It's been previously reported at FT that once you are fully approved, you can use GE immediately.

GE kiosks in airports can be used immediately upon approval, even before a NEXUS card is received and activated. The approval letter states as such and no card at all is needed to use GE.

Your example refers to a land crossing in a NEXUS lane - a totally different animal. Yes, you need to activate the card before using a NEXUS lane or a NEXUS kiosk at an airport because you are using the card. Even GE members need to use their GE card when using a NEXUS lane into the US.

Thanks everyone for their response. I have two additional questions.

1. What is the difference in terms of privileges between GE and Nexus? Since I can't use the nexus line for security, what can I do with GE?

2. Can I still use my passport for GE even if I am not a holder of a U.S. or Canadian passport? I am a Canadian permanent resident.

When entering the USA, there is no difference. Membership in NEXUS or GE gets you the same benefits and privileges.

When entering Canada, GE is worthless. You need NEXUS to get any related benefits or privileges.

Canadian permanent residents are not eligible for membership in the Global Entry program. You have to apply for NEXUS.

Perhaps, but it is technically against the NEXUS rules. Remember that NEXUS members are not concurrently Global Entry members, they only have GE privileges as a benefit of their NEXUS membership. That means that when a NEXUS member uses a GE machine, he does so as a NEXUS member and all of the NEXUS rules apply, including the rule to always have the card in your possession when using it for NEXUS services.

US CBP may not have a problem with you not having the card in your possession when using a GE machine, but I personally wouldn't risk it. Is using the regular lane at the airport one more time really such a burden?

When regular lane is 50+ ppl long, yeah it's a burden. As both you and CBP both indicated, GE is included. GE kiosk will either error out or proceed normally.

Given the fact that frontline CBP officers can't even see what trusted traveller program you belong too, it's not like they'd know if you had Nexus or just GE anyway.

Please go read your NEXUS approval letter. Find the statement that says that "you may use your Global Entry privileges immediately" or something to the same effect, followed by the admonition that you must receive and activate your NEXUS card "before using the NEXUS lanes or NEXUS Air kiosks." I don't have my letter any more, but I remember those statements clearly.

You are giving bad advice regarding the use of Global Entry kiosks for NEXUS members. It is fine if you don't want to take any (non-existent) risks, but asserting that you must activate your NEXUS card in order to use a GE kiosk is simply inaccurate. Her'es what you are missing: GE is not a "NEXUS service" so CBP doesn't give a rat's tail about your NEXUS card.

The approval letter is in GOES account and it states:

But as I indicated earlier, from a GE kiosk perspective, it's usable once you receive the fully approved email after the interview.

I agree with seawolf, last time I traveled from YUL to MLB, I spent an hour in security check, there were close 70 people waiting in the line, whereas the nexus line there were only a handful of people which is the main reason I decided to apply for Nexus.

That being said, it looks I won't be able to use the GE line correct?

On a side note, how long does it take to get the approval email after the interview?

"If you are enrolled in Global Entry, you may begin using the kiosk immediately."

Some NEXUS members are not eligible for GE entering the US, and THOSE members cannot use the GE kiosk immediately. Everyone else - don't need to wait for the card.

samisheikh, it appears you haven't had your interview yet? If so, just ask all your questions to the officers (CBP and CBSA) during the interview in addition to crowdsourcing your information here at FT. Especially since you are a Canadian LPR and don't hold a US or Canadian passport - that is a special situation that most of us can't comment on.

The acceptance letter receipt time can very from instantaneous (reports of getting the email while still in the NEXUS center's parking lot). For me, it took a phone call after a delay in receipt due to some technical issue that wasn't described, but was fixed, during the phone call. I had the letter 5 minutes after I hung up.

pa3lsvt, a NEXUS credential includes GE, full stop period. GE is the American chosen form of trusted traveler program for entering the USA. Which is the reason that while a Canadian CAN'T apply for only GE, they are given a GE status under the NEXUS program. In other words, if a Canadian were not allowed to have GE access, they wouldn't have a NEXUS credential. For non-Americans (Canadians), GE is a Nexus service. That is accurate.

I can comment on that a little bit. I hold neither US nor Canadian nationality, but I am a permanent resident (of the US in my case.)

My experience with NEXUS has been very similar to US and Canadian citizens. The main difference is that the Nexus card DOES NOT work as proof of citizenship for me, nor does it meet WHTI requirements. So I can't ever cross borders with NEXUS alone, regardless of mode.

To enter the US, I use my US-issued green card. As a Canadian PR, you would have to use whatever you need based on your actual nationality -- most likely either ESTA or an actual visa.

To enter Canada, I use my European passport, which allows me to enter Canada as a tourist without a visa. However, I need a Canadian eTA to enter by air (which is silly, NEXUS screening is much stricter than eTA screening.) In your case, you should be able to just use your Canadian permanent resident card.

Driving across, I always proffer these documents. Some inspectors want to see them, some don't. But crossing without them is a violation. If you are asked and don't have the right documents on you, you are likely to both be turned back AND lose NEXUS. So don't do that. You also still need your NEXUS card to wave at the RFID scanner.

Flying (which I've only tried entering the US) I use my green card on the scanner that normally wants your US or Canadian passport. Other than that variation, the process is the same -- fingerprint, answer questions, take receipt. I haven't tried air mode in Canada yet, but I understand they use the retina scan instead of the US fingerprints. Actually kind of curious to try that some day.

Hope this information was helpful.

Anything on above guys...

When we had the conditional application approval, were their investigations done in full? When we go to the evaluation it only validates the documents?

30 years ago in USA NY state I got a speed ticket, I returned the ticket by mail Canada and then since that time I have never gotten back to concerm the ticket ... I never had a problem to go in USA .... Do you know if I can have the Nexus card ?