Mar 3, 2013, 10:24 pm
Last edit by: TWA884
Current NEXUS Information messages can be found in the following thread:
The NEXUS Information Thread
The NEXUS Information Thread
Welcome to the Travel Safety/Security Trusted Travelers Forum Nexus Information Wiki! This resource will appear at the top of every page within this thread to help users learn more about this program.
About NEXUS
NEXUS is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States.
The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) are cooperating in this joint venture to simplify border crossing for members while enhancing security.
Program benefits
If you are approved to participate in NEXUS, you will receive a membership identification card to use when entering Canada or the United States at all designated NEXUS air, land and marine ports of entry.
Membership will enable airline passengers to save time by:
- using automated self-serve kiosks in dedicated areas at designated international airports;
- using NEXUS/SENTRI lanes at land crossings when/where available. NEXUS lanes entering Canada will likely have a constant red traffic signal. This is to discourage non-NEXUS members from using the lane. Canada-bound NEXUS land crossing operating hours. All occupants must have NEXUS cards when using NEXUS lane entering Canada. At some locations, the NEXUS lane, the inspection booth is not staffed but there should be a call button. When entering US in a NEXUS/SENTRI lane, all occupants must carry either NEXUS, Global Entry, or SENTRI cards (or any combination thereof). Notable exception is Whirlpool Bridge which requires a NEXUS card to open the toll gate on the Canadian side to cross to the US..
- As of 17 MAY 2017 - NEXUS members no longer need to complete a paper CBSA Declaration Card (Form E311) when using a NEXUS self-serve kiosk at any Canadian airport where NEXUS is available. (Refer to post #10421)
- using the Trusted Traveller Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) Security Line at major and select medium-sized Canadian airports to expedite airport pre boarding security screening. For detailed information, please visit the CATSA Web site.
Join NEXUS
Here are the steps for becoming a member. There is a non-refundable processing fee of CAN$50 or US$50 per applicant for a five-year membership card.
About NEXUS
Eligibility
How to apply
Enrolment process
Key points about the program as found by forum members:
- NEXUS cardholders must advise of ANY changes to their vital information such as passport numbers/validity, visa status, legal names, primary residence, criminal convictions, and employment if it impacts your eligibility in the program.
- It's normal to find the first in-person NEXUS interview to be months into the future, but a little patience and regular checks on the TTP website almost always yields an interview date much sooner.
- Each person who wants to participate in the NEXUS program must fill out a separate application form. There is no fee for applicants under the age of 18.
- If traveling with non-NEXUS family members NEXUS cardholders are required to use the regular customs lines.
- There is a zero tolerance policy and membership can be terminated for infractions including not having your NEXUS card on you and using the NEXUS lane and not declaring items on your customs declaration card, though members have reported some leniency being granted for such infractions in the past.
- Private companies may offer services for submitting your application and charge an additional processing fee but these extra charges are not part of the official NEXUS application fee. Expedited services offered by such companies will not assist in speeding up the application process.
Updating Passport with Canada for NEXUS
As per CBSA website, updates to passport information can be handled on TTP.
Please note that NEXUS members are not required to report to an Enrolment Centre to update or change their passport information with the CBSA.
Some FT members don't trust instructions provided by CBSA and recommend the following:
Call the Canadian Processing Centre with responsibility for residents of the United States:
After going through the phone tree to reach a Nexus representative, advise them that you need to update your US passport with Canada.
The representative will give you an email address and instructions to scan your updated passport picture page (include your trusted traveler number on the scan) and then email it to a particular email address. I was advised to put the representative's name in the email message so that he could process the update on the Canadian side. He confirmed that any passport update in TTP does not reach Canada. NOTE: FT members have been able to enter Canada without any issues by updating passport online only.
He specifically requested that only the telephone number be posted (and not the email address).
In case the telephone number doesn't work, here's the webpage where the phone number is posted: Canada Border Services Agency - NEXUS - General Information
- 800-842-7647 --- Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (Eastern Time)
After going through the phone tree to reach a Nexus representative, advise them that you need to update your US passport with Canada.
The representative will give you an email address and instructions to scan your updated passport picture page (include your trusted traveler number on the scan) and then email it to a particular email address. I was advised to put the representative's name in the email message so that he could process the update on the Canadian side. He confirmed that any passport update in TTP does not reach Canada. NOTE: FT members have been able to enter Canada without any issues by updating passport online only.
He specifically requested that only the telephone number be posted (and not the email address).
In case the telephone number doesn't work, here's the webpage where the phone number is posted: Canada Border Services Agency - NEXUS - General Information
US citizens/residents who have both Global Entry and NEXUS cards and who renew the Global Entry membership whilst their NEXUS card is active, will not be able to renew the NEXUS card until after it expires. The option to do so disappears from the TTP website.
Dear mxzblftspk,
Your NEXUS membership is not set to expire until July 11 2016.
As an approved NEXUS member, you added Global Entry for an additional $100. When you completed your Global Entry application, you received a Global Entry card. When you activated the Global Entry Card, your NEXUS Card was deactivated and the option to renew NEXUS was removed from your account.
If you wish to renew NEXUS, you will have to wait for your NEXUS membership to expire. Once it expires, you will have the option within your TTP online account to renew NEXUS. After you follow all of the steps to become a NEXUS member again, including the completion of an interview at a NEXUS Enrollment Center near the Canadian border, you will receive a new NEXUS card and will have Global Entry benefits at no additional cost.
When your Global Entry account expires 5 years after your application, do not renew it. Global Entry benefits are included with your NEXUS membership.
It is our goal to provide you the best information we have in response to your question. If you follow the information provided in our response, and still need assistance, please reply to this email and we will investigate how we may further assist you.
Thank you again for contacting the CBP INFO Center.
Sincerely,
CBP INFO Center
Your NEXUS membership is not set to expire until July 11 2016.
As an approved NEXUS member, you added Global Entry for an additional $100. When you completed your Global Entry application, you received a Global Entry card. When you activated the Global Entry Card, your NEXUS Card was deactivated and the option to renew NEXUS was removed from your account.
If you wish to renew NEXUS, you will have to wait for your NEXUS membership to expire. Once it expires, you will have the option within your TTP online account to renew NEXUS. After you follow all of the steps to become a NEXUS member again, including the completion of an interview at a NEXUS Enrollment Center near the Canadian border, you will receive a new NEXUS card and will have Global Entry benefits at no additional cost.
When your Global Entry account expires 5 years after your application, do not renew it. Global Entry benefits are included with your NEXUS membership.
It is our goal to provide you the best information we have in response to your question. If you follow the information provided in our response, and still need assistance, please reply to this email and we will investigate how we may further assist you.
Thank you again for contacting the CBP INFO Center.
Sincerely,
CBP INFO Center
Archived: The NEXUS Information Thread
Oct 25, 2013, 2:04 pm
#7921
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SEA, or BOS, or MUC, or other places (probably connecting). "Detroit, Michigan is in the Eastern time zone."
Programs: DL PM/1MM, AS 100K, NEXUS/GE, CLEAR, Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,201
That's basically what I said for mine; "I go to Canada at least once a year, and I'd like to increase that." No problems.
This was at the Detroit enrollment center; a few months later I had a trip to Toronto, so I got my iris scan done at YYZ. Since then I've crossed the border by land several times, and have an upcoming flight to YTZ (thanks, Porter, for having a fare sale) which will finally let me try using the scan.
(Coming back through YYZ, the NEXUS kiosks were in use but the Global Entry kiosks were open, so I just used that instead.)
This was at the Detroit enrollment center; a few months later I had a trip to Toronto, so I got my iris scan done at YYZ. Since then I've crossed the border by land several times, and have an upcoming flight to YTZ (thanks, Porter, for having a fare sale) which will finally let me try using the scan.
(Coming back through YYZ, the NEXUS kiosks were in use but the Global Entry kiosks were open, so I just used that instead.)
Oct 25, 2013, 10:02 pm
#7922
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
I think the purpose of that question is to establish the individual default for the visa classification, e.g. business, leisure, etc. That way, when you complete the interview on the screen, it can say "same old same old" or "different from default".
Oct 26, 2013, 7:29 am
#7923
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
One answer that would make sense to me but not to them is "It's a way to get Global Entry at half price."
Oct 26, 2013, 10:52 am
#7924
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
While we were talking recently upthread about NEXUS and Precheck privileges not yet extending to AC, this morning I arrived at TSA checkpoint in PHX for AC flight, they scanned my BP and the iPad display pointed to the right, so I followed the maze in that direction, and it led to a Precheck process: coat on, bags not unpacked, shoes on. They just swabbed my hands, both immediately after entering this line and after going through the metal detector. I am not wearing any metal other than the pin in my poppy and the button on my jeans, so not sure what that is about. Very fast process.
I used my NEXUS as ID when checking in with AC, so that assured my Trusted Traveller status was linked to my BP, so perhaps that helped.
As I entered the special maze, the officer with the swab made conversation over the poppy and how she knew I was Canadian because of it. She looked like she might have been a veteran herself. A lot of veterans in TSA, I suspect.
I used my NEXUS as ID when checking in with AC, so that assured my Trusted Traveller status was linked to my BP, so perhaps that helped.
As I entered the special maze, the officer with the swab made conversation over the poppy and how she knew I was Canadian because of it. She looked like she might have been a veteran herself. A lot of veterans in TSA, I suspect.
Oct 26, 2013, 11:01 pm
#7925
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold Mariott Gold Aeroplan E25K SAS Gold NEXUS
Posts: 1,308
If this is your first trip to Canada, is there some specific reason why your whole family would apply for NEXUS? Are you moving to Canada? As I recall, your interview includes a question about why you need to have a NEXUS card. Since they ask, there must be some answers that are not acceptable.
He said they just want to know if it's primarily business or pleasure. I did not ask why it mattered.
Oct 27, 2013, 11:20 am
#7926
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
It matters because the default would be B1 or B2 visa-equivalent, whichever corresponds to your primary purpose of travel. I think either of those answers are acceptable. "I plan to engage in human trafficking" or something like that is likely to be unacceptable but I can't imagine that would be a NEXUS applicant's honest response. Both "I hate standing in line on the way to my annual vacation" or "I travel twice a week on business" are perfectly valid reasons. Even "I am an impatient SOB and I hate talking to law enforcement officers when there's beer waiting in the lounge" is rude but probably not unacceptable.
Oct 28, 2013, 4:53 am
#7927
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,890
While we were talking recently upthread about NEXUS and Precheck privileges not yet extending to AC, this morning I arrived at TSA checkpoint in PHX for AC flight, they scanned my BP and the iPad display pointed to the right, so I followed the maze in that direction, and it led to a Precheck process: coat on, bags not unpacked, shoes on. They just swabbed my hands, both immediately after entering this line and after going through the metal detector. I am not wearing any metal other than the pin in my poppy and the button on my jeans, so not sure what that is about. Very fast process.
I used my NEXUS as ID when checking in with AC, so that assured my Trusted Traveller status was linked to my BP, so perhaps that helped.
As I entered the special maze, the officer with the swab made conversation over the poppy and how she knew I was Canadian because of it. She looked like she might have been a veteran herself. A lot of veterans in TSA, I suspect.
I used my NEXUS as ID when checking in with AC, so that assured my Trusted Traveller status was linked to my BP, so perhaps that helped.
As I entered the special maze, the officer with the swab made conversation over the poppy and how she knew I was Canadian because of it. She looked like she might have been a veteran herself. A lot of veterans in TSA, I suspect.
You can definitely flip through the last few pages of the UA forum pre-check thread (or probably the pre-check threads in the forums of the other airlines participating) to see how folks are ranting about how there is now more than 1, 2 or 5 people ahead of them, and they aren't familiar with the process.
Someone mentioned they had a TSA source saying that those qualifying through their elite status/airline invitations in the past would lose the privilege of pre-check unless they signed up for the soon to be public program where you can pay $85 to sign up to be eligible, while trusted travelers would continue to be eligible without an additional fee through Nexus/GE. Some think this is essentially a free trial for the non-FF folks - getting a taste so that they'll pay up to be part of the program in the future. Truthfully - who knows?
Oct 28, 2013, 10:27 am
#7928
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,346
AC still doesn't participate - perhaps Nexus helped here, but maybe not. Probably linked to the what appears to be TSA experimenting with selecting seemingly random folks for the three beeps/pre-check, including folks without FF status, trusted traveler status, etc. Presumably they are using some the secure flight data they get to choose them. Then again, maybe its just completely random.
You can definitely flip through the last few pages of the UA forum pre-check thread (or probably the pre-check threads in the forums of the other airlines participating) to see how folks are ranting about how there is now more than 1, 2 or 5 people ahead of them, and they aren't familiar with the process.
Someone mentioned they had a TSA source saying that those qualifying through their elite status/airline invitations in the past would lose the privilege of pre-check unless they signed up for the soon to be public program where you can pay $85 to sign up to be eligible, while trusted travelers would continue to be eligible without an additional fee through Nexus/GE. Some think this is essentially a free trial for the non-FF folks - getting a taste so that they'll pay up to be part of the program in the future. Truthfully - who knows?
You can definitely flip through the last few pages of the UA forum pre-check thread (or probably the pre-check threads in the forums of the other airlines participating) to see how folks are ranting about how there is now more than 1, 2 or 5 people ahead of them, and they aren't familiar with the process.
Someone mentioned they had a TSA source saying that those qualifying through their elite status/airline invitations in the past would lose the privilege of pre-check unless they signed up for the soon to be public program where you can pay $85 to sign up to be eligible, while trusted travelers would continue to be eligible without an additional fee through Nexus/GE. Some think this is essentially a free trial for the non-FF folks - getting a taste so that they'll pay up to be part of the program in the future. Truthfully - who knows?
I hope that it was actually the secure flight data that showed she was a trusted traveler.
The only reason to even involve airlines is if the TSA system can't look you up in their own database when they scan your boarding pass. It should be between you and TSA, regardless of your airline.
Oct 28, 2013, 12:50 pm
#7929
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 10
Hi,
Wondering if anyone has experience this. Every time I try to use a Global Entry kiosk at YYZ, it says I am not enrolled. If I use the Nexus kiosk, it works fine. Any ideas? My GOES profile says I am enrolled to both and there is no other option. Thoughts/comments?
Thanks,
JAG
Wondering if anyone has experience this. Every time I try to use a Global Entry kiosk at YYZ, it says I am not enrolled. If I use the Nexus kiosk, it works fine. Any ideas? My GOES profile says I am enrolled to both and there is no other option. Thoughts/comments?
Thanks,
JAG
Oct 28, 2013, 2:09 pm
#7930
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton LTD, GE/Nexus
Posts: 35
Came through YYZ yesterday, GE/Nexus in hand asking about TSA Pre. Surprised to hear YYZ should see it mid November. Ms. TSA warned it might not be the whole package but very close. Shoes on, no unpacking, fluids and laptops in. I'll take it!
Oct 28, 2013, 2:11 pm
#7931
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
Hi,
Wondering if anyone has experience this. Every time I try to use a Global Entry kiosk at YYZ, it says I am not enrolled. If I use the Nexus kiosk, it works fine. Any ideas? My GOES profile says I am enrolled to both and there is no other option. Thoughts/comments?
Thanks,
JAG
Wondering if anyone has experience this. Every time I try to use a Global Entry kiosk at YYZ, it says I am not enrolled. If I use the Nexus kiosk, it works fine. Any ideas? My GOES profile says I am enrolled to both and there is no other option. Thoughts/comments?
Thanks,
JAG
Oct 28, 2013, 2:31 pm
#7932
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SEA, or BOS, or MUC, or other places (probably connecting). "Detroit, Michigan is in the Eastern time zone."
Programs: DL PM/1MM, AS 100K, NEXUS/GE, CLEAR, Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,201
Did they capture your fingerprints when you had your interview (or at another time since then)? If you only have an iris scan in the system then GE won't work. (Conversely, if you only have fingerprints then NEXUS kiosks won't work.)
Oct 28, 2013, 6:16 pm
#7933
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,346
Oct 28, 2013, 9:15 pm
#7934
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold Mariott Gold Aeroplan E25K SAS Gold NEXUS
Posts: 1,308
Hi,
Wondering if anyone has experience this. Every time I try to use a Global Entry kiosk at YYZ, it says I am not enrolled. If I use the Nexus kiosk, it works fine. Any ideas? My GOES profile says I am enrolled to both and there is no other option. Thoughts/comments?
Thanks,
JAG
Wondering if anyone has experience this. Every time I try to use a Global Entry kiosk at YYZ, it says I am not enrolled. If I use the Nexus kiosk, it works fine. Any ideas? My GOES profile says I am enrolled to both and there is no other option. Thoughts/comments?
Thanks,
JAG
Oct 29, 2013, 6:47 am
#7935
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Grantham, NH
Posts: 530
The Canadian folks did ask a lot of question about my job, and whether I travel to Canada for work purposes (I don't, and probably won't), warning me not to bring anything but business cards and a laptop, leaving all other commercial materials behind.