Used GE today (not NEXUS) and chose "other" option instead of "pleasure" as I'm transiting via SFO only. Got sent to Passport Control (read: Secondary Inspection area) where he checked my passport, boarding pass, my carry-on, my laptop bag, etc..

Long security lines too, and used AMEX Platinum to use the semi-Priority lane
When I'm 2nd person to the belt, 2 seniors cut in front of us b/c they had NEXUS and slowed the entire lane down again..

so in short, NEXUS/GE didn't save me any time at all. Probably spent 20 minutes for custom and security

I would've been faster with regular line, or even better - family line if I have my daughter with me :D


but, from Park N Fly Valet to YYZ lounge only took 50 minutes in total, on a long weekend...not too bad

I've been using NEXUS since the program was started (back when they used the hand print for authentication) and I really like it. NEXUS got even better when it became possible for NEXUX card holders to use Global Entry. Being able to avoid talking to US CBP Officers is well worth the modest cost of the program. Since it became possible to use Global Entry, I use it at every opportunity, because it's nice being able to fill in the US Customs Declaration electronically at the kiosk rather than using a paper form. I wish Canada would adopt that. It would be nice if all of the trusted traveller systems used the same mechanism for authentication or allowed the use of NEXUS or passport. If you frequently travel either to or through USA, definitely get a NEXUS card.

That's the best part of the process even for me as a US citizen ^

secondary screening at YVR
 

In my last two trips to/through the US from YVR I was sent to secondary screening. The first time I had to sit and wait for someone to talk to me. After a few questions they let me go. The second time, the "receptionist" questioned me for a bit and let me go. I hadn't had problems like this for some years before these two past occasions.

Not sure if there's anything I can/should do about this. If this continues nexus may still be beneficial, but I will probably reduce travel to/through the US as much as possible.

I noticed that recently a lot in YYZ. A lot of Canadians with NEXUS card were being sent to secondary and the office was packed in T3. However, most of people there were Canadians with ethnic origin :confused:

There are three open interview slots at YUL tomorrow (Monday) afternoon if anyone there is looking.

Timeline for Nexus
 

I just had my interview, the whole process was very smooth:

20 July - Applied
23 Aug - Conditional
1 Sept - Interview at Ambassador Bridge

So about 40 days from application to interview

As far as the interview goes, I got there about 45 minutes early and they took me early. The whole process was almost like the DMV, my interview was at a counter only with the Canadian agent (I'm a US Citizen) and then I watched a video about the program. I did have to talk to a CBP officer so that he could put a CBP sticker on my passport for GE. It was a very simple process that took no more than 15 minutes. They said that my card would be in the mail Tuesday (day after holiday).

Wait, we can do that?! Can someone explain how this works? To be honest, I'm not really comfortable with cutting in front of people, but we're allowed to do that?

So tell me.. Say there is a line, and you cut to the front because you're NEXUS (by the way, don't the people behind you get angry, especially if they don't know NEXUS members are allowed to cut), then I come along I can then cut in front of the line, even getting infront of you? That's odd.

There is a marked Nexus lane at YYZ TB security. It dumps you at the front of a non-nude-o-scope lane, where you then cut in.

More entertaining is the YYC Nexus TB 'lane' where after checking your card, the agent walks you over to a machine and dumps you ahead of everyone else on the machine.

Not only can you do it, but in many airports, it's facilitated for NEXUS or GE card holders to either use a shorter queue or bypass part or all of a regular queue, both at immigration and at security. Is this any different from priority boarding? Membership has its priviledges.

Been there (YYC), gotten the stink eye from other passengers more than once. Didn't find it too bad at YYZ.

I certainly like the new Transborder section in YEG that opened earlier this year as it was designed/setup from the start for a dedicated lane. You separate from the rest of everyone before entering security, and then enter through your own door after they check your card. So, you don't cut in front of anyone at the X-ray belt. Security will send some people over from the regular lines if there are no Nexus people to fill it.

I have found YVR works okay as well. When you go through the Nexus TB line, you dump into the end of a line for the X-ray belt, so you don't cut anyone. Security seems to control the volume to each of the invidual x-ray lines to the point where you don't cut anyone off going into the Nexus line.

For me, at YYZ (T1 to US), someone will walk you over to the front of the line (the end line, that's usually special for air crews)

so yes, it was open to everyone, but if NEXUS person comes along, he/she can cut you
THEN, if air crew came along, they can cut NEXUS again...
result is that line can be longer than regular line :D

and NEXUS >> AMEX Platinum "priority lane" too

CATSA staff trumps Flight crew trumps NEXUS trumps AMEX at YYZ preflight security.

If only AMEX could trump CATSA staff, we'd have ourselves a great game of "Security Rock, Paper, Scissors"

I just went though YUL today (Canada -> US) Is there any reason why you have to see a CBP officer? I have been though quite a few airports since I got the card and this is the only one so far where you have to stand in line after using the machine to see an officer. :confused: