Checking to United with Nexus card only
 

I recently had to fly to San Francisco and decided I would using only my Nexus card and leaving my passport at home.

My flight was on United airlines. I was unable to checkin using the terminals as they required I have a passport, so I got in line to checkin the old fashioned way. While in line I started filling out one of those blue US Customs slips. I had to leave the Passport # section blank as I had no idea what my number was and it did not say on my Nexus card.

After finally getting to the agent, I presented my confirmation number and Nexus card. She typed in my confirmation number and took my Nexus card and looked at it. She then asked me for my passport. I informed her that under the Western Hemisphere Traveler Initiative I was only required to use my Nexus card to cross the border and did no require a passport. This puzzled her. She asked the colleague working next to her how she would enter the Nexus information into the system and he had no idea. She asked another colleague and he gave her some tips. One of them was to "try using code I" whatever that meant.

After about 15 minutes of trying different codes and submitting that info to have it rejected, she finally came upon whatever code she needed to enter and it worked.

Coming back from SFO to YVR posed an even greater confusion for them. Similar to the above but took Westjet about 20 minutes to figure it out.

If i had have known that the airlines seem clueless when it comes to Nexus cards, I probably would have brought my passport too.

A very basic rule of Nexus is that you MUST have your passport with you when crossing the border by air. That was mentioned to me countless times when I had my original interview and is in all the written material.

I think you were very lucky that neither the US nor Canadian officials noticed.

+ 1,000.

You're Nexus card alone is not sufficient for crossing the border by air (pretty clear in the Nexus guide), and you're lucky the airline even accepted it - most agents will insist on a passport. Before you go telling agent's what is allowed under WHTI or not, or that airlines are clueless about Nexus, you should actually know what the rules are. You were not following them.

You were even luckier you did not get a random inspection in either direction - you would have had your Nexus revoked, and would have a hard time crossing the border in the future.

I think I have posted this about 10 times since this thread started. Why on earth, even into the US would someone travel to a foreign country without their passport.

G-D forbid the worst, or even not the worst, carry a proof of citizenship that everyone already knows about.

It isn't a 10lb (4.5kg :) ) gorilla, it fits nicely in your back pocket for use when necessary.

Airlines are usually clueless when a clueless passenger try to use improper travel documents.

Suggestion to OP: read the Western Hemisphere Traveler Initiative before quoting from it.

Feb 12 someone try to pull your stunt at YYZ T3 DL check in and was denied boarding. She went on and on until the agent called a CBP officer and he came and told her "Nexus alone is not sufficient travel document to enter the US, Nexus holder must have their passport when crossing the border."

Oct 11 a work acquaintance had Nexus revoked coming back to Canada with only the card and no passport at YYZ T1. He used the Nexus lane and was sent to an agent . Supervisor that did the revocation stated clearly he was in violation of Nexus term of usage quoted from the book.
Every Canadian/US crossing for him since that day involved a secondary interview.

YMMV

The NEXUS Information Thread
 

In addition, if traveling without your passport and just Nexus, also pretty sure customs can fine the carrier that allowed the customer to board without proper documentation, much like they can for allowing a traveller to board without a proper visa.

Wow, it's a miracle that you both made it into the US and back into Canada without having your card shredded.

Iris scan YYC - enough time?
 

I need to get an iris scan done for my Nexus. Tuesday I arrive in YYC around 9am on WJA - so D gates. Connecting to a WJA domestic flight leaving 1030am. Is this enough time to zip down to the Nexus office? If so directions to expedite it over to the office would be appreciate. Obviously I will need to go through security again etc.

Thank you.

Stayed on the GOES website endlessly after getting initial interview appointment for mid-August. Ended up getting one at YVR for myself for this Friday (5 days after conditional approval) and next Tuesday at YVR for the girlfriend.

For anybody in Vancouver/Seattle, twenty slots have opened up in Blaine for June 16th (Saturday).

Well after skimming through the more recent posts on this thread, it seems I'm going to be waiting a while. My wife and I submitted applications on GOES on May 24th.

I found another forum and someone said it usually takes about 2-3 days if submitting it online (vs mailing the paper application), but I'm guessing that information was a little out of date :P I was hoping to get it by July. Ah well!

Out of curiosity, I saw somewhere about someone who went in to the US either by Niagara Falls or Fort Erie and has the interview there, then crossed over to Canada and had the iris scan done. Does anyone know where those locations are? It seems YYZ is very busy. Was hoping to get this done on a Saturday, because it's difficult for my wife to get off work for something like this.

Thanks!

FT should have a 'classic posts' thread/section. :D

The centre is open as usual, 7 days a week. It's just that all available appointments have been already taken. You have to wait until new appointments for september are published or choose a different enrollment centre such as Champlain, Ottawa or Lansdowne.

It's the Whirlpool Office in Niagara Falls NY. I'm not sure if they're open on Saturdays, check the Nexus web site.

Ah thanks! :)

Checking online, I see this for their hours:
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Though it says "Iris photograph can be taken at the adjacent CBSA office in Canada.". I can't seem to find any information about an office in Niagara Falls, ON. I'm hopeful that because the US side is open on Saturdays, the Canadian one is as well.

Other posters have already told you otherwise, but I figured you would appreciate proof direct from the horse's mouth

WHTI website: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/whti-ivho/menu-eng.html

Front page: Canadian citizens flying to the United States must present a valid passport to confirm their citizenship and identity.