 2 agents for each lane. Rarely happened to us as we have cars that they can peer inside very easily. Haven't noticed it so much in the past 3 years.

The US portion of my Nexus interview took significantly longer than the Canadian portion which was simply to record my iris scans. The CBP agent wanted to know how I had driven to the interview (BOS-YUL), where I went to school, why I took so many short trips (I guess he's never met a FTer before and I don't even do international one-day turn MRs), why I didn't stay longer at places I visited, why I wanted a Nexus card (not that many Canada entries in my CBP record), when I was in Canada last and so forth.

The agent did mention the Global Entry program but had no information about whether Nexus card holders would have any type of special enrollment strategy. He thought that the fingerprint issue was holding that up although I did end up having all 10 taken.

Interestingly neither side wanted proof of residency beyond a driver's license although I had brought several of the suggested documents.

I've never had to give them my card, there's a scanner when you pull up to the booth.

The guard doing it to speed people up. Due to the *construction* the new/temp lane was not set up as it usually is.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...-facility.html

I was advised not to apply for Global Entry yet as a regular application, as they will likely try to have a special application for NEXUS members. According to the Global Entry FAQ page:

"CBP is exploring ways to integrate members of its NEXUS, and SENTRI programs on an optional basis."

Some Clarification on Process
 

Hello

I travel from Canada to the US mostly but anywhere is the world at times.

Am I right that Nexus would serve me well?
Does one need to register first through GOES and then apply for Nexus?
Is there any difference between doing it from a US of CA government website?

Thanks

It'd seem so.

Yes

No (since you can only apply through the GOES website).

Which brides in the Niagara area have separate Nexus lanes? On our ground crossings into the US I am concerned we will be caught-up in the 1+ hours wait/lineup On and over the bridge until we can break off to the nexus lane.

Rainbow Bridge and Peace Bridge. No Nexus lane at Queenston-Lewiston, at least not for now.