Thank you!

I guess I didn't realize I had to clear security in Toronto again before my flight to YYG.

So does this sound right?

Arrrive MSP, use precheck to clear security, board flight to YYZ, fill out form on plane, arrive YYZ go thru regular customs line (if I cant use crew line), clear customs, go back thru security in YYZ, board flight YYG.

Returning, go thru security in YYG, board flight to YYZ, fill out customs form again?, go thru customs in YYZ, but now I can use GE Kiosks, going thru secuirty again?, board flight to MSP.

If I do happen to get my iris scan in Toronto on the way out, can I use either the GE kiosk or nexus kiosk on the way back? Or can I only use the nexus? If I can use both, is one better/easier than the other?

I can take a flight that gives me 3.5 hours between flights, that should allow more time to clear security and customs and some time to get my iris scan for my nexus card if I can walk-in.

The flight is not till the summer but I'm already having anxiety about it, this certainly helps. I will also myself more time between flight to pass thru security and customs.

Is the Toronto airport well marked with direction signs? I assume all US flight arrive and depart from the same area?

Yep, looks right to me.

Yes, you use GE while clearing customs at YYZ and go back through security on your way to your gate... more info here.

The extra time will definitely help.

You'll be fine if you follow the signs.

When going through pre clearance at YYZ On your return home you do not have to fill out the blue customs form.

You should be able to use the crew lane when you arrive in Toronto from MSP as you are a nexus member. If concerned give the nexus office a call and ask. Also since you're at YYZ you should pop in to have them scan your iris. It shouldnt take too much time.

Interview is tomorrow and I'm curious as to what I need to bring, other than the conditional approval notice and passport.

Birth certificate? Care card?

Also what is the process like and how long should the wait be?

Letter, passport and driver's license.

It shouldn't take long. The Canadian or American may ask you questions as to why you want NEXUS, ect. The American will take your fingerprints and picture and the Canadian will do an iris scan (if doing the interview in Canada). You'll watch a video on how NEXUS works and what you can and can't do. I found watching the video was longer than the actual interview.

You should get your card in a week. You can use GE as soon as it says 'Approved' in your GOES account, but don't use the NEXUS lanes in Canada or the US until you get your NEXUS card.

Thank you for the detailed response.

We will be doing this interview at YVR.

I assume minors can go without a drivers licence?

Even though the letter says passport or birth certificate, I was chastised by CBP when I didn't bring my BC. So I suggest it might be easier if you bring both as inconsistency is the name of the game.

Of course you were. What's the NEXUS program without a little ambiguity, eh?

passport expiring
 

My passport is expiring soon. Unfortunately, I only allowed 3 1/2 weeks between the U.S. passport office (national office) receipt of my application and a planned land crossing into Canada. I have NEXUS. I am concerned that my NEXUS will be cancelled and I will suffer for years.

Possibilities:
1. Pay $60 expedited fee and see if they can process my application faster. Drawback is that my application and a $60 check will not be in the same envelope because I already mailed the application.

2. Do nothing. Cross into Canada.

3. disregard (EDIT: was thinking of getting an enhanced driver's license but that takes 2-3 weeks and I sent in my passport already to the passport office)

4. Pay $60 for expedited handling. Pay $40 for an expedited passport card, Put the check in the same application as the passport card.

5. call them.
http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...ing-times.html

call them when I am 2 weeks before going to Canada,

I am leaning towards #5. I am very fearful to attempt #2. If I do #5, maybe I can ask them if they can provide me with my new passport number and then enter that into GOES. I can then wait a few weeks for the passport to come by mail.

Your NEXUS card is a WHTI compliant document and can be used on its own for entering the US or Canada via land.

I called a NEXUS office. There have been posts on FT about conflicting information given by different people but they told me today to just cross the land border to and from Canada with the NEXUS card (even though I expressed fear of NEXUS card revocation).

It's funny that it says to not take out the card until instructed, but never tells you when to remove it. I wrote them an e-mail with my feedback on the Nexus machines...who knows where it goes or if it just triggers a secondary every time now.

I wish Canada would have just switched to the GE machines. Fingerprints are much less finicky than iris scanners. The GE machines work on the first try much more often. Very occasionally, they don't seem to read my passport, so I just move onto the next one. I'd say I find the GE machines many times more reliable than Nexus.

You'll also notice the asymmetry in machine numbers. Preclearance in YYZ has something like 20 GE kiosks. On the side where you're directed returning to YYZ in customs, there are only 3 Nexus kiosks.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.4.4; Nexus 5 Build/KTU84P) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/39.0.2171.93 Mobile Safari/537.36)

The controversy you're referring to is about whether a Nexus card can be used alone for *air* travel (a recent change). It has always been the case that the Nexus card, as a WHTI document, is sufficient for land crossing in both directions and the program materials state as much.

NEXUS renewal strategy?
 

My NEXUS card is up for renewal later this year.........How easy is it?

It looks like its an on line application? How much in advance should I start the process (6 months)? When does my current card become invalid?

You current card expires on the stated expiry date on the card :)
6 months is a good margin to get the process started.