Discovered I lost my NEXUS card yesterday. :mad:

Reported card lost at 2pm this afternoon via GOES online system and paid the $25 fee.

Received status change at 2:50pm - logged into GOES and my lost card replacement was approved instantly. ^

Pleasant surprise considering it seems all anecdotes I've read about reporting a lost card required more lead time and an interview at an enrolment centre.

YTZ as in the downtown airport? Either way, you can use Nexus and go first then get to baggage claim to pick up bags while your father is waiting in line to clear - even better, get your bags and join the potentially looooong line for the ferry and have him just walk up that line until he finds you. Missing the ferry (or worse, two of them) will cost far more in time than the wait for both of you to clear the traditional way, plus an added bonus of only one of you needing to deal with a nasty, rude Customs inspector in person.

"we'll decide whether that granola bar is a violation"
 

Quick story - first time sent to secondary for random audit in YYC 2 weeks ago. When asked about food, I stated the only thing I had was an unopened granola bar from the hotel I was staying at. Agent told me I must claim this, and let them decide whether it should be "seized"? He reminded me that Nexus was a privilege and I have to claim "everything"...

Coming though YYZ from MIA Friday, I checked the food box, (brought back some cookies for the kids, yep, they had nuts in them) sure enough, sent through to secondary. Once at the counter, agent rolled her eyes, agreed that the rule is ridiculous and they should filter this sort of thing at initial screening because "it's just a headache for everyone - "we're not looking for cookies or Granola bars in here!" When we asked what we could do, she said the ONLY thing to do is to complain CBSA. She actually asked if we had a few minutes while she got her supervisor so we could do exactly that right then and there. She also said that for some reason they've been seeing way more cases like this lately.

So I guess for now the only thing to do is get rid of EVERY food item before coming back from the US? :rolleyes:

Oops, guess I'm a little behind the times...well in that case, the OP can join the loooong line for a taxi, shuttle bus or finding the rental car spots.

Here's a new one. My father's experience (current GE member, never had a NEXUS interview):

Applied: 1/27
Conditional Approval: 2/8
Interview Scheduled: 8/22 at Seattle UEC
Approval (?!): 5/16

Apparently they are approving NEXUS apps for current trusted travelers in other programs (GE) without an interview from CBSA?

That would be really nice if true.

Sounds like a mistake. If Canada trusted US CBP to do their screening for them, they could just accept GE and there'd be no need for a separate NEXUS program.

I have a similar experience today.

My NEXUS will expire on August...
So I applied for renewal on early April...
Conditionally Approval: Mid-April
Interview Scheduled: 6/14 in YVR
Approval: 5/16

I got an approval letter, same as your father, today as well.

I am wondering what is going on!

I went to Canada two weekends ago - I had no issue using the NEXUS card to gain entry, but when I tried to use Global Entry on leaving Canada, my Global Entry was denied. The officer was pretty nice, and told me that he did not see any issue with my Global Entry once I gave him my NEXUS card. I managed to go through immigration with no issues.

Anyway, so your father got an approval letter today too, and I wonder if this is a computer error or is something new. I have emailed GOES, but the response time is two to three business weeks. I may try to call them tomorrow.

I am interested if anyone get an approval letter today too!

Carfield

I found the approval bizarre, yes. Particularly given how cumbersome it was for my wife to get her name changed after we got married two years ago. No one could give us a straight answer on that, we had three officers give us three different responses on how to do that.

It seems like they are trying to make the process less cumbersome in response to lengthy waits for appointment times. It seems like they are treating the interview as more of a "picture show" than anything else.

And honestly, the interview is little more than that anyway. The vetting process by CBP and CBSA that takes place prior to conditional approval is the real test anyway. They know going into your interview if you've ever been convicted of a crime, had a DUI, customs violation, etc. They have your passport data, DL information, all of it.

The only reason I can see to even need an interview in the first place is to get your fingerprints and picture taken. If that data is already on file from another trusted traveler program, and the customer is just changing programs on renewal, or adding a new program, why bother with the dog and pony show?

He still needs to go to a Nexus center in Canada to get the iris scan in order to use the Nexus lines. So the first trip to Canada he needs to use the regular line. Then stop by the center (no appointment needed) and get the iris scan taken.

I don't think he has any plans to use air mode (My wife and I haven't in our three years of membership, anyway). We primarily have a membership to bypass lines at the Peace Arch, to get TSA precheck, and for GE benefits.

Exactly. Must be a mistake. No way CBSA is surrendering their screening process over to CBP despite us Americans like to think of Canada as the 51st State. :p

Update: NOT a mistake. Just received this email:

Thank you for your continued interest in CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs. After additional review, it has been determined that your application could be approved without an additional in person enrollment interview. If you had a scheduled appointment, it will be cancelled on your behalf with the approval of your application. If you receive a membership card in the mail, you can activate the card through your GOES account. No further action is required.

This is an automated email. Please do not reply.

That's one way to solve the backlog situation....forgo interviews.