Nexus Cards

[FayeW]

I just applied for Nexus cards for my children and myself. I decided to go with these instead of the passports because they are free for children 14 and under (my daughter will be 15 in October) and they are good for 5 years. If I get passports, the kids' will expire when they are 16, so my daughter's would only be good for about 15 months. It seemed like a waste of money, to me.

Can anybody share their experience with wait times and what to expect with the interview?

Thanks!

[RainbowsMist]

I'm curious as well. My daughter will be 15 when we leave also so her passport would only be good for less than a year.

[CanadianPaco]

We applied for ours on line in mid June. We were notified for the interview fairly quickly. You'll get an email prompt to goto the GOES web site for the details. You can book your interview on line, I think. But we called in to make the appointment at Pearson. (You actually are calling the office in San Diego to book the appointment.) There is a 30 d time restriction to book the appointment but the appointment doesn't have to be in 30d of being approved.

We did our interview at Pearson last Wednesday. It was for 11am but we were 1hr early because we predicted worse traffic than we had. They took us almost right away. We actually were done by 11am. They review your paperwork - bring what they tell you to bring. They take retina photos and finger scans. Answer questions and explain the rules. You get a declaration book each and tonnes of reading material. Some are approved right away like DD and DH were. I was approved the next day. No big. We all received approval emails with 24hr of the interview and the cards are in the mail. It was so simple I have no idea why we didn't do it sooner.

Hope that helps.:)

[DisneyFreak06]

I thought the passports issued before a person turns 16 were good until they expired? From the passport canada site:

Will my child require a new passport once he or she reaches the age of 16 and still holds a valid one?
No. The passport of a child who turns 16 years of age continues to be valid until it expires. A passport issued to a child is identical to a passport issued to an adult.


I have no dealings with Nexus cards though. To me they are not worth it, because I feel they limit me. I would need a passport to travel anywhere else but the US. That's just MHO though. Hopefully you won't need to wait too long.

[FayeW]

I thought the passports issued before a person turns 16 were good until they expired? From the passport canada site:

Will my child require a new passport once he or she reaches the age of 16 and still holds a valid one?
No. The passport of a child who turns 16 years of age continues to be valid until it expires. A passport issued to a child is identical to a passport issued to an adult.


I have no dealings with Nexus cards though. To me they are not worth it, because I feel they limit me. I would need a passport to travel anywhere else but the US. That's just MHO though. Hopefully you won't need to wait too long.

Thanks for the information, I had always thought the kids' expired at 16. I guess I didn't do enough research.

The big benefit of the Nexus card is that you pretty much bypass the lines at border crossings. I was talking to a US Customs officer who works at the airport here in Ottawa, and he said he waited for an hour and a half in the regular line at a land crossing, but the cars in the Nexus line were zooming past and through within a couple of minutes. Alot of people have both the Nexus and passports, just so they can get through US customs more quickly. For us, the big draw is the fact that they are free for children and last 5 yrs.

Now that I know that I can get passports for the kids and they will still be good for 5 yrs, I may decide to get them as well at a later date. We have a trip to Jamaica booked for March Break, but it's just the hotel reservation for now. I have until end Jan to decide if we are going or not, so if we find good airfare I will have to get passports after all.

[CanadianPaco]

That by pass line is precisely why we applied for the cards!!! We have passports. But to spend 1-2 hr waiting to corss the bridge (Sarnia/Port Huron) - no way no more!:wizard:

[DearDaisyinDurham]

We applied for ours on line in mid June. We were notified for the interview fairly quickly. You'll get an email prompt to goto the GOES web site for the details. You can book your interview on line, I think. But we called in to make the appointment at Pearson. (You actually are calling the office in San Diego to book the appointment.) There is a 30 d time restriction to book the appointment but the appointment doesn't have to be in 30d of being approved.

We did our interview at Pearson last Wednesday. It was for 11am but we were 1hr early because we predicted worse traffic than we had. They took us almost right away. We actually were done by 11am. They review your paperwork - bring what they tell you to bring. They take retina photos and finger scans. Answer questions and explain the rules. You get a declaration book each and tonnes of reading material. Some are approved right away like DD and DH were. I was approved the next day. No big. We all received approval emails with 24hr of the interview and the cards are in the mail. It was so simple I have no idea why we didn't do it sooner.

Hope that helps.:)

Thanks OP and Canadian Paco. Think we're going to get the cards as well. We have passports but we always dread the lines - and that's just at the airport. LAND CROSSINGS can be just as CRAZY, so for us the cards would be worth it.
DH HATES HATES HATES lines. :laughing:

[minnie56]

That by pass line is precisely why we applied for the cards!!! We have passports. But to spend 1-2 hr waiting to corss the bridge (Sarnia/Port Huron) - no way no more!:wizard:

Remember not all borders have Nexus..just a heads up:confused3

[FayeW]

Remember not all borders have Nexus..just a heads up:confused3

Really? How can we find out which ones do?

[minnie56]

I am sure somewhere there is info out there..where? Not sure..
Also, last Friday we returned from Buffalo around 11:00pm and there was quite the line up into Canada for Caribana..Nexus was closed. So we had to wait:rolleyes1

[minnie56]

Wondering..if Nexus is closed and you don't have a Passport? What happens?
I guess they must just scan it at the regular lane?

[sachs1999]

You do still need to have a passport and carry it with you when you travel even with the nexus card. If you look at your nexus info it states this. If you go to a place and the nexus machines are down or there are no nexus machines you must produce your passport. also airlines tend not to know that the nexus card is id and they will not accept it as such when you check in you still need to give your passport.

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Land and Water
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/whti-ivho/ls-tm-eng.html

Nexus Process
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html

[DearDaisyinDurham]

WHERE - Scroll down to bottom for locations:
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/land-terre-eng.html

[rjan67]

You do still need to have a passport and carry it with you when you travel even with the nexus card. If you look at your nexus info it states this. If you go to a place and the nexus machines are down or there are no nexus machines you must produce your passport. also airlines tend not to know that the nexus card is id and they will not accept it as such when you check in you still need to give your passport.

Nexus is an approved traveller card. You can use it anywhere in the U.S., Mexico and the Carribean. You don't need a passport also. If this is not correct then the Nexus official at the Port Huron Nexus Center is giving out misinformation, because that is what they told us. You can use your Nexus for I.D. to enter the U.S. even if the line is not open. You can use it for air travel if you have the retina scan done and are using a Canadian airport to enter the U.S. I used my card today and saved at least 1 hour, even with a random search thrown in.

[dancin Disney style]

You do still need to have a passport and carry it with you when you travel even with the nexus card. If you look at your nexus info it states this. If you go to a place and the nexus machines are down or there are no nexus machines you must produce your passport. also airlines tend not to know that the nexus card is id and they will not accept it as such when you check in you still need to give your passport.

This is true....my best friend travels for business, mainly to the US, about 3 times per month and has Nexus. We just had a discussion about 3 weeks ago about Nexus VS. passport. She said you still require a passport.

[FayeW]

Well, that certainly sucks. It appears I have wasted $100. today. We usually cross at Hill Island (outside Kingston) and they are not on the list that Daisy provided. I did find an old archived article from a Watertown newspaper Dec/08 that said they were opening a Nexus enrollment centre at Hill Island, so hopefully that means that by the time we are ready to cross there again, they will be taking Nexus cards.

[Eveningsong]

Every member in the vehicle must have a valid Nexus card to use the Nexus lane. I have friends with valid Nexus cards for the whole family, and they often take a friend along for their daughter on their Disney trips. They must use the regular lanes because the friend does not hold a valid Nexus card.

I believe unless it has changed your Nexus card is only good at the location were you interviewed. If you interview at Sarnia for your Nexus Card you cannot use it at Fort Erie.

[minnie56]

Every member in the vehicle must have a valid Nexus card to use the Nexus lane. I have friends with valid Nexus cards for the whole family, and they often take a friend along for their daughter on their Disney trips. They must use the regular lanes because the friend does not hold a valid Nexus card.

I believe unless it has changed your Nexus card is only good at the location were you interviewed. If you interview at Sarnia for your Nexus Card you cannot use it at Fort Erie.

No, that's not true. You can use it anywhere Nexus is available. At any border and airport that has the scanners.

[FayeW]

I believe unless it has changed your Nexus card is only good at the location were you interviewed. If you interview at Sarnia for your Nexus Card you cannot use it at Fort Erie.

Nah, that's wrong. You can use it anywhere that has Nexus capabilities. The website also says that you have to present ONE of the required documents...Passport OR Nexus OR EDL Driver's License, etc. I haven't read anything official that said we had to have passports as well.

[Eveningsong]

An Enhanced Driver's Licence is only good for land or water.

[Eveningsong]

Terms and Conditions

As a NEXUS member, you agree to do the following:
■ comply with all customs and immigration laws and
regulations and any other laws or regulations that are
enforced by the CBSA and CBP;
■ understand that your NEXUS membership card is valid
for your use only. You must not transfer your card to
other individuals;
■ recognize that the NEXUS membership card belongs to
the governments of Canada and the United States; and
■ return the NEXUS membership card(s) and any unused
Traveller Declaration Cards (for Canadian residents only) to a
CBSA or CBP officer when you or any child under the age
of 18 for whom you have legal custody or guardianship
are no longer a member of the NEXUS program.

Note: Your authorized period of admission to Canada or
the United States will depend on your immigration status
for each country or your citizenship of that country. Your
immigration status and citizenship must be valid at all times
and you must possess appropriate immigration and identity
documents in addition to your NEXUS card.When you travel to Canada or the United States:
■ carry your NEXUS membership card with you, as well as
any required travel or identification documents;
■ show the CBSA and CBP proof of your NEXUS
membership, your personal identification and any other
immigration or citizenship documents when requested;
■ ensure that each person you are transporting has a valid
NEXUS membership. If any of the passengers in your
vehicle/boat are not carrying their NEXUS membership
card or you have passengers in your vehicle/boat who are
not NEXUS members, you must report to border officials
in the regular manner; and

■ carry copies of legal custody documents when you travel
with children for whom you share custody. If you are not
a custodial parent or legal guardian, you should carry the
children’s identification as well as written permission
from the parents or legal guardians to supervise them.
Ensure that the permission letter includes addresses and
telephone numbers where the parents or legal guardians
can be reached. Children must also be NEXUS members
to access the NEXUS lane or self-serve kiosk.

[disneynuts777]

We have NEXUS cards and they are great but you still need your passport as well.
Example-we drove to buffalo for our flight. Entered the U.S using our NEXUS cards. Could not use NEXUS at the buffalo airport. Had to use passports as I.D.
When leaving Orlando to fly back to Toronto had to use our passports as they do not accept NEXUS cards.
Used our NEXUS cards at customs in the Toronto airport by- passing the lines.

So NEXUS is great at saving you time at customs and at land points but you still need to carry other approved I.D. A passport being the best kind espessially for children.

Also..we just all had our passports reissued and my older DD turns 16 in November. I paid the childs rate and her passport is valid for 5 years. Which means she will be nearly 20 before it expires.:thumbsup2

[rjan67]

Your immigration status and citizenship must be valid at all times
and you must possess appropriate immigration and identity
documents in addition to your NEXUS card.When you travel to Canada or the United States:


That doesn't mean you need a passport. You can use it for this if you have one. A birth certificate will suffice. I work in the U.S. and cross 4-5 times per week. I don't even carry my passport with me. Just my Nexus and I always have my birth certificate in my wallet, but they have never asked to see it except at the interview. We just got a Nexus for my husband so that we can go on a cruise in March. That is going to be his I.D. for the trip. The immigration office said that this will be fine because I specifically asked the question.

[Eveningsong]

Your immigration status and citizenship must be valid at all times
and you must possess appropriate immigration and identity
documents in addition to your NEXUS card.When you travel to Canada or the United States:


That doesn't mean you need a passport. You can use it for this if you have one. A birth certificate will suffice. I work in the U.S. and cross 4-5 times per week. I don't even carry my passport with me. Just my Nexus and I always have my birth certificate in my wallet, but they have never asked to see it except at the interview. We just got a Nexus for my husband so that we can go on a cruise in March. That is going to be his I.D. for the trip. The immigration office said that this will be fine because I specifically asked the question.


Good luck with the cruise if you are in Florida. My friends could not use their Nexus cards for ID on their Florida based cruise, they had to use their Passports for the cruise. The cruise ship would not accept the NEXUS card.

Because SENTRI is used for the US Mexico border most southern locations do not even know what a NEXUS card is.

[rjan67]

From the Homeland Security Webpage:

"The NEXUS alternative inspection program has been completely harmonized and integrated into a single program. NEXUS members now have crossing privileges at air, land, and marine ports of entry. Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the NEXUS card has been approved as an alternative to the passport for air, land, and sea travel into the United States for US and Canadian citizens."

I'm not doubting your friends couldn't use it. I think it once again is an example of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Hearing that still makes me think he should get his passport, just so as not to have any hassle.

[Eveningsong]

From the Homeland Security Webpage:

"The NEXUS alternative inspection program has been completely harmonized and integrated into a single program. NEXUS members now have crossing privileges at air, land, and marine ports of entry. Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the NEXUS card has been approved as an alternative to the passport for air, land, and sea travel into the United States for US and Canadian citizens."

I'm not doubting your friends couldn't use it. I think it once again is an example of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Hearing that still makes me think he should get his passport, just so as not to have any hassle.

The cruise ship will be going in International Waters. Your Nexus card is good for US/Canada air, land and sea travel.

[rjan67]

It is also good in Mexico and the Carribean per the Immigration Officer at the Port Huron office. I was told this a year and a half ago when I renewed my Nexus and again when the rest of my family got theirs in June. I specifically asked the question regarding my family going on the cruise and he said that it is good for that. :confused3

[Eveningsong]

It is also good in Mexico and the Carribean per the Immigration Officer at the Port Huron office. I was told this a year and a half ago when I renewed my Nexus and again when the rest of my family got theirs in June. I specifically asked the question regarding my family going on the cruise and he said that it is good for that. :confused3

I would check with the cruise line you are sailing with to ensure a valid NEXUS card is sufficient travel documentation for the whole cruise. There are no refunds if you are not allowed to board.

[rjan67]

Good idea!

[Eveningsong]

Good idea!

Please let us know how you make out?

[FayeW]

It took less than 24 hours for the kids and I to be "pre-approved". We have our interviews set for next week.

The confusion/misinformation continues, however. I spoke to a US Customs officer a couple of days ago and he said that you still need to have a passport, in case the Nexus computers/scanners are down. The guy I spoke to yesterday to schedule the interviews said that wasn't true, and you don't need a passport!

So, at the end of it, I am probably going to end up getting passports later and the only benefit of having the Nexus cards will be if we want to make a quick trip across and don't want to wait in the big lines, we will have an option to use the Nexus line.

Maybe as time goes on it will be more widely accepted. It sucks to have wasted $100. though.

[minnie56]

It took less than 24 hours for the kids and I to be "pre-approved". We have our interviews set for next week.

The confusion/misinformation continues, however. I spoke to a US Customs officer a couple of days ago and he said that you still need to have a passport, in case the Nexus computers/scanners are down. The guy I spoke to yesterday to schedule the interviews said that wasn't true, and you don't need a passport!

So, at the end of it, I am probably going to end up getting passports later and the only benefit of having the Nexus cards will be if we want to make a quick trip across and don't want to wait in the big lines, we will have an option to use the Nexus line.

Maybe as time goes on it will be more widely accepted. It sucks to have wasted $100. though.

But even then-what happens if the Nexus lane is closed and again the scanners are not available to use? Would Passports not then be required?
I agree, a lot of mis-information out there!!!

My daughter is heading down to NYC next week for 2 years of school there. She has a Nexus card and an I-20 Immigration Visa. She was also told she must have a Passport, which thankfully, she does. As with myself, two Passports in fact. Very confusing..

[FayeW]

But even then-what happens if the Nexus lane is closed and again the scanners are not available to use? Would Passports not then be required?
I agree, a lot of mis-information out there!!!

My daughter is heading down to NYC next week for 2 years of school there. She has a Nexus card and an I-20 Immigration Visa. She was also told she must have a Passport, which thankfully, she does. As with myself, two Passports in fact. Very confusing..

Not according to the guy who scheduled the interview. He said if we had the cards and they couldn't scan them, that would still be good enough!

If it is just a quick shopping trip or something, no big deal we'll just turn around and come back. If the time comes when we are planning a "trip" with flights etc to worry about, we'll get passports then.

Funny, we don't go across the border much, maybe once or twice a year. Sometimes an hour away to Messina, sometimes to Watertown, and then every couple of years to Florida. Now that I can't go because we don't have the proper travel documents, I am thinking of all kinds of excuses for why I need to go to the US!

[Eveningsong]

Why take a chance. Get a passport, or another option for adults (in Ontario) is the new Ontario Enhanced Driver's Licence. The Ontario Enhanced Driver's Licence fee is $40.00 for five years.

If you have changed your name you will have to take proof of the legal name change (Certified Marriage Certificate) for the Enhanced Driver's Licence Interview.

My married daughter interviewed at Kingston 13 July 2009 and received her Ontario Enhanced Driver's Licence in the mail on 10 August 2009. She had her Certified Marriage Certificate to present at the interview, her sister-in-law only had the regular Marriage Certificate and was turned away.

Now my daughter can drive and/or boat across without having to drag her Passport along for day trips. We live close to the border and cross at Kingston, or the Ivy Lea Bridge on a regular basis.

She still needs a Passport for flying out of the country.

Plus, an Enhanced Driver's Licence is accepted on Bahama and Carribean Disney Cruise Lines, as well as a Passport. The Disney Cruise Lines will not accept a NEXUS card as travel documentation for Canadians. I called to confirm what travel documents are acceptable.

[rjan67]

I'll just throw in for fun, that my coworker (who is a U.S. citizen) had trouble getting in to her own country with a certificate saying she had applied for her enhanced license and was coming (that the secretary of states office assured her that would be all she would need). They detained her and grilled her for 1/2 hour! She went back to her secretary of states office on return to Michigan and complained and the office couldn't believe what had happened. She said she had no problems getting into Canada.

I think I am just going to have my dh get his passport. I just don't want to be dealing with hassles. We aren't going until March so we have plenty of time to get his. It is so dependant on the border crossing. If you bring everything to out MP's office, they help you get your application together and courier it off. Now that he has his Nexus, we can still cross to shop and won't have to worry about his birth certificate being sent and being left with no i.d.

[belle1627]

We have Nexxus and are happy we got it, but we also have passports just in case. The Whirlpool bridge is Nexus only which is a great option.

We recently added the eye scan to ours, we used it in YYZ and it was so much faster, we love it.

[minnie56]

Aren't there only the Nexus cards with the retina scan?
I can't recall having a choice?

[DearDaisyinDurham]

You can choose to get the retinal scan or not but you have to have it to use Nexus for air travel:
-----
*Note: The iris photo is only required if you plan to use NEXUS for air travel. The iris photo is required each time you enter using the self-servce kiosks at designated airports.
----
The online process took a bit of time (and thought lol) but we got the conditional approval quickly & go this weekend for the interview.

Updated: interviews were painless, cards will be in the mail & should be received within 2 weeks.


Thanks again OP & Dis'ers for the thread!

[belle1627]

Aren't there only the Nexus cards with the retina scan?
I can't recall having a choice?

You do have the choice.

[minnie56]

You do have the choice.

I guess I don't recall being offered that--either way--I use it for air travel also so I would have selected to have it. Odd that I can't remember even having to consider it.:confused3

[DearDaisyinDurham]

I guess I don't recall being offered that--either way--I use it for air travel also so I would have selected to have it. Odd that I can't remember even having to consider it.:confused3

We were there (Pearson) getting processed at the same time as a few other couples. One of the couples did not get the iris scan but were told that if they changed their minds, to stop back in as they could get it added at any time.

Am not sure how new your Nexus card is, but I know you can go into the office at anytime that it's open (no appointment needed) to update your card (passport changes, etc) and from what we overheard yesterday that includes going in to get the iris scan done.

HTh!

[minnie56]

We've had ours about 2 years...and we did the iris scan.I don't recall being told we didn't have to? But no matter.. useful for us anyways as we travel a lot from YYZ.

When we went..we had only the Passports that we used to apply online, and that was Canadian. We also hold British Passports (EU) and they knew that and we had to go back at a later date and add those. We are flying out of YYZ soon and will go to the Nexus office in the terminal and add our renewed Canadian PP as well. Easily done as long as we are within the Nexus 'office' hours as most times we aren't it seems:confused3

[wannago2disney]

Just FYI, This is what a friend who works @ Port Hurnon US immigration told me:

Nexus is a United States Government Issued Identification. It is valid at ALL US entry points. If they do not have a specified "Nexus" line, you can still use the Nexus pass as your ID for entry into the US.

For person's entering other countries, including Canada, it is the "perogitive" of the custom's agent to request additional ID such as your passport to gain entry. It is advised to also carry your passport if you have it.

Nexus is currently good for travel to US, Canada, Mexico and Carribean....NOT CUBA.

From Canada Customs agent Sarnia: If you carry a valid nexus card you should have no problems using it to re-enter Canada.

We have Nexus, but also carry our passports ... even for day trips. WE LOVE NEXUS!!