When i asked why we have to give our registration info, the CBP agent told me that if we use a different car in the NEXUS lane (which is totally allowed) than the one they have on file, we may be asked questions about who it belongs to or things like that. By knowing what car we have, they can reduce as much as possible the amount of time we spend answering question at the booth and be on our way faster.

It doesn't matter whether others in the car are NEXUS cardholders - NEXUS cards can be used in regular lanes as they are WHTI-compliant; I have done so many times. I have also used it when crossing the border by rail.

Yes EDL is an additional cost but I always have my DL with me.

My Nexus is with my travel wallet which is larger and has more related cards.

I just want the global entry, to facilitate entry from Canada to USA in YYZ, YOW, YVR, or YUL, and also to get into US airports from other international destinations easily (without waiting in the non-(US)resident linesups).

Is the review of the application form as vigorous as the NEXUS application (I know I can apply for Global Entry as an-add on to the nexus application).

Is there an interview required for global entry, like that required for nexus?

Of course, the down side of not having nexus is not using the nexus lanes across the surface Canada-US borders (the lineups near Ottawa even in peak holiday hours are often less than those of non-peak hours at crossings near Vancouver or Toronto; I do not know about Montreal). At many airports, there are very high priority lines (going through security) just below nexus, which of course I can use - so nexus is not that important to me in that scenario.

Presumably it's as rigorous from the perspective of the United States. With NEXUS, Canada also does a background check on you.

If you're concerned about something in your history coming up that would somehow cost you NEXUS, it probably would also bar you from having Global Entry. Further, if you're not a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (per http://www.globalentry.gov/faq.html), you may not be able to have GE without NEXUS:

Yes, but the interviews for both mostly consist of confirming some details on your application, warning you to not violate (even unknowingly) custom laws, and in the case of GE, teaching you how to use the kiosk. The interview for GE will occur at a US airport. NEXUS interviews occur at one of the NEXUS enrollment centers along the US-Canadian border, major Canadian airports, and some downtown city locations in the US (Seattle and I think Detroit come to mind).

...then why not get NEXUS if you're a frequent traveler to/from Canada? :confused:

WOW!

Unless it was mentioned before, anyone see all those brand new shiny GE machines at Pearson T1!? Lots of them.

Interesting trend.

Nothing to hide - I just felt that a Canadian citizen without NEXUS could get Global Entry (obviously, I am wrong); I am surprised that Mexican citizens do not need SENTRI, the Mexican/US version of NEXUS, to get Global entry.

I also thought that if tried to get Global Entry alone without NEXUS, there would be less bureacratic steps in the process than getting NEXUS with or without Global Entry.

The following paragraph can be found on the Global Entry website at the following address: http://www.globalentry.gov/eligibility.html

"Global Entry is open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, Dutch citizens, and Mexican nationals. Canadian citizens and residents may enjoy Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program."

According to that, only US citizens or US permanent resdents can enroll in Global Entry alone. If you are a Canadian citizen/permanent resident, the only way to get Global entry privileges is to enroll in NEXUS.

The requirements for joining either program seem to be pretty much the same, you must pass a risk assessment by CBP (and CBSA for NEXUS) as well as meet some residency criteria and I don't think NEXUS "double' risk assessment is a lot more severe than GE.

I don't understand why anybody living near the US/CA border would want to join GE instead of NEXUS. GE is more expensive (100$ vs 50$ for NEXUS), requires an interview at a US airport located far from the border and provides you with only part of the NEXUS benefits. GE also doesn't allow you to expedite your CBSA custom clearance when coming back to Canada.

Are you sure about GE interviews only being able to occur at a US airport? Presumably, yes, most getting GE only would be better served at a US airport, but theoretically, at least, I can't see why the US CBP staff at a Nexus office couldn't process a GE interview.

My guess: not less bureaucratic steps per se by the US, just bureaucratic steps from one country instead of two.

Yes, GE is more expensive, so another great reason to do both. But perhaps there are some with Canadian customs violations that would likely lead to a Nexus denial, while a check from just the US for Global Entry might get them accepted to that program.

US CBP staff at a NEXUS office will not have a GE kiosk to demonstrate its usage to you. The GE website does not list the NEXUS offices as GE enrollment centers, so in the spirit of government bureaucracy, I do not believe you can do your interview there.

My application was processed in less than 6 weeks (as promised). The rest of the delay was my fault in scheduling a time to do an interview 2500 miles from home. :D

Customs violations with ANY country may be grounds for denying NEXUS or Global Entry. The application for NEXUS (at least) is very clear about disclosing all customs violations worldwide.

And NEXUS, including GE costs less
 

If you can get NEXUS for $50 that includes GE for five years, why would you pay $100 for GE alone?

The cost of flying up to Canada from the US is often greater than the $100 savings that one would receive if applying directly for GE, and then NEXUS at a later time.

If you are Canadian, You CANNOT apply for GE.

You apply for Nexus and then you get GE privileges automatically.

As others have said, why anyone wants GE alone is beyond me.

Some people don't travel to Canada. Others may have DUIs that prevent them from entering Canada. Though I'm not sure if a DUI would proclude somebody from getting GE.

After the initial NEXUS interview, does the GOES website change to reflect the current status?

I had my interview on Aug 5 but on the GOES website, the status is still "Interview Scheduled".
I have not heard anything since my interview at YYZ (and still no card in the mail).

I guess I will be waiting in the customs line tonight :(