When flying the physical NEXUS card is still useful as it gives access to expedited security screening at Canadian airports--even for domestic travel in Canada.

Hi, I am a Permanent Resident in Canada based in Montreal and just applied for Nexus. The main benefits I'm looking for are access to priority security lanes when flying from US and Canadian airports and also priority lanes for (pre-)clearing US customs/immigration.

Do I have to do the iris scan ? It seems that it is only used for clearing Canadian immigration but I don't think I need it since it has always been a breeze when returning back to Canada and I enjoy talking to the mostly friendly human CBSA agens :)

Anything I should be aware of as a Nexus applicant or user based in Montreal ?

Thanks

For your interview, yes! It's a requirement for the NEXUS card to be used in air travel. The exception is infants, they do not get your iris scanned, or if you have a valid medical reason why your irises may not properly scan.

For transit usage, no. As a NEXUS member you're under no obligation to use it. Your scenario of using it for security and US immigration is fine, and you can use the regular lanes any time you want in US/Canada - just show your passport.

I suppose one could be a NEXUS member without getting the iris scan, though they likely require it. As stated above, if you choose not to use NEXUS when entering Canada that is your choice, but you'll likely be required during the interview.

Maybe GE would have been a better choice?

Since the enrollment centers in the US don't have the cameras to take iris scans, it's quite easy to be a NEXUS member without the iris scan. I had my card for months after interviewing in Detroit before I got to YYZ to get my scans done.

That said, I'm curious about the possible objections; I'd think the GE/NEXUS fingerprinting would be a more serious privacy concern for most people, and you definitely have to get that done.

GE is only available through Nexus for Canadian citizens/residents.

So if I understand it correctly:
Iris scan: for using Nexus kiosks to clear US immigration at Canadian airports featuring pre-clearance, and clear Canadian immigration at Canadian airports.

Fingerprints: for using Global Entry kiosks to clear US immigration at US airports.

Right ?

That's right. If you interview at a station with an iris scanner, you can do it all at once. If your station has no iris scanner, you can do it on a drop-in basis when you pass through a station with a scanner. I don't recall reading anyone reporting a deadline by which the iris scan must be completed, i.e., do it when it's convenient. Nothing stops you from queuing with the civilian herds if you REALLY want to talk to a human being. I got NEXUS to avoid talking to human beings but that's just me.

Fingerprints are also for the GE kiosks at Canadian preclearance locations. The GE kiosks will become the only TT kiosk available at preclearance facilities.

Ah yes, I forgot you could do that. Good point.

Didn't realize GE was available to US citizens/residents only. Two mistakes in one day for me.

When I did my interview at Champlain, NY they told me that I was under no obligation to get the iris scan (across the border), although I shouldn't be surprised when it didn't work at an airport.

They also told me I didn't need to do it any time soon, I could do it any time after getting the card (I did do it the day of the interview, however).

Use Global Entry while NEXUS Card Replacement Application Pending?
 

Hi there,

Apologies if this type of question has been answered previously.

I was approved for NEXUS after my interview in YOW back in December, but I never received my card. I was in the process of a move when I was approved and I can only imagine it wasn't forwarded or got lost. After a few calls to confused NEXUS centres, I was eventually advised to use the GOES system to "Manage Membership" and apply for a replacement card. I have just done so and the card replacement application is "Pending Review". From other forum answers, it seems like that I can expect the review to take a few weeks. Fair enough, I've waited 16 months since my initial application already, what's another few weeks? (It was very difficult to get an appointment to coincide with times I was back in Canada.)

My question is whether I can use the Global Entry machines at YEG preclearance when I return to the US through there this weekend. My instincts say no, but on my GOES home page I have the message "As a NEXUS member, you can now use the Global Entry kiosks located at the top 20 major U.S. international airports to enter the U.S. To use the Global Entry kiosks, you must use a valid machine readable U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident card...." I have a valid green card so it would seem that I could just do this since Global Entry seems to ignore NEXUS anyways?

I suppose I can always just ask at the YEG NEXUS office?

Thanks!

Just had a strange encounter returning to Canada by land yesterday. Waved our NEXUS cards in front of the reader as usual, pulled up to the booth with my arm extended to give her our cards, but instead she asked us what our status was in Canada. Told her we were both citizens, and she asked (and wanted to see) proof, in this case our passports.

I was actually planning on leaving them at home this trip because I didn't really see any need to carry anything other than the NEXUS cards.

Kind of has me worried that they somehow messed up [i]yet again[/i/] and don't have our passport information in their system. Really wondering what they see on the screen in the booth and what triggered her to ask for this.

Last I checked, NEXUS cards are sufficient alone for land crossings. I always carry my passport with me when travelling (as an ID hedge to a lost/stolen wallet), but this is right off the CBSA website (emphasis mine):
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-vo...-eng.html#_s1a

Makes me wonder what would have happened if you didn't have your passport available. You should report your interaction to the CBSA as this may be an opportunity for retraining of that officer.

This is what I'm wondering too. Would be interesting to know.

Any idea how I could go about doing that?

Another example of a strange issue - although this one was at YYZ. After using the kiosk, I was walking past the stand where you show your completed declaration page and the kiosk printout. The two people in front of me who also had nexus printouts, were waived through. I was initially waived through, then as I was going to go down the escalator, I had one of the agents ask me to step aside (we were standing under the monitors displaying the arriving flight baggage claim info). He then asks me what I was bringing into Canada. I told him I had nothing that was staying in the country, as I was going to be flying to the US. He asked where I traveled to, and then again asked for specifics of what was purchased. It was almost a mini interrogation ( not sure what else to call it, although that does make it sound harsher than it was). Anyways I got a little annoyed, and essentially told him I filled out the declaration form as required, and if he wanted to inspect further I would be happy to go to secondary inspection since I was not in any rush, but that I take offense to be questioned out in the open in front of everyone like that. I also said were he to take me to secondary, he would find that I was in full compliance with the nexus program requirements and well within my duty free limits. He said said ok and let me go after that. It was a little odd, and have never had that happen to me before, or since that incident.