For the initial retinal scan / image capture, your eyes need to be in their natural state (no contacts in, no glasses on). After that, when using the kiosks, you can have your contacts in and glasses on and the scanner will be able to recognize you.

Shows you the inconsistencies. I was told not to worry, leave them in. I have no problem with contacts, glasses or naked (they eyes that is) at the kiosk, and rarely even get told to move back a little...

It is quite clear. You don't go backwards, and out is the only option. There is a corridor that takes you away from the kiosks.... nothing simpler. If you don't have checked bags, don't take the escalator. Take the elevator or the stairs and you save yourself a minute or so. Makes a difference if the 747 from Paris is just getting their bags and they slam the customs checkers at the exit

I don't understand this either. If you have checked bags, you throw them on the moving carpet and carry on. If you have checked bags, out you go through the glass doors and up to clear security again. Where and why were you waiting?

Re: driving to bellingham. I didn't try to use the Nexus card. There was only 3 cars in the normal line so I just used my passport.

I think I will avoid driving S.bound into US on Nexus lanes until I get my new card. I primarily use it at the Airport, where it's a great time saver (especially if you ever land at YVR at the same time as a jumbo jet from Asia!)

Perhaps the technology has advanced...

or regressed... I was an early adopter

I had my contacts on during the initial iris scan last month for my Nexus application in Calgary. No problems with that, and the machine on testing also had no problems identifying my eyes. I would have figured that if you are going to have them on when you go through the Nexus gate at the kiosk, I might as well have the initial photos taken with them in too...

I haven't crossed the border in about 5 months. Since then I've had LASIK. Will that mess with the iris scan? Anyone have any experiences with that?

I'll likely be headed into YVR next week, and given the 2 hour long lines at the time I usually arrive, I really hope I don't have to stand in them.

You have a couple of options:

> Call the YVR Nexus Centre (604-666-4598) and ask them if you need to be re-scanned (it's a good question, actually). The YVR Nexus Centre does not require an appointment to do an iris scan so you could drop in before departure and have them re-done, if needed.
> If you don't have time to stop and have them re-done (if needed) then you could go thru Duty Free, try the kiosk, and if that doesn't work, you can use the flight crew lane. YVR has a fast track line for Nexus holders so you will not have to wait in a 2 hr. line.

The scanner is looking at the pattern of blood vessels around the retina. Lasik does not have any effect of the them.

I used my NEXUS for the first time this month. Once going YYC-LAX and then from LAX-YYZ.
I guess I keep standing too close, because the woman voice kept saying " Please step back a little"...."Please step back a little" It did that about 6 times before I heard the "Camera" noise. I felt a bit foolish,haha. Next time I'll know to stand a bit further back.

I've realized one thing about the NEXUS. I get to skip the 15 minute line up at Customs, but I have to wait 15 minutes for my suitcase so I don't save much time. However if I had no carry-on then It would be great.

That would be retinal scanning. Nexus uses iris scanning which exploits the fine texture of the iris for pattern recognition. It's not affected by LASIK.

To poorly quote a movie...you cannot have the sweet without the sour

or something like that..

True... but you do get to skip the Welcome Home interrogation :rolleyes:

Unfortunately I'm coming through from the US, so if I need to be rescanned, I can't get to the Nexus office since it's landside.

I suppose if the kiosk doesn't recognize me out I'll just use the crew line and get a rescan on the way back home.