I did this exact thing on Saturday at the Whirlpool bridge - was in US for 2-3 hours, purchased $95 of items at Target - made verbal declaration and was waved right through.

I wonder if going to the Seattle NEXUS office would suffice to update the passport. The Vancouver officers made it sound like the Seattle NEXUS office didn't have access to the Canadian database though.

It sure seems that the processing times are getting shorter recently:

Applied: Aug 14
Conditionally approved: Sept 6

First available interview at YVR/Vancouver is January 11, 2013! :( Here's hoping for some cancellations!

Hasn't everyone received their Nexus card by now?:D

Clearly they are ontop of their paper work!

I applied Aug 13, hopefully this means mine will be going through any day now!

My first post too. I submitted my app Aug 14 and the status changed to "conditionally approved" today. Then I looked for appointments at YYZ and it said "no appointments available" and nudged me to the NF/Ft Erie options and the first available date there is in the middle of my second international itinerary.
I know you can accept a far-off appointment and move it up when a spot opens, but I don't know if you can change interview locations, so I thought I would check again tomorrow and decide.
I suspect maybe a batch of applications has just been conditionally approved and all the rest of you have snapped up the appointments and maybe that has to shake out a little. (Hoping.)

+1
Although IME the Canadian officers aren't friendly either (unlike most others up North).

When I got my new (US) passport, I never set foot in an actual NEXUS office. I updated in GOES and went to LAX to get my GE sticker - where they double checked to make sure GOES updated. CBP and CBSA share GOES for this function.

Seriously - I've only run across 3 nice CBSA officers ever. One was the one who did my NEXUS interview. One was at the Detroit/Windsor tunnel. One works the Whirlpool Bridge and is always cheerful.

Argh - the YYZ had an appointment on a day I could do, earlier than the other two locations, but by the time I toggled between browser and calendar and back, it was gone! This isn't just paperwork, it's a test of reaction time and dexterity :-)

Thanks to everyone for all of the great information in this thread – it made this process a lot easier for me. I have no land crossings with NEXUS lanes near me and only cross maybe 4-5 times a year by air, but this encouraged me to go ahead and apply so I save all those hours waiting in lines - well worth it for $50 over 5+ years.

o Applied: Jul 26
o Application accepted: Aug 25
o Interview date: Aug 28 (in Ottawa)
o Card received: Sep 8

The questions I was asked in the interview were all very basic. I was asked for purpose of getting NEXUS (business or personal). A quick explanation was given – they said I need to fill in a TDC before getting to border. Asked if I have questions about any of the rules. The US agent explained I could also use Global Entry by swiping my passport effective immediately. They did take me to a private room for less than 1 minute to ask: do you have a criminal record, have you ever committed a customs violation entering the US or elsewhere.

I was offered to the chance to test the machine in the office (which I did), but without any assistance.

Overall the interview was very quick - 15 minutes including the Iris scans, ID being checked, and signing a letter. Mine lasted longer than it needed to because I had a lot of problems getting the correct iris scan done.

The Canadian agent was very friendly and new, the US agent was businesslike but still kind. They were open to answering questions.

The agent stated that unless you get a cancellation, you need to wait until December in Ottawa. I was lucky and only had a 3 day wait since someone had cancelled. Someone even came in while I was there trying unsuccessfully to get bumped up.

Overall, while rules are vague and need work, I’m impressed at how efficient this process was.

Thanks,

PolarBear

That is what the US Customs Officer told me to do, but Canadians said GOES isn't linked with CBSA system. My only fear is if I fly with updated GOES but Canadian system isn't updated and I use the NEXUS card, if I get flagged upon landing and kicked out of the program.

It's no problem to change locations. I went from Toronto->Fort Erie->Toronto and it never gave me any trouble.

When I first got conditionally approved, they were only accepting appointments until the end of October at YYZ, at which point they all got taken. They seemed to unlock another three weeks in to November after a while.

Just keep checking back periodically, you'll find something soon enough. Try not to be too picky about when you can go. I ended up taking an afternoon off work to go so I didn't have to wait so long.

Fortunately, I just checked and I got YYZ for Nov 1. :-)
Thanks for the personal experience info! (Helps with the big unknown....)
When you clicked "reschedule appointment", does it hold the previously booked time until another date is selected? (I am a professor so I have no flexibility in my teaching time although my non-teaching duties can be shifted to the wee hours.) I can do my time on Nov 1, so I want to hold on to that unless I can get a date before mid October (which would allow me to use the pass right away on a trip.

After reading this informative thread, I applied in late August and I was just conditionally approved!

I'll have to schedule the interview now for YYZ.

Edit: No YYZ appointments, so I might go to Ft. Erie in late-November instead, and/or just reschedule for YYZ as someone mentioned above.

Hi all,

I just applied for a Nexus card last week, so I don't expect to see the interview option for a while yet, however, I have a question.

I renewed my passport in June of 2008 as it was about to expire. I got married in October of 2009, and changed my name on everything, EXCEPT my passport, since it wasn't near time for renewal. Also, when I travel with my son, it just seemed easier to have the same last name as him.
So now I have an appointment to renew my driver license on September 20th as it expires on October 13th. It's in my married name.
My passport is good until June of 2013, it's in my maiden name.

Is this going to cause me grief? Should I bring a copy of my marriage license with me?
It was seemed like a waste of money to renew my passport just because I got married.
When I fly, I book my tickets under my maiden name.

I'm wondering if I should just scramble to get my passport renewed with my married name before I book the interview?