Nexus card

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

You can at the airport, they can't. Don't know about land crossings.

Land crossings, everyone in the car has to have the card. If you travel across the border with any regularity, that's worth it. Unless it's some crappy border like Coutts. They only have the Nexus lane open for a few hours a day. But I guess even then, if you can time it right $10 a year is worth saving an hour of your time given all the other additional benefits.

[taco.vidal]

Just a heads up for anyone in Calgary thinking of applying.... Its about a 6+ month process right now. Youre looking at 1 to 2 months to have your application processed and approved. Then you need to book an interview appointment and if you want an appointment at YYC, theyre booking about 6 months out. If your near another Nexus centre you might be able to get an earlier appointment.

The interview process itself is less than half an hour and then you get your card in the mail after a few weeks.

[Tyler]

Just want to echo - there's nothing better than whizzing by all the massive lines at YYC with your Nexus card and just feeling the searing hate from everyone on your back as you zip through customs. For $10 a year, its totally worth it.

[FurnaceFace]

No, it's really not awesome at all...it's a horrible system. It's bad because....because....OH! because you have to give the US your fingerprints, retina scan, and personal information! Yeah, that's it. Beware of Nexus! Don't get it....ever...your personal freedom is more important.

[Shin Pad]

I cross the border often. We always try and schedule our trips so that we are going down in the middle of the week, usually crossing the border in the morning. We never have a problem with long lineups. Also, whenever I've crossed the border, the Nexus line was closed.

[Ryan Coke]

I love it, and using it for the nexus line for domestic flights is great. However remember that if you have to check 'yes' to any of the boxes on the form, you will have to go to secondary screening. Not that it is a huge issue, but it may end up taking longer than just going through the regular line. So if you have any kind of food, or are over your exemption limit, you'll have to go to secondary.

[geos]

I've found I actually get the detailed secondary check more when using NEXUS than when not using NEXUS. Maybe just random chance that I've had bad luck, but oh well. I've never had a customs issue, but that doesn't stop me from getting secondary'd a lot!

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

I love it, and using it for the nexus line for domestic flights is great. However remember that if you have to check 'yes' to any of the boxes on the form, you will have to go to secondary screening. Not that it is a huge issue, but it may end up taking longer than just going through the regular line. So if you have any kind of food, or are over your exemption limit, you'll have to go to secondary.

Does that include liquor as well?

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Just a heads up for anyone in Calgary thinking of applying.... Its about a 6+ month process right now. Youre looking at 1 to 2 months to have your application processed and approved. Then you need to book an interview appointment and if you want an appointment at YYC, theyre booking about 6 months out. If your near another Nexus centre you might be able to get an earlier appointment.

The interview process itself is less than half an hour and then you get your card in the mail after a few weeks.

Edmonton took me 2-3 weeks total. Might be worth it to look into YEG if you're needing one sooner.

[Ryan Coke]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Does that include liquor as well?

I believe it is ok as long as it is within the exemption limits.

[KeepCalmCarryOn]

I'd reiterate what's been said in this thread.

1. Air Travel: The card is really only a net gain if you travel by air 10+ times a year to the US. The application and interview process will eat up the customs line time savings for anything less
2. Land Travel: The card is worth while if you're in thre GVR or the GTA. Here in Calgary we don't have any close crossings, and the closest decent size crossing is lucky to have a 10 minute wait.

.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Does anyone have a nexus pass for their kids? We're looking at getting this for the whole family. (2 kids)

I know the kids need a card and interview, but do their eyes get scanned too? My wide will get creeped out by this.

[Ryan Coke]

Yes my 2 kids have them. They don't do the iris scan below a certain age, but it allows you to use the crew line instead of the regular lines. And even then, you don't actually have to answer any questions, they just make sure the paperwork is good and send you on your way.

I do agree this isn't really beneficial unless you cross frequently.

[Titan]

I just got back from the interview. We applied about 2 months ago and scheduled an interview for November. I kept checking the GOES site and saw the four slots for today about three weeks ago so grabbed them. The interview for all four of us was about 45 minutes with setting up the iris scans and such. Not really any interview just confirming the data already provided. The kids, 7 and 11, did get the iris scans but no fingerprints. Over the next five years I am assuming I will travel to the US about 3-4 times per year. To save 15 minutes per travel times 4 times a year times 5 years I think I will come out way ahead. Some custom lines and security lines I have been in have been brutal so i think it is worth it for the $100 as the kids don't have to pay.

I guess we'll see.

[MoneyGuy]

What do they ask about in the interview? What do they want to know?

[CarlLester]

I wouldn't even call it an interview anymore. I got mine last July and they asked no questions. Watched the information video, took the pic, filled out some papers, and that's it. Wife and kids did it earlier this month and it was the same. No questions asked.

[enthused]

The only questions I really got asked were regarding reasons why I had visited the countries I had most recently been to.

[Barnes]

Just got mine a few weeks ago. They'll ask about why you want it, ensure you won't be traveling with commercial or promotional goods, etc. They don't do the video much anymore because there is so much demand.

Nexus card holders are now able to use the US global entry system, the new TSA pre check allowing you to skip security lines and leave your shoes on etc. You can also skip domestic security lines in Canada.

I went to pittsburgh last week and the computers were down at YYC. It took my friend an hour to get through customs. I was through immigration and security in 7 minutes. Worth every cent.

[FurnaceFace]

Tips, things to remember:
- they tell you to expect to get stopped and checked some time in the first 5 years. True. Last trip back we got sent to the special area and they went through our bags in detail. Complete search of each bag, swab, check of purchases, etc. it would only be a big deal if you were trying to hide something.
- if your passport expires, you need to link your new one with your Nexus card. Just wander into the office and you're good.
- The US global entry machines work way better than the red Nexus retina scan machines. Those Nexus machines need to get tossed or they need an update, they are so slow.

[Ryan Coke]

The interview was nothing. Just a spiel on how much trust this program puts in you, and if you screw up you lose it. No questions, and they didn't even ask for some of the paperwork they had requested I bring.