I appreciate your input, but it turned a little rough at the end. By you above comments, I gather that you do not want any improvements in the way program is managed or executed. Well I differ with you in that respect. I think that the govt. bureaucracy is inherently lethargic and full of inertia. They do not want to change, unless pressured to change for good of people. That's why we have Obama in office to kick them in the bu$$ a little. Thanks for your input on this topic any ways.

I would like to have my info updated online as the air travel to enrollment center costs about $500 dollars from where I live. I certainly like saving that kind of cash for kids X-mas gifts. Would not you?

Since they were declared on the form, I don't think it'll be a problem. I'd document it, as it will probably show up on their check.

If something gets seized, but its properly declared, I don't think its as big of a deal as if you didn't declare it properly.

Hmmm, I suppose that's open to interpretation on "properly declared"...

If I declare that I bring some prosciutto de parma from Italy that is marked "Certified for Export", and it's seized, it's reasonably certain that I made an honest mistake and said item is not illegal.

If the nature of the adult videos were not permitted (why were they seized) for some reason, then it may have been flagged/noted.

ckc

Is there any way for me to tell what they have on me, sort of like a "Driver's Abstract for customs"?

The item was shipped to a receiving service that was never associated with my legal address, and there's probably numerous other people with the same name as me. Maybe they don't know about it.

I know in the US you can request a copy of your customs record. I don't know about Canada.

Went to check-in at the Nexus Kiosk in Vancouver arriving back from a trip. All machines were down, there was a Canada Customs agent roaming around, he pointed all of us the the diplomat/crew line. Presented my Nexus card, and declaration form to the customs agent, instead of smile and thank you, was interrogated about where I had been, where I stayed, how much I spent plus other things, apparently the Nexus card means nothing to the Customs officers at the desks. One would think that with the requirements for Nexus they might be a little more positive with the interview instead of such negatives towards the entering individual.

I'm sort of curious. What would it take for us to have a less draconian customs process in this country (yes, nexus helps)? We really do seem like the least friendly, least efficient, nation on earth for this kind of thing. I'm familiar with government lobbying for funding projects and the like, but how on earth does one press for a philosophical/behavioral change?

I usually find that the experience when showing the Nexus card to a border agent on either side of the border is no different to not showing the card. I've never just been waved through when showing my Nexus card.

Prior to this incident I have never had any problem with the Nexus line, always waved through, generally without a smile, and no verbal contact. But this time, the questions were more than if I had used the regular customs line and generally in using the regular customs line in most cases I got a smile and "welcome home". Perhaps the customs agents are a little upset and jealous that Nexus has taken away some of their authority, so when they get to interview a Nexus individual they like to show that they are still in command. Perhaps they feel insecure with Nexus, layoffs and things like that. What a sad state of affairs.....

+1

Speedy Nexus
 

Applied on-line Dec 4, approved Dec 10, interviewed Dec 10 (got lucky and was flying out at that time :)). Now just gotta wait for the card to be mailed to me, which the agents thought would take forever. Any experience with timing?

Cards for my wife and I arrived about 7-10 business days after the interview. Interesting to note the cards arrived separately a few days apart.

Normally US Immigration just asks if I am carrying my card when I hand in the declaration form and printout. YEG yesterday, asked:
1) Carrying any fruits or veg
2) carrying any tobacco or alcohol
3) where I was coming from/did I live in Edmonton.

Anyone else seeing greater scrutiny?

Use expiring passport for NEXUS application?
 

Travelling with friends, Canada to USA in March 2010, and both couples wanting to get NEXUS before we go. Our friends need to renew their passports before we leave.

Do you suggest that our friends...

a) apply for NEXUS using their birth certificates, or
b) apply for NEXUS using their passports... which will be renewed/replaced before we leave?

I'm thinking that... in a perfect world... they could apply with their existing passports, then update their NEXUS information with the new passports when called for the NEXUS interview.

Perhaps using the birth certificate would be the safer option? Is there any lesser benefits to using the birth certificate, when we are travelling with passports?

I got a few questions in YYC on Dec 13, but partly because the machines were down.

Aside from that, I sporadically get a question here and there from US Customs, for no obvious reason. As long as I can skip the huge line-up and not get serious questions about entering the US, I'll survive :p