Keeping an eye out for cancellations is the way to go. Had mine moved from Dec to early Sep that way.

Another data point:

Applied: Aug 6
Conditional Approval: Aug 30
Interview/Approval: Oct 5
Card Received: Oct 12

For the record, I was already enrolled in Global Entry at the time I applied for NEXUS; however, given the dates above, the time it takes to receive conditional approval appears to be totally driven by the Canadians.

Since you gained NEXUS and GE in separate applications, do you have two PASS IDs listed on your GOES page?

I did my applications the same way (GE, then later NEXUS), and have one PASS ID.

Is it the same PASS ID you had when you first gained GE, or was it changed when you received NEXUS?

I'm not certain, though I don't see why it would have changed since the numbers are one per individual.

Not to mention, that you would apply through the same GOES account. What would be interesting to know is if they coordinate the expiry dates, or if they continue to be valid each for 5 years, requiring 2 renewals every 5 years

Presumably when his GE expires, his NEXUS membership will extend to GE like most people's does. He won't have GE per se, he'll have GE benefits from his NEXUS.

To answer all of these questions:

1) I have the same PassID.

2) My expiration date for all programs was pushed forward to reflect five years from now (my birthday is this month, so it is almost exactly five years). When I log into GOES, I still have only one entry under "Program Membership(s)" (Trusted Traveler Program), with a single expiration date. If I click on the "Manage Membership" button, my program benefits are enumerated as follows:

• Into the United States across the land border from Canada or Mexico (SENTRI: SENTRI enrollment centers)
• Into Canada via land, air or sea (NEXUS; will require a visit to an enrollment center on the U.S./Canada land border or at a major airport in Canada: NEXUS enrollment centers)
• Into the United States using kiosks in the international airports (Global Entry; valid passport is required: Global Entry enrollment centers)

I assume this would be the same for any NEXUS member.

Oh, and I should add that when I went for my NEXUS interview, they handled it as if I was starting from scratch; in other words, all new fingerprints, photo, and a "full" interview with US CBP (although to be fair, my US NEXUS interview was as short as my GE interview).

And they definitely knew that I was an "upgrade," since I heard the US CBP agents talking about this--it sounded like the US agent who did my interview was confused at first because my paperwork looked different from a normal NEXUS-first application.

Observations and a question!
 

As a NEXUS member, I added GOES to my profile by visiting the enrollment center at YOW. No interview required.^
The "dedicated" NEXUS lane at YOW is not really dedicated. The security folks are instructed to divert PAX's from the other line during slow periods. The PAX's often don't know how to go through a security line, and this slows down the process!
This week, I renewed passports, and asked the Passport Canada official if my NEXUS card constituted "Government issued Photo ID"? The agent said no! Go figure!!

Tobacco Products?
 

I was reading the Wikipedia page for Nexus, and it's pretty clear that you can't use the Nexus lane (land/air) into Canada if you're carrying cigars. I hadn't realized this until last night. Does anyone know if the same rule applies to GE into the USA? As a non-citizen, non-resident of the USA, if I have a couple of cigars in my bag (non-Cuban :)) do I have to use the regular lane?

I've been conditionally approved for Nexus and will be going in for my interview in a few weeks. I am a US citizen. Will I need to ask at the interview for Global Entry approval or will the agents give me that automatically? Will they give me a Global Entry sticker in my passport at that time or will I only get a Nexus card there?

No, you do not have to use the regular lane. The US does not have the same special duty that Canada does on foreign cigars. The first 100 cigars are duty free.

The reason that you cannot use the Nexus lane for foreign cigars is that Canada demands a special duty even if it is within your exemption limit and they will not allow you to use a TDC for this purpose. Just as a minor correction to your post, however, this restriction to use the regular lane applies only to land mode. (you made the comment land/air). You can use the air kiosks if carrying foreign/unstamped tobacco, but you must declare yourself to be over your exemption and you must choose cashier (not TDC).

From the official CBSA website (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-vo...ns-eng.html#a7):

I guess if I'm carrying cigars I'll just use the residents / citizens kiosk at YVR instead:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/images/abc-paf.jpg

I don't understand the 'over your exemption' piece though. From -

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...f5056-eng.html

Tobacco products
If you are 18 years of age or over, you are allowed to bring in all of the following amounts of tobacco into Canada free of duty and taxes within your personal exemption:

• 200 cigarettes;
• 50 cigars;
• 200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco; and
• 200 tobacco sticks.

Note

If you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks or manufactured tobacco in your personal exemption, a partial exemption may only apply. You will have to pay a special duty on these products unless they are marked "CANADA DUTY PAID • DROIT ACQUITTÉ." You will find Canadian-made products sold at duty-free shops marked this way. You can speed up your clearance by having your tobacco products available for inspection when you arrive.

...so if I'm gone 48 hours and I'm bringing 50 cigars (not cigarettes) then there is no 'special duty?'