In order for one obtaining a passport, in most cases, an original or certified copy of birth certificate had to be provided. If one has a valid passport, then it is not necessary.

My mileage varies. When I and my kids went for our initial interviews, the CBP agent insisted we all present birth certificates in addition to our passports. I had mine with me but not the kids. We completed the interviews but I had to go home and return with the kids' birth certificates later in the day before they were approved.

Did you enter your and your childrens' birth certificates into the GOES application as proof of citizenship or admissibility (in addition to the passport, or instead of the passports)? Last month, we helped someone in this forum who absent-mindedly entered his naturalization certificate in the application, in addition to his passport, and so his confirmation letter directed him to bring both.

If not, it sounds like that CBP officer was making up rules/procedures on his own. His instruction contradicts the appointment confirmation letter, the CBP INFO FAQs, and other CBP documents.

As we've seen in other threads, like for ABTC, you could write to the ombudsman soon after the interview and get the officer straightened out on proper procedure, but it's generally more trouble than just bringing the birth certificates.

That may get to the need for the kids' birth certificates, but why did the officer demand [MENTION=631628]Kiraly[/MENTION] 's birth certificate?

Kiraly didn't need to present birth certificate for adult assuming Kiraly indicated passport as citizenship document in application and same document was present at interview.

Yeah, exactly. That's part of the reason I suggested that if Kiraly didn't include his own birth certificate on the NEXUS application as proof of admissibility or citizenship, then the officer was making up his own rules in demanding to see Kiraly's birth certificate.

I'm pretty sure I entered both passport and birth certificate documents in the initial application for all three of us. I guess that's why they needed to see them at the interviews. Conditional approval letter said to bring passports to interviews but did not mention birth certificates.

That explains why the CBP officer demanded Kiraly's birth certificate; it was listed on the application.

As far as the kids: [MENTION=631628]Kiraly[/MENTION] - did you save the conditional approval letters and appointment confirmation letters or have access to them on the new TTP system? I'd actually be curious to double-check the text of them, and see whether birth certificate might have been quietly snuck into the list of documents to bring on the letters for your kids (and for you) (because you listed it on the application) and perhaps evaded your eyeballs in the middle of the list.

I didn't save a copy, and the online conditional approval letter disappeared along with GOES. That letter definitely did not mention anything about bringing birth certificates; I double checked it before going to the interview and then quadruple checked it after the interview.

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A recent question about ABTC/APEC interviews was moved to the following thread:
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator

Point of info regarding crossing at the land border from Canada into the United States and brining passengers with you who are Global Entry members (and have GE RFID cards) but who are not NEXUS members. CBP agent told me two days ago that while some CBP agents may allows this, it is a violation of the NEXUS rules, and not to do it. I looked carefully at the rules and they don't contradict what he said. The GE rules say that It says GE members may use the NEXUS lane when entering the US, but the NEXUS rules say the driver must be a NEXUS member and must ensure that all passengers also be NEXUS members when using the NEXUS lane to enter the US. There's nothing in the NEXUS rules that say passengers may have GE only.

Presumably if you have a GE-only passenger, you should switch seats, get him to drive through, and you'd all then be in compliance.

Technically probably does violate NEXUS rules but never had an issue with NEXUS driver and GE passengers crossing back into US before. Realistically I don't see this as material because all passengers have been CBP vetted.

Emailed CBSA a month ago, asking why not/recommending that they have Iris scans at all locations, not just at the airport locations and a few land locations (apparently only those located in side Canada). Got a generic response basically saying what an iris scan is and what it is used for :/



"The CBSA uses iris recognition biometric technology in the NEXUS kiosks. In order to use the self-serve kiosk, NEXUS members must have their irises photographed at an enrolment centre. Such requirement is specified on the NEXUS Enrolment Process webpage at https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nex...crire-eng.html. Please note that iris photographing capability is available at all Canadian enrolment centres. For the list of NEXUS enrolment centres, please visit https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nex...ation-eng.html.



While the NEXUS program is a joint initiative between the CBSA and United States (U.S.) Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the CBSA is not in the position to comment on the information provided by the U.S. CBP. You may contact the U.S. CBP and share your feedback through their online form at https://help.cbp.gov/app/forms/complaint.



Thank you for contacting the Canada Border Services Agency."

Maybe US law blocking it? Only the locations located in US lack iris scan capability. Non-airport locations located in Canada can take iris scan.