I'm sorry, but it's this kind of thinking that causes the USA (and Canada) to spend billions on a nonsense security apparatus - "This [really rare thing] *might* happen, so lets spend a lot of money on processes. Aren't we all safe?"

You can board a plane with many forms of ID that don't require a scheduled appointment to replace. Heck, at the *passport* office you just walk in and take a number. Why all this process around a Nexus card?

How does scheduling an appointment for a replacement card prevent a thief from trying to reverse-engineer the stolen card?

Assuming that the thief doesn't have your irises and the RFID Pass ID can simply be blocked, I'll ask again: What *exactly* could a bad guy do with a stolen Nexus card?

...and, on another tangent, what's the point of all this pre-board ID checking anyway?

Don't disagree with you. Just trying to reverse-engineer their thought process.
Edited to add: I don't think re-interviewing the cardholder does anything to stop the Bad Guy. It might be to try to determine if the cardholder might somehow be collaborating with the Bad Guy. Again, just trying to reverse engineer their logic.

Here are two theories on the matter:
1)When filing an application to renew a Canadian passport, you can use the simplified application (no guarantor, fewer questions, etc.) instead of the full-on application. However, if your passport is lost, then you must complete the full application (guarantor, more questions, etc.). When you lose your Nexus card, it's a parallel situation - you need to go through extra work to get a new one. Since you've lost a government document, there are going to be extra hoops to go through to get a new one.

2) Suppose that an unauthorized person gained access to your GOES account, updated the mailing address, and then reported the card missing. Within a few days/weeks, they would have a Nexus card that they could misuse, although they'd have to figure out how to change the picture. Adding the interview step is a pain, but it reduces the chances of identity theft and giving an unauthorized person access to the trusted traveller system.

That said, I wouldn't want to be in a situation where I lost my Nexus card. On a flight last year, one passenger lost her card somewhere between the gate and her seat on the plane, and the FA's asked everyone to look around and see if they could find it. I think everyone knew what a pain it would be to replace if not found. :(

Misusing the card is a hard task to do. The new nexus and GE cards are of top security features travel documents.

Hey all!

I've been lurking on this website for the past 2 months and have found it very helpful. I live in Vancouver, BC and thought I would give you all run by.

My partner and I applied on March 10th, 2014. My partner received notification for an interview on April 4th, 2014 and I received notification on April 7th, 2014. I kept checking for dates for appointments in Blaine and Vancouver, BC as they were booking them for August 2014. Managed to get an appointment for my partner for April 16th and mine on April 17th at the Vancouver Int'l Airport. I received my card yesterday (April 25th) in the mail.

Overall, a very painless process and from the time I started the application to receiving my card it was 1 1/2 months. :)

Sorry for re-asking this (assuming someone already asked it).
I will be boarding soon and need to take care of some matters prior - so hope someone can simply answer my question below within the next hour and a bit...

I am a Canadian Citizen living in Canada. I am currently at LHR about to board a flight to YYZ. I am a NEXUS/GE card holder.

My Drivers License (DL) just expired but I have not had time to have it renewed. My DL is associated with my NEXUS/GOES account. If I remove my DL from GOES, can I still use the NEXUS kiosks/lines at YYZ Int'l Arrivals hall without getting into trouble today?

(or do I have to use the regular Int'l arrivals line for Canadian Citizens and then find time to get a valid DL again, apply it to my GOES account, and then I can use NEXUS lines again?)

Thanks In Advance!

You'll be fine.

I tried to update my DL at the YYZ office while transiting there and was told that it's no longer required. When I got back to YUL I confirmed with my friends away the Nexus office there who confirmed.

Have a great flight!

You'll be fine. Your DL status is irrelevant to your ability to enter Canada. And, you can't remove your DL from GOES - that can only be done by an agent at the office. And if you don't have a new DL later it doesn't matter - it can be used as a form of photo ID or to prove your residency on your application, but as far as Nexus is concerned, not much else.

If it was your passport, would be a completely different story. But DL won't matter.

YYZ Pre-Clearance w/out Passport
 

FT colleagues, I'll be flying YYZ-LGA tomorrow morning without my passport (damn visas). Is it possible to use the GE kiosk with my NEXUS card as the NEXUS machines have been replaced by GEs?

Thanks.

It's possible, but it's the against the rules to fly without passport on your person. If you get caught, do expect to have your NEXUS revoked.

Seriously? I thought NEXUS was a valid travel document? What is the point of the card if you need to hold your passport as well?

For land and marine crossings.

The expectation was given at my interview to carry passport when flying

"NEXUS cards are WHTI-compliant documents for land and sea travel, as well as air travel when traveling to and from airports using NEXUS."

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs

According to the email I recently received, GE kiosks at preclearance locations (only) will be accepting NEXUS cards as well as passports. (My hypothesis is that this frees up the iris-scan kiosks for use at Canadian entry points.)

CBP also explicitly lists documents valid for air travel including "a valid passport, NEXUS card (if utilizing a NEXUS kiosk when departing from a designated Canadian airport), Merchant Mariner Document (for U.S. citizens traveling on official business), or Military Identification Card (for members of the U.S. armed forces traveling on official orders)."

I've had officers on both sides ask for passport at times, nexus card be damned

From CBSA website: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/faq-eng.html#a9

Is the NEXUS card a WHTI compliant document?

Yes, it is a WHTI compliant document for entry into the United States.

Can NEXUS cards be used as proof of identification and to denote citizenship in non-NEXUS lanes when entering Canada?

NEXUS members who are permanent residents of Canada or the U.S. are still required to travel with a passport and proof of permanent residence, and may be requested to present these documents to the officer upon arrival at the border.

And there's the most likely issue.

By the docs, if you have US and/or Canadian citizenship, the card alone is sufficient. If you are merely a legal permanent resident of one or the other, you also need your passport.