New Cards
 

Got 4 new cards today.

They were sent out by registered mail DEC 29 and had I not picked them up last night at the post office they would have been returned to sender on the Jan 14th. The card is for frequent travelers. I wonder how many will be returned to sender because people were away!

The cards themselves look terrible. Not any worse then before but once you are spending so much money to issue new cards why not spend 1000$ on a graphic designer? They look like the product of microsoft word template.

The font is very very small - seems like an 8 point font to me. Also the passport number is no longer on the front of the card. This is going to cause more headaches at the gate. When you OLCI and provide APIS data, the gate agents like to check the information with your passport when boarding. In the past I have managed to get by showing my nexus card and pointing out the passport number on the card.

And why not label the cards somewhere US DHS or Government of Canada? If you didn't know what a nexus card was (like all the TSA) it would look about as official as video club card.

Ugh.. I loved having my passport number on there.. I'd copy it onto the blue form and not have to dig my passport out again :(

I made a note on my blackberry with it and the expiry date. I'd never have one of the two when needed... Now I always have it.

Jumping Lineup?
 

Often there is a long lineup for flights to the US in the early Monday morning at YUL or YYZ (where they check your form), is it OK to jump the line screaming NEXUS to get to the booth?

Thanks.

Have you had them check passport number on the card often? I am dual, and provided both of my passport numbers when I applied. The Canadian one is the only one printed on my card (haven't received new ones yet), but usually travel on US passport since I have switched my residency to the US and work here now. I asked about this, and office never wanted to change it, even though they are aware my residency has changed and have my newer US DL on file. I have never had a problem with my Canadian # on the card, but with US # in APIS. Never ever had an agent even appear to check this info, just name and photo.

I would give a resounding no. First of all, I wouldn't scream anything within that distance of customs. Secondly, they are checking ID, boarding passes to make sure that you are actually going to the US, and making sure that you actually fully filled out and signed the customs card. This has nothing to do with Nexus or not. That line usually doesn't take more than a couple of minutes, anyway.

Well, maybe I exaggerated, I'm talking about some people that just find their way to that checkpoint saying NEXUS to the people they are crossing.

Members can go directly to the NEXUS self-serve kiosk and do not need to go through the primary inspection lines.

I do this at YYZ sometimes, if the customs hall is full and the line is out the door. Walk to the front of the line and show the person checking your boarding pass your Nexus card, along with your boarding card and they should let you through to the Nexus machines.

You might get a few stares from those in line tho...

That line outside of the customs hall can be moving pretty slowly, especially on Monday mornings at YYZ. Terminal 3 seems to be worse than Terminal 1 though.

You should see YUL Monday morning at 4:30 AM before the customs open.

I had my card sent in the mail YUP I was away and got it the last day before it was returned to sender....... however i cannot go online to activate the new card the system is still down.

Seem to happen to me often at FLL. I do OLCI and have no bags so the first time you see a live AC staff is at the gate. In the past they have paged (by name) OLCI people with no bags to come up before boarding.


At YUL I always move to the head of the line pre-duty free. There can be quite a line there some mornings. Just nod to the agent like you know what you are doing and flash your nexus card.

There are signs that permit this at YVR. I'd try it....the worst they can say is no.

I have, just go up and say Nexus, they usually let you through

How long did it take from completing your on-line application and receiving the 'pending review' status to the 'conditionally approved' status?

Thanks!

What to expect at a NEXUS interview
 

Okay, it's time I joined NEXUS. I'm about to send out my form... what can I expect at the interview?