we weren't given any TDCs as we were only going to use NEXUS AIR... officer indicated that these were just for people at road crossings...

Hmmm... when I enrolled, several years ago, both the Canadian and particularly the US officials, not to mention the user's guide they handed out then, were quite specific. You simply were not allowed to take any kind of food across the border when using your NEXUS pass. One agent even suggest not brining bottled water as that might be considered a food product.

But the latest on-line user's guide simply notes that you may "import" items by declaring them. The only problem, small as it might be, is that most of the time when I pull up to the booth the agent simply says something like "Enjoy your trip" or "Thank you." I suppose you'd still be best off by saying "BUT... I need to declare the following items."

In any case, you're always better off declaring something, even if they don't care. I one time (regular lanes) had the remains of a hamburger that I declared. The agent asked me if I was going to eat the rest of it (no) and then just tossed it in the agricultural waste bin.

Well I just had one of the WORST experiences with NEXUS...i applied in June got accepted within 3 days made my appointment for today in YUL as I had a flight going back to the U.S. I got here and went through the Canadians first who had no problems, they took my iris scan, issued my card then told me to wait outside for the U.S customs agent, I get called in to find the MOST OBNOXIOUS man I have ever dealt with, he began by telling me that he didn't think I should be approved because I was 19 and he believed I would try to smuggle things into the country and besides "I don't want any 19 year old using MY NEXUS lane"...I assured him that that was not my intention and that I wanted it simply because I travel often, He followed it by why are you a US citizen anyway? you were born Canadian...how did you obtain citizenship... he then told me that 2 round trips per month is not enough to to need nexus, followed by "how long do you wait in line anyway....25 minutes??..and you call that an inconvenience? besides...NEXUS is for travelers that are trusted..." He then questioned me on why I would spend money to fly when I could drive to which I responded that I preferred flying, "yes but with ticket prices...i don't understand why you wouldn't simply drive with your family" he then took down my parents names, kicked me out, and came back after about 10 minutes and announced to a room full of waiting people that there was "no way in hell he could accept me into the program" I was embarrassed and quite frankly, completely baffled as to why I would not only be rejected, but treated that way....is this normal treatment...few minutes later I got an email saying I have been declined reason being "mistakenly accepted"

Quite a bizarre story. I have found the American staff at YUL to very pleasant and professional. The older man who works there is really nice (late 50's maybe early 60s). Is YUL your residence? Maybe they thought it was suspicious that you signed up in outside your home area? I would let things cool off for a few months and then re-apply and head some where else to sign up.

The info changes all the time, it seems. In 2002, the westernmost crossing office even issued a locally-published guideline on what could be in a "lunch portion" that could be carried through the Nexus lanes (probably for those commuting between Point Roberts and the rest of Whatcom county and beyond:
[*]No fresh fruit of any kind in any form[*]No meat or eggs with the exception of: You may bring in a meat sandwich or a fully cooked prepared meal for lunch. Such as: a serving of meat loaf or roast for a meal or cooked eggs such as an egg salad or a hardboiled egg.[*]Canned food, bakery goods, milk, cheese, yogurt are allowed.[*]Above items are in amounts normally consumed for a single meal. Examples of amounts above that would be. {Entry about excessive amounts omitted} If you intend to eat these items you may bring in the sausage or the ham in a sandwich or other form only in the amount reasonable for your consumption for that day.

And it seems that some of the rules are made up as they please and/or some officers don't have full knowledge of the rules.

Do they count tomatos as fruit? Need to watch that when making the sandwich ... :D

Interview for kids - extra documentation?
 

I've had my Nexus card for one lovely year, and now the Mrs and the two boys are accepted for interviews in just over a week from now.

But I ran into something suggesting that I might need more than just the boys' passports and birth certificates when browsing a Nexus document:

The instructions document at

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...rc4209-eng.pdf

says "The documents you present to the officer at the NEXUS enrolment centre have to establish that the adult or adults are the parents or legal guardians"

What are they talking about? I don't recall seeing my name on their passport or birth certs!

Thanks

You might need the long form birth certificate which contains the names of parents. Assuming your children were born in Ontario, see:

http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/...n?docid=119279

As cockroach mentioned, there are two versions of birth certificates in Canada. The short version is just the persons name and personal info. The large cert also shows the parents names and their place of birth.

Gosh, I hope not. Appointment is July 21 and processing time is 15 business days. Anyone actually done this?

MMD

If the Nexus office is nice, they'll let you bring back the long form birth certs later. Can't see how you'd prove you're the parent and/or legal guardian of the children otherwise.

That being said, I went to the YYZ Nexus office last weekend with my wife and two daughters as they got their Nexus cards as well. I had the long form birth certificates with me, but they didn't ask for them. The passports were enough proof of identity and they didn't even ask if there were any custody restrictions on the girls.

Interesting. I gave in to my anxieties and filed rush (5 day service guarantee) applications for long form birth certificates yesterday afternoon. Let's see if YYZ Nexus asks us for them.

Murm

Hey folks,

I have a quick question. When I applied for NEXUS a few years back, they only had the paper version at the time and on that application, it asked me for my vehicle and license plate number.

I'm soon going to buy a second car and plan on taking it down to Seattle every now and then. Will I have to tell the NEXUS program that I also got a new car and license plate number? Sometimes when I come back into Canada, they ask if I'm driving the vehicle with the registered plate (it's a vanity plate.) Just wondering what their policy is for "non-registered" vehicles and plates. Thanks!