IANAL, but I'm guessing that while they can't deny re-entry, they can revoke your Nexus. In order to keep Nexus, you probably want to go along with their games. If you want to retain your privacy, then give up on Nexus.

I'm guessing it's the same situation for US citizens using GE to enter the US: yes you can be silent, but I wouldn't be surprised if your GE disappeared. After all, being transparent is pretty much a key requirement of joining GE/Nexus.

Of course I have no concrete experiences in this as a non-citizen, so I could be wrong, these are just my hunches.

You don't have to answer questions but they can send you to secondary, search your possessions, and vehicle which would kinda defeat the purpose of NEXUS.

I had an American friend who did exactly this when crossing back into the US. CBP officer did not find it funny and sent them to secondary, delaying them 30 minutes. I guess if everybody did this they couldn't search everybody, but it still isn't a good idea. Just answer the questions so everybody can get on with their lives.

This...although not joining won't necessarily retain your privacy....they can probably learn quite a bit without it, anyway.

My brother, on the other hand, understands the privacy bit. He doesn't want the government to have access to his iris, as he says, from the iris scan. So he refused to get Nexus. That's up to him, of course. He still travels a bit...a couple of times internationally, and a few times a year between Canada/US. So when he arrives behind the EK 380 at Pearson - and yes, its bound to happen at some point - he's going to be waiting to be metered into the customs hall. Meanwhile, I will be out with my bags before he even gets to the hall. We make our choices and live the consequences. Not unhappy about mine.

I'm not sure anything you say is clear is.

I have no idea what's supposed to happen or not. What I do know is the umpteen times I've talked to them in the office about it, I've gotten the same answer from agents - that GOES data doesn't get to the Canadians. You can argue about if its supposed to or not, but its clear no matter what is supposed to happen, that type of sharing doesn't. Maybe its a glitch, or maybe its due to laws on data sharing and it being a US system. If you want to try arguing with an agent on your opinion that you shouldn't be held responsible for an IT glitch when they ask you haven't updated your data at the office, when you don't know thats even the case, so be it. Just don't expect any favors from that officer. If they want to take it away from you for this (have no idea if they would or wouldn't), sorry, doubtful your computer glitch thoery will prevent it.

Unless you have some clear evidence of the sharing actually happening from info. put into GOES, or even of it supposed to be happening, I'm not sure you can talk about how clearly it is supposed to. It is very possible its a the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing - and that while the folks writing the copy for some reason think folks don't have to update in person, its not really the case. Again, that's speculation - I'm just not sure.

What I am sure about is that I am going to take the more careful approach every time, and in this case, it means, yes, a short visit to the office every 10 years to update my passport. It's really not a big deal.

Hi all,

Two quick questions. I'm a Canadian citizen currently studying as a PhD student in the US on an F-1. I have my conditional approval for Nexus, and have an upcoming interview scheduled for the end of this week. I moved apartments in the US between when I applied and now, although my permanent address in Canada has not changed.

When it comes to proof of address, I have:
- Original documentation of my home/permanent/SEVIS address in Canada (valid drivers licence w/ address)
- (Non?) original documentation of the US address I had applied with many months ago (a printed utility bill, which were all e-delivery, but show my name and address on the bill).
- (Non?) original documentation of my current US address, via a printed copy of the lease (my housemate has all utilities in his name, so don't have a great proof there)

(Of course, I have my passport and I-20 as well (proof of student status).)

Is this workable given my situation? Or should I delay my interview to get some sort of different documentation?

And, is there anything obvious I'm forgetting (like should update my US apartment address with them somehow; if so, how) that I should do before the interview?

Thanks so much for your advice!

Nexus Renewal Timeline?
 

I have just received notice of the expiration of my Nexus card in 6 months.

Anyone been through a renewal recently? How long does it take (YVR-SEA, if you know)? Normally I would wait assuming the sooner the card is re-issued the sooner it expires. But not if the process is now taking 6 months!

Thanks for sharing your experience.

IIRC the card expires 5 years from your next birthday. So unless you let the card lapse, you won't get gain/lose from renewing at a different time.

At the interview, they will ask you if the address you gave them is correct. If it's not, then they will ask to update it. It seems like the easiest proof of address you can provide is a drivers license or ID card from the state where you currently reside with the correct address on it. As a Canadian, you should not have any issues with obtaining it.

I did my last renewal (a year or so ago IIRC) entirely online (but note the comments upthread about advising the Canadian side of changed document info)

YMMV of course

Renew it now.

Expiration is still 5 years from your next birthday, so whether you renew it 11 months and 25 days before it expires or 2 days before it expires, the new expiration date will be the same. The NEXUS processing time thread has more on the current times and is the best source for updates on those, but really, why wait and add stress? If you renew now you'll have plenty of time to schedule an interview and you might not even need one.

My experience (which I posted on that thread): applied for renewal in mid-July, received a final approval without needing to re-interview in mid-September. If I had had to re-interview, I suspect I would have made the trip up to Blaine rather than trying to schedule in at the Seattle (BFI) location.

I can only speak for GE, but in a similar situation they only cared about my permanent place of residence, and didn't care about my temporary US address.

Just be aware: every F-1 entry into the US will likely result in an X, and you'll have to speak to an officer to process your admission. I.e. they need to see your accompanying form (I-20?) and, AFAICT manually check SEVIS, which the GE kiosks are unable to do. This might be different for Canadians, but all the other GE F1/J1 visa holders that I know of get this.

Not a huge change of process if Canadian preclearance forces you to speak to an officer anyways though (assuming they haven't changed their ways, and you primarily travel from Canada).

does anyone know if Lansdown Ontario has iris scanner and do all locations have fingerprinting? Just wondering it much quicker to get an interview in Lansdown than Ottawa

First use of Nexus
 

I used my Nexus card for the first time this weekend at the Ottawa airport. Outbound from IAH I got pre check on my boarding pass and kept shoes, belt and laptop where they were.

There was not much foot traffic at Ottawa airport immigration but I still went to the Nexus machine and it was very smooth.

Alas, on the return trip using the GE machines was a fail. After the countdown to take the picture was over, it simply errored out and directed me to the CBP agent. I informed the agent it was my first time using GE and he was nice enough to walk back out with me to the machine and try once more. Still didn't work and he told me not worry about it. These machines "work when they want to."

A little disappointed but, overall, and with two out of three steps working perfectly, I'm satisfied with the program.

Thanks so much, greglvnv and televisor. Appreciate your input.

I have a driver's license for my permanent address, but haven't obtained one in the US (don't own a car there).

Out of curiosity, if they say that they want more documentation (e.g., my US address documentation is insufficient and they want more; and assuming that doesn't cause an automatic rejection...), does that followup need to occur in person at the same office as the application? I'm slated to interview in Ottawa, but am Calgary/Phoenix based with no plans to be back in Ottawa until May.

Can I either submit those documents online or at the Calgary office, or should I reschedule my Ottawa interview to Calgary to ensure I can follow up at the same location?

Again, thanks everyone for your time and input!

There was a post by at least one other contributor showing they were given an e-mail address where they could scan documents requested at the interview. My suggestion is to bring everything you have with you though. I was asked to show them my birth certificate from overseas to prove my birth name and place of birth, so you just never know what they are going to ask you for.