Where do you insert the card to let the GE machine reads it?

Is it in the same place where the passport is inserted so the machine can read it or different place?

Purely anecdotal of course, but the sense I get from the US CBP culture at YVR is that they're not too happy about non-citizens having GE. By and large all it does is move you to the front of the queue. You still have to answer the same questions, justify yourself, present your card etc. so the officer can determine if you're deemed worthy of entry.

Based on crossing at both YVR and YYZ over the years I also have the impression that it's always been easier to cross the border at YYZ than YVR, particularly if you're on business. The culture of the officers seems to be different at YYZ. Perhaps there's always been more scofflaws at YVR - Not sure.

The bottom of the back of the card has a code in the exact same format as a passport (it's like they actually planned this :p). Stick that in the same place. If it works, as anecdotal evidence here would suggest, then great. If not, pull out your passport.

I've never used GE at YVR. I've been through twice since getting GE, but the first time I didn't realize I couldn't use it as a connecting passenger, but luckily there was no line. The second, I didn't realize I had to leave the secure area so early to use it, and there was one person in front of me. I have never had a problem with CBP there. In fact, it's the friendliest conversation I've ever had with CBP, both times.

So as with most things, I'd say YMMV. However, I don't think I've spoken with CBP at YYZ since moving to the US and getting TN. The "conversation" always seems to turn into an actual conversation now when I tell them where I work, so maybe that has something to do with it.

"Oh you work for ABC Inc? They sold my mother a bad product, and refused to take it back."
vs
"Oh you work for XYZ Inc? I have one of your products, and use it every day, and it's amazing! You do great work there!"

Little things can make all the difference...

A couple of comments, after catching up on a week of posts:

1. You can update your passport information on GOES and use GE immediately. I did this last year. You are not allowed to use NEXUS until you go to a NEXUS office and present your passport, however. (I have not tried use NEXUS without showing my new passport though.)
2. I'm a bit surprised at the GE culture at YVR (although my only US border clearance there involved NEXUS not GE) but at US airports (DEN, LAS and ORD) and YYZ, I haven't had any US border personnel say anything more to me than "have a nice day".

I have a question for any fellow NEXUS members that are living in Canada on a work permit.

I am in the process of renewing my work permit - when I receive it, do I need to go to an enrollment centre to update my information? I can't remember whether that is even a document NEXUS is interested in. I'm a US citizen with a US passport.

My apologies if this question has already been asked/answered.

This thread has been very helpful for me, so I'll add a link that answers some of the last questions about whether passport renewals and other updates need to be dealt with at an enrollment center or if updating on GOES is good enough: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexu...nnees-eng.html

According to the CBSA's own website, updating passport on GOES is sufficient. My own personal experience is that I've had a new passport for nearly a year and only updated my passport information on GOES (without going to any NEXUS enrollment center), and have had no problem using NEXUS and GE in and out of YYZ.

It does look like you would have to go to an enrollment center to update work permits.

At my interview, the officers indicated that documents could be updated simply by emailing or faxing the document to be updated to them. They wanted front and back of the NEXUS card on the same side of one sheet of paper. Something like a driver's license should also be copied front and back on the same sheet of paper with the NEXUS card.

They did indicate that new passports had to be seen personally rather than photocopied. I don't know if they would be willing to do this by mail with a return envelope provided.

Why does this:

Contradict this:

Which also contradicts this:

FWIW, at my interview, the officers indicated that I was supposed to return to update my passport in person, but when I said the closest enrollment/enrolment center/centre was a 6-hour drive and asked if updating it at a U.S. GE enrollment center was enough, they seemed to be unsure and said that if I needed to, I could call them and have them update it remotely (which I tried to do last week and which they didn't offer to do).

It seems dumb but frankly not unsurprising that no one (in the government, not here) seems to know the process--agents are contradicting other agents, the website, and what we FTers have reported our experiences to be.

It'd be nice if they could get this all straightened out so it's not as confusingly contradictory.

jackal makes a good point. It seems that we have been given conflicting information. What I want to avoid is getting a new passport, updating GOES, then flying into Canada only to find that NEXUS would not work until I saw an agent in person. I want to have everything taken care of ahead of time.

I would update the passport in GOES and then just get on your flight. If the CBSA agents give you a hard time for not updating the passport in person, show them a printout of this website showing them that you did indeed do what CBSA told you to do.

Good. I have saved this document in my smart phone.

Although the document does say that other documents "such as..." must be updated in person, the Champlain office definitely indicated willingness to update documents by fax or email as I posted above. The officer specifically mentioned driver's licenses as something he'd do this way.

I can confirm that the GE kiosks will take NEXUS cards; I along with two traveling companions did so on Sunday. You insert the card with the machine-readable text first and facing up. Very convenient as you don't have to take out your passport unless the CBP agent asks to see it.

Anyone know what the current wait time is for interviews in Southern Ontario? I have heard that the wait times in Toronto are close to a year so many people drive to Ft. Erie/Buffalo. Can anyone confirm the wait times?

I am trying to book my daughter's Toronto interview. We have late June in Ft Erie. YYZ and NF are offering August last I looked. May be later. Cancellations do come up if you're fast and can make yourself available at their convenience.

The Thousand Island crossing has a much shorter waiting list than YYZ, or the 2 land crossings nearby. It does offer an iris scan. Only down side is that it does not offer weekend interviews.

If you want virtually immediate interviews (even on weekends), you can go to the Halifax airport - their waiting list is almost non-existent.