Nexus program for travelling

[TheyCallMeBruce]

I think the border agent who interviews you can do whatever they want. They can be kind of a jerk too, cause a friend of mine said they nearly rejected him cause he forgot to name an additional country that he written down on his application. The agent straight told him they were considering rejecting him for being inconsistent.

So maybe sometimes it comes down to the type of agent you get.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

So what is the current process of getting a Nexus card? Apply online first, and wait? How long does it typically take?

If I remember correctly,

Step 1: Apply online. It's a long application which includes things like all your jobs and addresses over the past 10 years.

Step 2: Wait for your application to be processed t the point that you are allowed to book an interview.

Step 3: Pick an interview time slot online. When I did it the first availability for the YYC office was about 4-5 months, so I just booked one at the Coutts border crossing a couple weeks out and drive down. Would definitely recommend that.

Step 4: Go to the interview.

Step 5: Wait for your card in the mail.

Step 6: Take your card to one of the offices and get your eyes scanned.

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

How do you get the TSA PRE-CHECK add to this? If the boarding pass does not have the TSA stamp on it they will still funnel you through the regular lines in most of the US airports. We fly out of Kahalui a lot and they do not have a NEXUS line.

When I flew out of Kahului a couple weeks ago we just asked for it when we checked in and showed her our Nexus card and we got it. Not sure if that's the official process but it worked.

[lazypucker]

This might have been covered before. So if my passport is going to to expire in a few months, should I go renew it first before applying for Nexus interview online, or just get in line first since the interview will be at lease half a year away?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I checked their FAQ before I applied because I was in a similar situation. It says two things. First just tell them at your interview if any info has changed. It also recommends you phone them to find out if you should bring any additional info to the interview.

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

If I remember correctly,

Step 1: Apply online. It's a long application which includes things like all your jobs and addresses over the past 10 years.

Step 2: Wait for your application to be processed t the point that you are allowed to book an interview.

Step 3: Pick an interview time slot online. When I did it the first availability for the YYC office was about 4-5 months, so I just booked one at the Coutts border crossing a couple weeks out and drive down. Would definitely recommend that.

Step 4: Go to the interview.

Step 5: Wait for your card in the mail.

Step 6: Take your card to one of the offices and get your eyes scanned.

The only difference now is that they do the interview and retina scan at the same time now. It takes 10 minutes.

My passport was renewed during the 7 month waiting period, and I just brought the new number one with me. The officer updated it on the spot. No big deal.

[cavalera403]

Originally Posted by psicodude

The only difference now is that they do the interview and retina scan at the same time now. It takes 10 minutes.

My passport was renewed during the 7 month waiting period, and I just brought the new number one with me. The officer updated it on the spot. No big deal.

I think that they only have retina scanners at airports, if you do it at a land crossing you still will have to go get your eyes done at the airport

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by cavalera403

I think that they only have retina scanners at airports, if you do it at a land crossing you still will have to go get your eyes done at the airport

I did my interview at a land crossing in Ontario and they did my retinal scan right then and there. I think if they have a nexus interview room, they're likely to have retinal scanners now. This was like 4 years ago though, each crossing could very likely be different.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

This might have been covered before. So if my passport is going to to expire in a few months, should I go renew it first before applying for Nexus interview online, or just get in line first since the interview will be at lease half a year away?

I just renewed my passport after having NEXUS for a year... I simply went online and entered my new passport number.

[activeStick]

Stay off the grid people!! This is the first step!!!!

[PostandIn]

Got an email from the Nexus administration today and the CBSA is looking for stakeholder input regarding potential changes to the Presentation of Persons regulation.

Essentially tightening the eligibility criteria in areas that make sense: full disclosure and cooperation regarding personal information, run of the mill criminal convictions are a ten year ban. Life time bans for criminal convictions for drugs, obscenity and hate propaganda, endangered species, terrorism, kidnapping, child pornography, or trafficking in persons/human smuggling. Importation, exportation or trafficking of alcohol and tobacco, currency, firearms and weapons; or the exportation of items on the Export Control List. All foreign convictions will be assessed against the current Criminal Code of Canada.

[CroFlames]

Thanks for summing that up. I deleted my email from Nexus haha.

Honestly, I have no problem with the full disclosure stuff. I have nothing to hide. I basically waive some degree of privacy for the convenience of streamlined traveling, and I am absolutely OK with that.

Plus the satisfaction I get from bypassing huge lines and watching other travelers faces never gets old.

[calculoso]

I assume this means outside of the normal personal Canadian Customs limits for being out of the country for x days?

"Importation, exportation or trafficking of alcohol and tobacco"

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by PostandIn

Got an email from the Nexus administration today and the CBSA is looking for stakeholder input regarding potential changes to the Presentation of Persons regulation.

Essentially tightening the eligibility criteria in areas that make sense: full disclosure and cooperation regarding personal information, run of the mill criminal convictions are a ten year ban. Life time bans for criminal convictions for drugs, obscenity and hate propaganda, endangered species, terrorism, kidnapping, child pornography, or trafficking in persons/human smuggling. Importation, exportation or trafficking of alcohol and tobacco, currency, firearms and weapons; or the exportation of items on the Export Control List. All foreign convictions will be assessed against the current Criminal Code of Canada.

I'm hoping for increased security on talking about NEXUS. Anyone who talks about it has their card revoked. It's like Fight Club.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by calculoso

I assume this means outside of the normal personal Canadian Customs limits for being out of the country for x days?

"Importation, exportation or trafficking of alcohol and tobacco"

I assume it means not declaring and getting busted with it. You can bring back as much as you want for alcohol and pay the extra duty and taxes over the exemption but I believe there is a tobacco limit for "personal use".

[PostandIn]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

I'm hoping for increased security on talking about NEXUS. Anyone who talks about it has their card revoked. It's like Fight Club.

Because government programs are sooo secret and talking about them on a hockey board will cause a stampede of sign-ups that will totally inconvenience you.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I'm about to go for my interview next week.

Just looking at the CATSA website about the "trusted traveller" part of nexus, which is what I'll be taking advantage of most of the time when flying domesitc.

Except I'm confused on that now. Looking at the site it says only terminals D and E have queue jump locations in Calgary (and no Trusted Traveller screening locations). That seems odd to me because every time I fly WJ or AC, gates A or C, there is a separate line for nexus members (plus flight staff and a couple other groups) to jump the line.

Am I confusing something here? Is the CATSA site wrong?

It would still be handy to have when going US/International and the gate A/C lines aren't usually crazy long, but can someone confirm, I do get the jump the queue for the security screening line up when flying domestic, right?

[psicodude]

You are correct. There is a separate line for Nexus cardholders at the domestic gates. I believe that the confusion comes from not having the Trusted Traveller screening locations, so you can't keep your shoes on and laptop inside your bag like you can when travelling inside the U.S. I haven't flown domestically since the new terminal opened, so I'm not sure if that has changed anything on the domestic side.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

One more question then, CATSA site says the person(s) flying with you gets to skip the line too.

Previously in this thread, someone said they don't get to come with and have to wait in line.

I know that is true when land border crossing (everyone in car must have nexus to use nexus line) but it would seem to make sense to me that your travelling partner can come with you and skip the line when flying.

Can anyone comment?

[Hessen]

My wife and her friend went to Scottsdale last week. She has a Nexus pass and they allowed her friend to pass through with her.

[psicodude]

The friend thing is hit and miss. By the letter of the law, no they aren't allowed to go through the Nexus line with you. Practically, however, I would say the security person allows it about 75% of the time. I have no idea if there is a specific criteria or anything. Just the judgement of the person working the line I guess.