If you are getting "front of line" privileges, there will be a separate queue for NEXUS holders, and that just dumps you to the same security entrance point as the regular queue where you are supposed to get priority over normals. I've had this happen in YUL (only a portion of the time) and YYC (the one time I flew out of there), both in the US-bound terminal.

If there isn't a separate queue, flashing your card won't work and you get in line with everyone else.

I've read through a lot, but not all, of this 746 pg thread...

I've been conditionally approved for Nexus and have my interview scheduled in a few weeks (US Citizen) but I'm primarily applying for the global/tsa pre benefits for other international travel. I've crossed to Canada once last year, and I'm sure I'll go again, but it's not a regular thing.

Do I tell them this at the interview? Or do I keep it vague about wanting the benefits when I travel to CA in the future? I don't want to have to go through the process again for Global, but I also don't want to be dishonest.

Thanks!

You already know what to do.

Nobody is going to care that you don't plan to travel to Canada regularly.

Awesome! I wasn't sure since the main intent of Nexus was for US<>CA if they'd look at me funny. Thanks!

It depends on the officer that interviews you. When we had our interviews and I was asked why I wanted NEXUS, I said the truth: "Mostly for TSA PreCheck, but we like Canada." The Canadian officer smiled and continued with the interview, and we were approved. I think the results would be similar with most officers.

However, some time later, we went in to update documents, and interacted with a CBP officer of the type that gives CBP a bad reputation. I mentioned as part of a question that we wanted it mostly for PreCheck, and she said she would have denied us because "that's not what it's for". She also refused to answer another very simple and straightforward question and had an inappropriately authoritarian attitude about it. (I was eminently polite and friendly throughout the encounter.)

This was before TSA had its own background check and interview program; the only way to get PreCheck was by having Global Entry or NEXUS or by being one of the frequent flyers invited by participating airlines. So her comment made even less sense.

Since then, I've visited Canada slightly less than once per year and Mexico once. That's it. My wife traveled outside the US even less than that. But we both were approved upon renewal with no interview required.

Thanks for the info! I think I'm going to go with a slightly generic, yet still honest answer of 'I'd like to make travel easier' or something. Hopefully, it won't be a problem!

Seriously with the way US immigration works these days, I'd say that I plan to travel between US and Canada as the purpose of wanting NEXUS. Anything else will cause problems.

It is possible for your intent to change.. yes you're bending the truth a bit but it is possible to want a card that you are legally eligible for to travel betwen US and Canada. Then later you intend to travel less between USA and Canada, and use it more for PreCheck.

I got my nexus 10 years ago primarily to visit cross border relatives 6x a year and go cross border shopping once a month. Now with the US $ and less visits to relatives, I travel 2x across the border by land in a year (vs. 6x to visit relatives and 12x to shop = 18x a year previously)

I probably take 5 flights into the US every year now, so technically a card that I got for cross border land trips is now used for mostly air travel.

lol TSA agent at BOS this week gave me a hard time for using my Nexus card as ID versus my passport.

Come on guys, the program has been out for like what? More than 10 years?

A Data-Point 15 years in the making!
 

Hi everyone. It's time for a data point (DP) about 15 years in the making!
Yes, I'm the guy who ordered an adult DVD movie from the USA and then had it seized from the mail by the CBSA. (I was in my early 20s and thinking with the wrong body part.)
And I finally got approved for Nexus. The interview was today.

After all this time, knowing for weeks that the interview was coming, I was really sweating it out. I was really nervous about what they would ask in the interview and how I would explain the situation with the DVD. And in the end, the interview was really straightforward and they didn't even ask about it. What a relief!

For anyone else who had the same situation as myself, here is the info:
1. At the time I submitted the Nexus application, it had been more than 10 years since the DVD movie got seized, and probably more like 15 years.
2. The movie was clearly declared on the shipping paperwork and I wasn't arrested or in any other trouble because of the seizure.
3. On the Nexus application, I did disclose what happened. Although I deliberately used some rather 'vague' language in my statement.

If anyone else has a similar problem and needs more information, feel free to PM me because I suspect a detailed discussion of adult topics is not approved on this forum.

It was seized because there is certain content which they don't allow here in Canada, even though it may be legal in the USA or other countries.
If you want me to get into more detail then send a private message because I think this site should be family friendly.

In their defense (I don't normally defend TSA), depending on the airport they may have never seen a NEXUS card outside of training. I've used mine at small airports away from the land border and had them actually ask questions about how I got one and what it benefits it enables.

Moderator's Action
 

For indexing and future search purposes, posts discussing NEXUS applications by current Global Entry members were relocated to the relevant thread:
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator

If I have a NEXUS card without an iris scan attached to it, can I still use the NEXUS card to bypass CATSA security lines at Canadian airports?

... and I should have just thrown out my contacts during my interview to get the iris scan done during the interview. Oh well.