I'm probably flying to Victoria next week. The NEXUS website says no machine is there.

It's been so long (former CANPASS member here), I forget what the protocol is for a non-NEXUS airport. Do I go into the crew lane and show my NEXUS card, or do I just do as anyone without NEXUS would do?

Probably begs the question....is there a crew lane in Victoria?

And is there US pre-clearance on the way back?

According to the Nexus guide, you can only use a crew lane when the self-service kiosk's are "closed." I would assume that means there has to be a kiosk there, and therefore, Nexus members wouldn't be able to use the crew lane at YYJ. Just my opinion, I have no personal experience as I have always arrived at an airport where Nexus kiosk's are available.

from: http://www.victoriaairport.com/

At YYZ, they have two Air Crew lanes going into the U.S.

One is Air Crew only, one is a special services line who's sign includes Nexus, Air Crew, Special Services, etc.(which we have to use with our 8 month old daughter)

Although why would you want to use it if didn't absolutely have to....

Yes, but what is bad on the part of Nexus administrators was that it was once permitted (or tolerated) - they told you they could do it back in 2002 - then reverse policy without notification.

This is standard government text on envelopes. It means that employees at the processing center cannot use these prepaid envelopes to write letters to their cousin or pay their electric bill.

Can someone enlighten me if there is an advantage to applying online vs paper application? Does registering with GOES have any disadvantages?

thanks.

Well, initial online application: Jan 11, 2009
Card in hard: Feb 5, 2009. Not bad.

If it is anything like passport applications, I imagine online goes quicker.

However, I was surprised to find that paying online generates a US$50 charge whereas doing it by mail would be $50CDN as I was expecting.

My Husband got conditionally approved about 30 minutes ago. I was able to schedule us both for a meeting tomorrow morning at 11am. The joys of being in Halifax! The entire day was pretty much open.

I'm a bit nervous, NOT because I have anything to hide, but I find those custom and immigration guys to be harsh and it just makes me nervous.
I've had five different address in the past five years ( Moving from NL to AB to NS) And I'm sure they'll ask question about that, and the date ranges.

If it makes you feel any better, I had several addresses within the 5 years of my application (was a student - what could I do?). Never got asked anything about it in my interview...don't worry too much. As always with customs and immigration, just answer truthfully, only giving as much information as is needed and nothing more, and you'll do just fine.

I am pretty sure that if you register online the fee is $50 USD while a paper app is $50 CAD.

I had my Interview today. It was actually very friendly and informal. The Canadian Customs gentleman was very friendly and cracked jokes. Showed us great East coast hospitality.
The woman, from the U.S side of things was also very friendly.

Third of the 3 Nexus cards came yesterday.

Wasn't registered, just regular mail. Which is interesting because the first 2 were registered. One difference is that while all 3 addresses had been confirmed online, two were done before the deadline, while the third (who shall remain unidentified ;)) was done quite late. I actually wondered if that was the difference, they originally intended to use Registered mail for those who didn't confirm address online, then were so late sending them out that only those who confirmed within a month or two of card mailing would get regular mail instead.

It's a boring design but the new card does look considerably more secure than the old one that looked like a copy of the INSPASS cards and was printed on the spot (I'm staring at one with the toner/ink peeling off and restuck all over the front).

=aw

Got my replacement/updated Nexus card Friday.

I live in California, registered at YVR and noticed this was mailed from Blaine, WA via standard US mail.

Folks: Don't forget to register the new card when you get it on the GOES site...

Weird experience today at a land crossing.

Crossed over to the US to buy cell phone time (I have a T-mobile phone that is paid for by pay-as-you-go cards.) Entered into the US at Ogdensburg, NY, using our Nexus, no problem.

Stayed 1 hour, bought time, Baked Ruffles and hand lotion, headed home.

Canadian border officer scans our cards and asks is we had reported them stolen. No, but we were sent new ones a month ago, we reply. He claims they are in the system as stolen and sends us inside.

Inside she can't do anything either and after disappearing for a few minutes comes back and explains they "aren't a Nexus border point" so can't help us. Do we have proper ID to get into Canada? We did (passports) and she was relieved to see them and send us on our way.

Has this happened to anyone else? We registered the new cards on January 5 (there's a note on the form the cards came on stating the time and date of the activation.) The old cards were destroyed in our shredder.

We entered Canada at YVR using the machines on Jan 31 and entered the US just fine a hour before having problems re-entering Canada. Is this just Canadian database incompetence or should we be concerned?