Anyone not use their NEXUS? Waste?
 

Anyone not use their NEXUS card? I got it but now I think I won't need to go to Canada.

Since I'm American, I'm now also Global Entry so maybe I'll save a little time but usually I'm not so in a hurry at the end of a long international flight.

Maybe I can use it for TSA Pre but I rarely cut it close and check in late. Of course, I could relax more or make those last minute calls instead of waiting at the slower checkpoint.

application timeline
 

Six week estimate is spot on.

Applied late night Feb15th online
Conditional approval Mar29th

My letter of invite includes the following instructions:


You must bring the following original documents to the enrollment center:

This letter inviting you to an interview;
Proof of citizenship document(s) as identified on your application (e.g. birth certificate, citizenship certificate or passport). If you have a passport or if a passport is required for future travel, please bring the document to the interview so that the information can be added to your file.; and
Proof of Canadian or U.S. permanent resident status, if applicable, as identified on your application. Examples are mortgage statement, rent payment receipt, utility bill, etc.

I live in southern Ontario searched for first available appointments with the following results:

YYZ - no appointments avbl (not sure how far into the future they book)
Fort Erie 30th April
Whirlpool Bridge May 1st
Port Huron - TOMORROW
Detroit - TOMORROW

I took an appointment for tomorrow in Detroit and plan on getting the iris scan next time I am in YVR or maybe YYC if time permits.

Meh... deleted

Original application Dec 27
Conditional approval Feb 2
Interview YVR March 19
Nexus card arrived March 28

Absolutely NOT a waste, even if you never use it for travel to/from Canada.
You've made your own case of why.
The TSA will accept it, since it is a government ID. Nexus NOW INCLUDES Global Entry, so you can use it for that, and for TSA pre.
Why not use it for these applications?

Also, who knows what evil lurks in our traveling futures. Without a "TRUSTED TRAVELER" card like Nexus, one never knows what will be thrown at the traveling public. Perhaps each and every one will some day need to be "PRE SCREENED" as you have been. If so, you already went through it and you are done.

I forgot my wallet once and had no ID with me for flying. But I did have my Nexus card by sheer luck in my brief case. I was able to fly, thanks to the Nexus card. If nothing else, it's a 2nd form of picture ID issued by the Government. It's highly credible.

Whatever happens, it was NOT a WASTE. Be glad you have it.

So far I always need to show my passport as ID. In BOS (non-AC security) and LA the TSA checker had never seen a NEXUS card and insisted on a passport, and whenever I board AC planes in BOS they want to see my passport as well -- both at the podium for the document check and then again when I'm actually boarding the plane.

TSA acceptance has no relation to whether an airline will accept it. TSA only handles security - that's it. IME, there are some agents who still don't know what the card is. If you want to push it, tell them to look in the ID book - it is in there. Usually, if I use it at security and they don't know what it is, I just pull out my DL (passport is not required for Security, even if traveling internationally).

On the airline front, it's been a long time since its been accepted with most airlines (IME). kiosks could never read it. AC used to be ok with it (again, IME) instead of a passport, but it's been a long time. since you need to travel with a passport anyway when using Nexus while flying, it's usually easier for me to just pull that out anyway.

I'm not arguing with you on what they should or should not do. I'm just saying the AC security guys at BOS never look twice at my NEXUS, probably because they see lots of them. One time at the US Airways security the TSA agent asked if it was my Canadian DL. I said no and that it was NEXUS and she looked at me but did not care. At United security in BOS and in LA, the agents refused to take it even though I suggested they were supposed to accept it.

I always use NEXUS as ID at security in Canada (you know, to use the NEXUS lane) and AC always lets me board Canada to the US on a NEXUS. In BOS, the AC guys don't let me board to Canada with a NEXUS anymore.

I like the NEXUS because it fits nicely in my pocket, so I don't like pulling my passport out.

I had my interview in Detroit yesterday. Was not quite the interview I was expecting - it was a lot of yes or no questions. I watched a video, had my picture taken, signed a paper and on my way. Less than 15 minutes. I was not asked for my invite letter.

I had driven from Windsor to the interview and then returned to Windsor. I was gone about 1hr30ish total due to the lineups/detours around the bridge. Canada Customs asked where/what/how long I was gone. No major cash, booze, tobacco, purchases. I gave short, truthful answers. I was asked if I crossed frequently. I said no - I assume frequently to mean more than the 3 or so times a year I cross. Then why do I need a Nexus? I replied about travelling with others that have Nexus and this would speed it up for all of us. I held back on stating the obvious - I just spent an hour in lineups! I was then sent to secondary inspection - first one in 12 years.

I assume that my Nexus answers combined with the time I was away seemed suspicious as I was again questioned about the same thing. I was asked several times about it. My car was searched - including the Nexus pamphlets I was given. I was then sent on my way.

I know I am subject to inspection anytime - including when using Nexus. I cannot complain. This is the nature of crossing the border. I just found my welcome to the world of "trusted traveller" with a 'welcome search' odd. The government has been advertising Nexus and I seemed encouraged to become a "trusted traveller". Surely I cant be the only infrequent traveller who has ever applied for a Nexus.

While still not a waste, don't count on TSA accepting it:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/pract...o-card-ok.html

I had same problem first time I used my card at the Whirlpool Bridge, which is a Nexus only bridge. Going to US was fine, coming back to Canada I got the full inspection with 2 Canadian agents going through the trunk and back seat.

I had only been in the US for a few hours, and had purchased on a whim a few grocery items. (I had gone to Niagara on another matter and figured why not test out Nexus). I filled in the declaration form and put it in the mailbox. They seemed a little disappointed they could not find any discrepancy between what I bought and what I had declared when they retrieved my form from the mailbox and double checked with what was in the trunk of my car.

I did notice they were stopping roughly every 2nd car (and remember all would be Nexus participants). I can only assume it was some kind of customs blitz as this was a few weeks before Christmas so maybe they figured a lot of holiday shoppersl

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9780; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.8+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/6.0.0.448 Mobile Safari/534.8+)

NEXUS northbound at Pacific Hwy now open to midnight. Given the new access lane at this crossing it's a good way to avoid traffic blockages due to non-NEXUS traffic in the wrong lanes.

Never had a problem with TSA Accepting my Nexus as ID.
I'm not talking about entering a country via air with just a Nexus (sure, you'll need a Passport), I'm talking about using your Nexus Card as your Government ID to match your ticket to get through security, because it IS a Government ID.
I use it a lot. Never had a problem.

In any event, it's NOT a waste. That was the initial question. I'm glad I have it.

I'd never had a problem either with TSA accepting it, even previously at ORF.

But this one time...

About 80% of the time, I have to escalate to a supervisor to use my NEXUS card. I really have to wonder what kind of training the clerks receive if they can't recognize a NEXUS card. Of course, when you hire from pizza boxes, I don't expect the best... :eek: