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
Jan 4, 2014, 1:05 pm
#8041
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: TBD
Programs: AA since 1988 (ex-elite status); Alaska; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 497
It took me 6 business days from our interviews to the time our cards arrived in the mail. After that you don't need to do anything to "add-on" GE - it's already included with NEXUS automatically and if you submitted your fingerprints at the interview you can start using GE right away.
I followed the forum advice and asked the agent (actually went in without an appointment to the same enrollment center) to be sure my account showed I could use GE. The agent seemed happy to confirm (as if they'd been asked before), and I was fine. But there were older reports of Nexus folks having trouble being "eligible" only due to how agents had processed them. You also used to have to have a sticker, but AFAIK that's not true any more (I don't have one and use GE).
Good luck with it all.
Jan 5, 2014, 12:35 am
#8042
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 16
Actually, you do not need to fill out the form. I've been in a similar situation in carrying more than $10,000 in bank draft. I showed the draft to Canadian customs and they told me since it was issued by a bank, the form does not need to be filled. But it must be declared. Same with US customs.
So, declare the draft and show it to the agents. No forms needed.
So, declare the draft and show it to the agents. No forms needed.
I was there for about 20 minutes. You're right, they didn't make me fill any form. The guy at 2ndary inspection was nice, just asking me basic questions about the money and my school. But still, it was annoying to be sent to 2ndary inspection when the purpose of GE/NEXUS is to expedite border crossing for low-risk travellers.
Last edited by neely47; Jan 5, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Jan 5, 2014, 1:35 am
#8043
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
Well, one of the things they reiterated during my indoctrination, er, interview was that the NEXUS/GE program made no commitment or promise of any waiver of inspection or screening, i.e., MY purpose of getting it was to expedite border crossing, but that is not THEIR purpose. Their purpose is to collect security related information about travellers ahead of time, and this often does expedite processing. But when you step outside conventional boundaries, or step on a random number, it reverts to closer examination. Look on the bright side -- how often are you crossing with $10,000 or more? Most of the time, it WILL be expedited. And unless you had a control sample, a travel companion who used the non-GE line, you don't know for sure the civilians didn't take more than 20 minutes. My travel party certainly did the time I did NEXUS and they waited in the regular line. In the end, it's still worth having NEXUS/GE. Good luck in your school term!
Jan 5, 2014, 9:30 pm
#8044
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1
eye surgery and nexus
Had my nexus since the beginning of the programme. Not sure if anyone has had this but....recent cataract surgery has led to implants in both eyes. I no longer wear glasses. Does this affect the eye scan and would I have to have it done again?
Jan 5, 2014, 11:07 pm
#8045
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
The quickest way to see the collective experience of people with that issue is to use the "search this thread" link above and search for the word "cataract" and check those posts and the ones that followed in response.
The NEXUS scan is an IRIS scan, and the lens shouldn't have changed the iris, but that's not a guarantee. Have a look at what others have experienced (using the search suggestion) and be sure to come back and report what happens when you try it yourself.
I would imagine if you DO have problems with your "new eyes", it will be simple to resolve with getting a new benchmark scan taken.
Jan 6, 2014, 3:47 pm
#8046
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mississauga Ontario
Posts: 4,105
I fly to the US next week. Global entry going in, but I will use Nexus coming back.
Send me a PM a week from Saturday, and I'll let you know what I learned.
Jan 7, 2014, 2:59 pm
#8047
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 3
Hi, my girlfriend and I have been dating a couple years and I finally decided to apply for a nexus (she's Canadian) I'm American. We live near Vancouver BC/Bellingham WA if that matters
I applied back in Oct (Oct 10th I want to say)
Still pending review. Any one know if this is longer than normal or are they backed up still? I applied and paid through the GOES site.
Thanks,
Mike
I applied back in Oct (Oct 10th I want to say)
Still pending review. Any one know if this is longer than normal or are they backed up still? I applied and paid through the GOES site.
Thanks,
Mike
Jan 7, 2014, 4:26 pm
#8048
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold Mariott Gold Aeroplan E25K SAS Gold NEXUS
Posts: 1,308
Hi, my girlfriend and I have been dating a couple years and I finally decided to apply for a nexus (she's Canadian) I'm American. We live near Vancouver BC/Bellingham WA if that matters
I applied back in Oct (Oct 10th I want to say)
Still pending review. Any one know if this is longer than normal or are they backed up still? I applied and paid through the GOES site.
Thanks,
Mike
I applied back in Oct (Oct 10th I want to say)
Still pending review. Any one know if this is longer than normal or are they backed up still? I applied and paid through the GOES site.
Thanks,
Mike
Incidentally, don't lie, but I would not mention you are dating cross border unless specifically asked during the interview. That could be considered high risk (wrongfully of course, but they have their thoughts on what is likely to make one of you do something illegal) and they may deny you.
When they ask why you want it just say it's for personal trips to visit friends (which is true . . .)
Jan 7, 2014, 4:38 pm
#8049
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 3
Yeah hopefully soon, thanks
Last edited by barch88; Jan 7, 2014 at 6:39 pm
Jan 8, 2014, 3:26 am
#8050
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: TBD
Programs: AA since 1988 (ex-elite status); Alaska; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 497
Hello Helpful Nexus Forum Folk,
Been around here since well before I got my Nexus, which I've had for about 18 months now. Things in my life are changing and while I did my due diligence research on the GOES website etc, I cannot find answers to my questions and I do not have the documents given to me at enrollment on hand. Hoping some of you can help with answers:
1. I need to change my address, and might change my drivers license, but the only thing I can seem to do on the website is change a "mail to" address. Do I need to go into an enrollment center for address change? If so, what do I need to take? (I can't believe this wasn't in the Nexus FAQs I read, but there ya go...) I'm assuming a new D.L. means yes I have to show it to them. Also can it be a GE enrollment center rather than Nexus?
2. I use GE all the time but rarely am crossing the US/Canada border these days. Can I keep Nexus if all I want is GE?
3. I will be moving overseas, and hope to keep GE but can't determine if I will still be eligible.
Anyone with related experience or better GOES research skills than I, your help would be greatly appreciated!
Edit to add: I have searched this forum and the search brought up similar questions but few answers. I do get that permanent address change seems to necessitate a visit, but not documents needed.
Been around here since well before I got my Nexus, which I've had for about 18 months now. Things in my life are changing and while I did my due diligence research on the GOES website etc, I cannot find answers to my questions and I do not have the documents given to me at enrollment on hand. Hoping some of you can help with answers:
1. I need to change my address, and might change my drivers license, but the only thing I can seem to do on the website is change a "mail to" address. Do I need to go into an enrollment center for address change? If so, what do I need to take? (I can't believe this wasn't in the Nexus FAQs I read, but there ya go...) I'm assuming a new D.L. means yes I have to show it to them. Also can it be a GE enrollment center rather than Nexus?
2. I use GE all the time but rarely am crossing the US/Canada border these days. Can I keep Nexus if all I want is GE?
3. I will be moving overseas, and hope to keep GE but can't determine if I will still be eligible.
Anyone with related experience or better GOES research skills than I, your help would be greatly appreciated!
Edit to add: I have searched this forum and the search brought up similar questions but few answers. I do get that permanent address change seems to necessitate a visit, but not documents needed.
Last edited by bostonoski; Jan 8, 2014 at 3:40 am Reason: add info
Jan 8, 2014, 2:03 pm
#8051
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 16
Hello
I was unable to locate the place in the thread where my question may have been answered, so my apologies if this has been answered already.
I just got married and would like to change my last name. That being said, I have heard that it has been difficult to get the name change on Nexus done fast enough and it is recommend to wait until renewal.
Can anyone share their experience?
Thanks,
I was unable to locate the place in the thread where my question may have been answered, so my apologies if this has been answered already.
I just got married and would like to change my last name. That being said, I have heard that it has been difficult to get the name change on Nexus done fast enough and it is recommend to wait until renewal.
Can anyone share their experience?
Thanks,
Jan 10, 2014, 10:17 am
#8052
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: RDU
Posts: 389
1. I need to change my address, and might change my drivers license, but the only thing I can seem to do on the website is change a "mail to" address. Do I need to go into an enrollment center for address change? If so, what do I need to take? (I can't believe this wasn't in the Nexus FAQs I read, but there ya go...) I'm assuming a new D.L. means yes I have to show it to them. Also can it be a GE enrollment center rather than Nexus?
2. I use GE all the time but rarely am crossing the US/Canada border these days. Can I keep Nexus if all I want is GE?
3. I will be moving overseas, and hope to keep GE but can't determine if I will still be eligible.
2. I use GE all the time but rarely am crossing the US/Canada border these days. Can I keep Nexus if all I want is GE?
3. I will be moving overseas, and hope to keep GE but can't determine if I will still be eligible.
2. Yes. Although I intended more trips to Canada, I haven't crossed the border since I got NEXUS.
3. There used to be a 3-year residency requirement, but that seems to be gone. Plus, that was "resident", not "citizen". There doesn't seem to be anything saying an expat can't have NEXUS or GE. I think the best option is to call for guidance, lacking any proper written direction.
Jan 10, 2014, 12:53 pm
#8053
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: TBD
Programs: AA since 1988 (ex-elite status); Alaska; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 497
1. I got three different answers to the DL issue. Transiting YYx, I was told that they no longer update DLs. Calling my enrollment center (Whirlpool Bridge), I was told I needed to come in personally. Calling the toll-free number on the NEXUS "Contact Us" page, the helpful CBSA agent updated my DL, and it now shows correctly in GOES. Regard GE centers, I have found MIA, ATL, and DFW all unable to help with NEXUS issues (even issues that should be common to both systems via GOES).
2. Yes. Although I intended more trips to Canada, I haven't crossed the border since I got NEXUS.
3. There used to be a 3-year residency requirement, but that seems to be gone. Plus, that was "resident", not "citizen". There doesn't seem to be anything saying an expat can't have NEXUS or GE. I think the best option is to call for guidance, lacking any proper written direction.
2. Yes. Although I intended more trips to Canada, I haven't crossed the border since I got NEXUS.
3. There used to be a 3-year residency requirement, but that seems to be gone. Plus, that was "resident", not "citizen". There doesn't seem to be anything saying an expat can't have NEXUS or GE. I think the best option is to call for guidance, lacking any proper written direction.
Especially glad to know about GE at DFW as that's where I am transitting next. I'll call the 800 number as you did after I change DL etc and report my results once I've done that.
Jan 11, 2014, 10:27 am
#8054
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: RDU
Posts: 389
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html
Of note, the DFW GE staff were very nice, and the enrollment center wasn't very busy. They just weren't able to sort out what needed to be done. YMMV. Also, they are outside the security checkpoint, so you have to allow time for that.
Jan 13, 2014, 8:02 am
#8055
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: TBD
Programs: AA since 1988 (ex-elite status); Alaska; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 497
The NEXUS contact numbers are on this page:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html
Of note, the DFW GE staff were very nice, and the enrollment center wasn't very busy. They just weren't able to sort out what needed to be done. YMMV. Also, they are outside the security checkpoint, so you have to allow time for that.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html
Of note, the DFW GE staff were very nice, and the enrollment center wasn't very busy. They just weren't able to sort out what needed to be done. YMMV. Also, they are outside the security checkpoint, so you have to allow time for that.