And for further clarity, it would be wise for you do this before you want to use this at the airport, as the iris scans take a little time (anywhere from two hours to two days is what I was told) to set in the system to allow you to use the kiosks.

First NEXUS experience
 

So I get my NEXUS card in apparent record time -- 1 week after interview, and was anxiously waiting to use today... wow, what an underwhelming experience!

I hit YYC at a time when US Customs line-up was (as usual) quite short, in the late afternoon. The usual "supervisor desk" that handles crew & NEXUS was empty... and we weren't getting any priority over the regular line. Ended up waiting longer with 2 people in front of me than I would have in the regular line!!!

Oh well -- that is not typical, and the reason I got NEXUS was to avoid the hour-long waits in the morning. Now that it's my turn to go up to the agent, I'll breeze through, right?

Not so much... I hand over the receipt and declaration card. He asks for my NEXUS card, and then starts grilling me about where I'm going, what I'm doing. I have TN status, so usually I don't get grilled -- I've been pre-grilled! Finally he shuts up, mostly, after I point out that I have TN status (which is stored in my NEXUS profile), and I show it to him in my passport.

I'm hoping this was not a typical experience!!! Good grief. What's the point of getting pre-cleared? No indication this was a random spot check, my impression is that the guy wasn't used to dealing with NEXUS since he wasn't in the supervisor box.

Line? Talking? Aren't Nexus users only supposed to use the Crew Line when the Nexus Kiosks are down. Otherwise, just take your cards and wave them at the desk as you walk bye?

The only place a have seen a Nexus Line is at YUL the kiosks are off to the right, and after you use them, you head down a nexus cattle gate, and almost to the crew desk, then you take an abrupt right and head downstairs. Never even coming close to a human being. At all other airports, you just slip between the desks!

d.

Entering Canada there is no one to talk to until you exit the customs hall (after luggage). For US pre-clearance at YYZ, YVR or YUL you always have some interaction with CBP. Usally not much but sometimes they can ask a few questions.

US card in the mail
 

for those in the USA, the new card just arrived last week.

Can someone confirm this?
I got my US drivers license renewed last November (just expiration date change).
In late January I used the NEXUS machine at YVR, but I didn't have any problems, so maybe that's true???

I will go to YVR in March again. If I want to update my drivers license info there , do I need an appointment or just walk-in?

App't is recommended. Depending on location.
I'm in YEG, so I just walked in and they updated my info easily as they aren't to busy mid week there.

You can just walk in. I think DLs are mainly for those that do land crossings without a passport (until this June). But it doesn't hurt to update your info.

You are still supposed to update your DL information, as far as I know. However, I crossed a few times without doing this (solely because I always came in and out of YYZ in the evening, when the office is closed). I never got sent to secondary or questioned about this, so it is not like when you renew your passport, they flag you to update it (other posters have reported this, correct?). But the YYZ office definitely took a copy of my licence (which was this past December, I think), and did pass the copy on to the US side to update, as my new licence number and state was in GOES.

Note, you are also supposed to update any employment information as well. I was asked if I was still a student when I did update my license last time (I wasn't but was when I applied). I was told that I should have updated them with this info, too.

What surprised me about my interview is that they did not ask me about my travel history. I've been a contractor in some *very* sketchy parts of the world. Guess they figured that if I was willing to admit to traveling to the places I listed, I can't be hiding anything. :P

That has never been the case for me.

Me neither. The only interaction I've had except for the couple of times I've been randomed for a secondary (and those have gone very quickly), is sometimes at YYZ T1, the US guy that collects the customs cards asks to see my Nexus card. But this has only happened on occasion.

At the YUL Nexus office, they have signs up that say you have to come in person for passport or DL change, but can do address and employer by phone.

The woman there on Sunday said that in fact you can do the DL by phone, since it's just a change to expiry (she probably meant "if" but I guess it is 99% of the time). She said they recommend you do credit card in person for security reasons but will take it over the phone (which let's face it means over the phone :)). Maybe credit card is the same in practice, expiry date by phone and new number in person (just guessing).

I was there for a different reason, didn't have an appointment just showed up on Sunday afternoon.

=aw

question
 

Next week I'm flying out of YUL to NYC with my girlfriend. I have a NEXUS pass but she doesn't. If we're travelling "together" do we have to line up for customs together in the normal line? Or can I go to the NEXUS kiosk myself and wait for her to make it through customs? Wouldn't we have to approach the customs booth separately anyway since we're not married and would need to fill out separate declaration cards?

The fast answer is to have your girlfriend get Nexus ASAP, in time for your trip!

But seriously, certainly, one option would be for you to go through the Nexus way and she could go through the normal line. As for going through the booth together, I'm not sure if technically, you're supposed to in your situation. Though I believe I have done it before. Coming into Canada, they say if you are traveling to the same address, then you can fill out one customs card and go through together. Going into the US, I believe they say its one card per "family", so I guess its how loosely you define that term (and perhaps, your future plans with her).

Since you are traveling to the same address in the US (presumably), and probably on the same ticket, it might not be a problem, save if you get the grumpy customs guy who's having a bad day. Either way, you'll probably be waiting for her at the other side of US customs and immigration, so I suppose the only benefit of Nexus in your case would be just not having to talk to the CBP official.