Archived: The NEXUS Information Thread
 

I noticed on this web site that a lot of people have questions regarding the NEXUS program. I think it would be a good idea to start a thread to answer people's questions regarding the NEXUS program and to supply information on how the NEXUS program works.

Here are some links to information on the NEXUS program (updated Aug 18th, 2009):

NEXUS Information - Canada Border Service Agency
NEXUS Information - U.S. Customs and Border Protection
NEXUS Information Guide (PDF Version)
NEXUS Application (PDF Version)
NEXUS Online Application (GOES)

The cost of applying for NEXUS is currently $50. There are over 250,000 people who are currently using NEXUS. NEXUS members must renew their application every five years.

It is only 50.00 CDN after Dec 01 ... not retroactive ... so make sure you either do it after Dec 01 or use the GOES site (see link above) and be charged 50 USD or you will be charged 80 CDN (up to Dec 01 2007).

Once you get your Nexus it is contingent upon you to update with the Nexus folks any changes to your documents - for instance you get a new driver's license (or renew it) or renew your passport, you must update the information with Nexus. In fact if I am not mistaken, it is now setup so that your Nexus is terminated just before your passport expires, so it is wise to renew your passport well in advance and pass that information along.

Actually, the expiry date is 5 years from your next birthday.
For example, I got my card in Sept 2007 but my BDay is Feb 1. My Nexus expiry date is Feb 1, 2013.

As previously stated, it is the travellers responsibility to update any information changes. Any document related changes must be updated in person. But for address or credit card, you can fax in the form (provided at interview for such purpose) to the local Nexus office.

Yes - on the expiry date. However I was told by US Immigration that the system is setup to cancel your Nexus the day before your passport expires if you have not provided them with a new passport expiry date. Nothing to do with how long your Nexus can be active ... it can still be active for the 5 years ... but if you do not provide them with updated passport information (if your passport expires before your Nexus does), they stated emphatically that your Nexus would be automatically canceled.

My Nexus is valid until 2013, however my passport expires in 2009. If I do not provide them a new passport expiry date prior to my passport expiring, it does not matter that my Nexus is valid until 2013, it would be canceled.

They did not do this automatically with CANPASS but appear to be doing it automatically with Nexus.

So can someone explain this in English?....

Does this mean I won't have to wait in the line ups for US customs when I fly to america? Do I still have to talk to the Customs Agents? Paying $50 is worth skipping the unpleasent conversation between me and the border agents.

You apply, get approved and have a 3% chance of talking to a human when crossing the border

That is as simple as it gets

Of course it all depends on where you cross into the USA ... they have to have the Nexus machines ... the urls above should tell you where all the systems are in place.

According to the Canadian url:

NEXUS is offered at the following airports:

* Vancouver International Airport
* Toronto Pearson International Airport
* Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
* Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
* Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport
* Calgary International Airport
* Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport
* Edmonton International Airport

Just curious about where the 3% number comes from - an official source, or just a guesstimate. And any noticeable difference in the human interaction rates when coming into Canada vs. the US? And for airport use vs. land border use?

I've had Nexus since May, and a CANPASS for a year or two prior, and used it solely for flying, however, haven't talked to a human except for the one time or two I had to declare items.

This is certainly not the case for me. My birthday is in August, but my Nexus expires in May 2012. Perhaps this is a more recent thing?

This makes sense. However, for those of us who travel enough to warrant using the NEXUS program, I would assume, or at least hope, we are all aware that passports essentially become invalid when there is less than 6 months left on them, and so renew them (or in Canada, apply for a brand new one) prior to one day before expiry.

This could very well be more recent. Just received my Nexus 1 month ago and it is indeed 5 years from my "next" birthday.

Yes, I don't remember where on Nexus it is posted, but that is the official random number. When you go for your interview they go over all that with you.

So it is "official"

Can anyone clarify the deal of carrying someone's else's possession through the Nexus lane?

I remember a story about 4 golfers driving across, 2 had Nexus and the other 2 got out and walked, but left their clubs in the car. The others had their Nexus privileges revoked for that.

Was it because they had someone else's clubs in the car? Or because they didn't declare them? All I could find was

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexu...eng.html#usdec

I couldn't find anything that said, "if you carry goods for other people, don't use the Nexus lanes" or even what to do in the regular lanes if carrying things for someone else (which I'm sure is technically different than your own stuff). Shouldn't be a problem for a pair of shoes but I don't know if I'd want to risk a suitcase. Say a pair of women's shoes, or a t-shirt obviously not your size, could you say, "I'm taking that to my wife in the US" or would you have to stay out of the Nexus lanes?

They claim to have a zero tolerance policy but don't make info easily available (like no US potatoes coming into Canada).

=aw

when you use your nexus card to enter the US or Canada you are supposed to be carrying ONLY items for your OWN use. This is clearly stated in their rules and emphasized by the agents when you are interviewed.

This means that if you choose to carry items for others (and taking a gift for your wife or friends is considered personal use since YOU paid for the item and it belongs to you until it is gifted) then you must use a regular lane. This extends to commercial goods as well. The agent went as far as telling me that if I planned on having even brochures or business cards in bulk I should not use the NEXUS lane.

Of course, all this matters only if you get stopped. In my experience, I have only been sent to secondary customs screening by US Customs once and by Canada twice in 9 months of commuting every three days between the US and Canada.

If you do get caught and you are using the NEXUS card you will get it revoked and be subject to the maximum fines. Zero tolerance is the stated policy.

Thanks for the confirmation, that was my understanding. I thought the same about gifts, since my "personal use" will be to give them. :)

Technically of course one needs to keep the car free of foreign materials, e.g. no lipstick in the glove box if only men are present but I would hope (naively) that even at secondary something like that would pass.

Best thing is always to have at least one woman and one man in the car at all times when crossing through a Nexus lane! :)

=aw

The last time I was in the Nexus office in Blaine picking up a new declaration book I was told that you can no longer drop non Nexus card holders off and have them walk through while you use the Nexus lane. If you are caught doing this you will lose your pass on the spot.:(
R.

nexus secondary
 

Over 100 crossing and never a secondary

You do realize you have now jinxed yourself! :D Let us know how the next crossing goes! ;)

I just got my Nexus in September and have used it around 10 times with only once going to secondary entering into the US. They just quickly opened my bags and I was on my way! God bless Nexus! It has saved me so much time not waiting in line so far!

That is EXACTLY what happened to me at the Whirlpool bridge

Was a tough secondary too...

Two thoughts come to mind on this:

(1) Why? Presumably you can drop people off down the road, or before crossing the bridge, or whatever, so where's the line?

(2) How in the world do they expect people to know this? To say there's zero tolerance for breaking of all rules, they really should have (at a minimum) a website where updates are posted. Same with agricultural or other restrictions, they gave me a sheet telling me what things I can't bring back from the US, but has that changed? Who knows?

=aw

I was told this when I signed up actually that you can't do that.

They usually go over the big do's and do not's right away.

I've lost count of how many times I've crossed between CANPASS/NEXUS, exclusively for air travel, but a lot. I was sent to secondary only once, in Canada, because I had to declare some dried fruit I was bringing across (allowed...however, necessary to declare). Unless you count the one other time AC lost my baggage, where secondary really means just handing over the lost luggage form to the officer in the secondary area and being asked about the contents.

Thinking back over the years I had solely CANPASS I too never had a secondary. So far (knock on overhead bins) nothing with Nexus either.

How would you describe a tough secondary at Whirlpool?

It consisted of a 15 minute interview going over all aspects of my company (number of employees, yearly revenue, etc)

I was going in an emergency capacity as we had a server failure.

All I said to them was Happy Thanksgiving

Right.

I had a Passport renewal while on CANPASS and I got pulled aside on the first trip. No bag check, they just checked out my shiny new Passport, entered something into the computer, and I was on my way.

does anyone know if the YVR Nexus opens at 8 am on Saturdays? Specifically next saturday, Dec 22nd.

thank you!

AFAIK all air border crossing Nexus kiosks are open as long as the airport is open.

Is it the road crossing that open and close at a specific time

I have a sneaking suspicion beepyou may have meant the Nexus offices in YVR? But I may be mistaken.

Although not if you are transiting to US via YYZ. We keep hearing that there will be a kiosk for us soon. Any word on when it will be installed?

Yes, I meant to ask whether the NEXUS office in YVR will open at 8 am on Dec22nd.

thanks PB!

Well this site: http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/prog/nexus/location-eng.html
seems to indicate yes ... but they do answer their phone (not like YYZ) so maybe a call to confirm?

Vancouver

Vancouver International Airport
International terminal
Level 3, U.S. Departures

604-666-4598

Please call to schedule an appointment.

Seven days a week: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

perfect, thanks!

Okay, I just called them, they said they are open at 8. They start taking appointments at 8:15 am everyday.

Bring cookies! :D

I've had CANPASS for a couple of years now, and would like to apply for NEXUS, but am not sure if I should and am looking for some advice as I'm in a tricky situation.

I own my own company with international clients and also work full time for a US company, but live in Canada. My US employer is also a client of own company. Kind of an odd situation. ;)

Anyway, when I first started the company's immegration lawyer indicated I could not really enter the country under the US company's name or to do business under their name as I would require a special VISA for which I do not qualify. So, because my own company is in the same business I always just say I'm entering under my company's name. If I am going to head office, I tell border control I'm visiting a client, which is not a total lie.

I do travel a lot, but am worried that applying for NEXUS may red flag me, especially given they ask who your employers are and the in person interview. I was wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation and had any advice. Because I've essentially taken a job away from an American, they would be none too impressed to have me enter their country knowing this.

I just got my Nexus and on the first use I got a secondary. They told me I will experience it more since I fly out of Edmonton and they don't have very many members yet. It was still faster as I skipped the line.

On the way back the machines were down so I used the crew lane. SWEET!

I'm not sure about others experiences with the interview process but I didn't get asked a single question about why I wanted the card or why I travel a lot. It was an eye scan and finger prints plus a few signatures...not more than 20 minutes.

tcf

In my interview they were about to ask why ... then saw the visa in the passport and stopped short ... when they asked Mrs. PB why it was simple ... she travels with me ... and that was it! ^

Saturday morning I was arriving to YVR from the US at the same time as a couple of wide bodies from Asia, so there was a long line to immigration that lasted close to half an hour. All that time I was looking at the empty Nexus terminals, and I could read from the distance "YOU STUPID!" on the screens :D
So I applied this morning. Looking forward to use it.

That was probably the period between 10AM - 2PM. :)

I phoned in August to ask about this and they said that as long as the non-Nexus people aren't dropped off right before the booth and picked up right after, that they can walk across with their belongings while you go through the Nexus lane. They said to leave a ~150m buffer zone on either side of the booth.

I have a Canpass and would love a Nexus pass, but should I even bother trying? I had problems with my old TN Visa and was denied entry (but now I have an O-1 visa that seems to be working better). If I've had problems in the past, am I automatically not eligible? (I couldn't see anything online that said definitively with regard to my past difficulties...)