FlyerTalk Forums - Archived: The NEXUS Information Thread

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Quote:

Originally Posted by lamj (Post 22305763)

Did anyone figured out how to change to a foreign address with GOES? About to become an expats and trying to update the address on file, noticed the website only allow US/Canada address.

I also wonder if I will be able to renew Nexus while I am residing at a foreign country.

Got my own solution by going to the Nexus office yesterday. No appointment required, just walk in and let them know it's an address change.

For foreign address and expat status change, let them know of the foreign address and bring a legit copy of address proof - I brought a PDF copy of phone bill in foreign language and was accepted. Was told that they might not always like PDF copy.

This does not change my mailing address with them which is changeable via the GOES website, that's only a mailing address, not the address on record with them. They will never mail anything outside of North America so prepare to have a mailing address (friends or family).

Validated that moving aboard should not affect even my renewal as an expat but might have to come back in North America for interview which I fully expected.

Hope this info will be of help to others in the same situation - there isn't anything documented on this topic I found online yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackal (Post 22318619)

My experience as well. IME, the US CBP are more likely to wave you through without questions than the CBSA, but I've been questioned (once or twice extensively) by both.

From my experience CBSA officers are very tough with Americans and sometimes quiet aggressive. They always think Americans are carrying guns into canada or drugs :confused:

Went through YTZ on Saturday, hoping to beat everyone making a dash for customs, only to see a CBSA officer fiddling with the NEXUS kiosk. Strange though, because last time I went through there I swear there were two. Not sure why they'd reduce it down to 1.

Ended up having to use the special services lane, which worked out fine anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xero9 (Post 22371925)

For how often I have heard they are broken down you would think that other travellers are bashing on the machines or something.

Vancouver the other day for me, 2 out of 4 were not working. One completely shut off, the other with a non-functioning touch screen.

Ran the entire family through, the remaining two were working well. Wife only had problem getting the scan to work with glasses left on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QueBall (Post 22372635)

That's entirely possible! Though at YTZ, the machines are almost directly beside the guy in the special services counter, which may deter people from hitting them :P

It boggles my mind that they're so horrible. I didn't really expect anything else, but it looks like it's simply a computer running Windows XP with a number of HIDs (touch screen, iris scanner), so I don't get why they're so unreliable. I wonder if whoever makes the Global Entry kiosks could make a modified version with an iris scanner for Canada. They seem fairly rock solid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xero9 (Post 22374091)

It boggles my mind that they're so horrible. I didn't really expect anything else, but it looks like it's simply a computer running Windows XP with a number of HIDs (touch screen, iris scanner), so I don't get why they're so unreliable. I wonder if whoever makes the Global Entry kiosks could make a modified version with an iris scanner for Canada. They seem fairly rock solid.

As a 'software guy' I get the sense the issues are not with the kiosk, but rather are upstream with the database(s) as well as perhaps the network connections back to the servers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QueBall (Post 22372635)

Ran the entire family through, the remaining two were working well. Wife only had problem getting the scan to work with glasses left on.

The coatings used on many glasses today prevent the camera from capturing an iris properly (as told my a CBSA agent when I couldn't get it to work with a new pair of glasses a few years ago). The glasses I had several years ago weren't a problem, but the last couple of pairs don't work with the Nexus kiosks. I think the lenses with Anti-reflective coatings and HD lenses are particularly problematic.

Anyone else get an email from CBSA about new Nexus machines coming in 2014? I got an email stating in part that "next generation" machines are coming.

Thanks goodness - came back thru YYZ on the weekend and of 3 machines, 2 were broken and the one "working" one quit after the second iris capture. I had to go to the NEXUS officer who just processed me manually.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT1 (Post 22391383)

Anyone else get an email from CBSA about new Nexus machines coming in 2014? I got an email stating in part that "next generation" machines

I have received nothing yet!!!

JUST got the email as well.

Curious to know what the new machines will consist of. While the finger prints on the GE machines work great, I still think it's pretty cool to do the iris scan. I hope it still uses that.

Edit: I wonder if this also has to do with the fact that they appear to be running Windows XP and Microsoft is ending support for it on April 8th. They do mention in the letter that their current technology has reached the end of its life cycle.

Also, for anyone who hasn't received the email yet, but would like to know what it says:

Quote:

Dear NEXUS Member,

I am writing to personally thank you for being a valued member of the NEXUS trusted traveller program, which is administered by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Over the past few years, NEXUS has received tremendous interest and seen a marked increase in its membership as we approach the million member milestone.

In addition to the expedited clearance which has characterized the program, NEXUS members receive further benefits as a result of the Government of Canada’s Beyond the Border Action Plan, which include:

Streamlined membership renewal process;
Eight new NEXUS lanes at six of our major land ports of entry;
Expanded Trusted Traveller Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) security screening lines in pre-clearance areas at major Canadian airports; and
Expedited clearance through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre-Check lanes at over 100 participating U.S. airports for domestic, trans-border and select international flights.

In 2014, the CBSA will be replacing its airport kiosks with ‘next generation’ technology that will provide even faster, more reliable and more efficient services to facilitate your travel. Admittedly, our current technology has reached the end of its lifecycle. As a result, some of you may have recently experienced difficulties using the NEXUS kiosks, caused by outages at one or more of our participating locations. We understand that your time is important and that you expect a more efficient and smooth travel experience as a key benefit from the program. Should you encounter a non-operational kiosk at any time, please proceed to the CBSA Special Services Counter to continue receiving expedited clearance.

The NEXUS program will continue to represent a critical element of the CBSA’s commitment to delivering effective border management at Canada’s ports of entry. As we continue to modernize and improve the program, we look forward to providing you with the services you expect.

Yours sincerely,
Luc Portelance

Quote:

Originally Posted by QueBall (Post 22372635)

Vancouver the other day for me, 2 out of 4 were not working. One completely shut off, the other with a non-functioning touch screen...

We experienced the same at YVR around the third week of January and on previous arrivals. I reported it to the bored officer who didn't seem at all interested, and now I realize why.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT1 (Post 22391383)

Yep, just got the email this morning. About time.

That email - which I also received - is very vague about what is going to happen. My guess is that the Global Entry machines will replace the iris scanners. "Please step back a little. Please step to the right. Please start over" will be replaced with "Please press harder to record your fingerprints".

I got the email. Arriving back at YYZ all of the NEXUS machines were broken Weds night (Thurs morning). I used the Special Services desk while wondering if it was okay. Glad the letter confirms it.
I wish they would commit to accessible machines in the next generation. I did get the hang of these eventually just by guesswork, but they could have made it easier.

I had the same machine problems going from YVR to LAS last week; returning to YVR, all of those machines appeared to be working properly.