Applying for Nexus

[Starwind]

I have used my NEXUS card for domestic air travel. Saved some time, though not a lot since the regular line was only about 10 minutes long.

SW

 

[FigmentSpark]

I've also heard that since more people are getting the NEXUS, that line can get backed up, too.

 

[minnie56]

I've also heard that since more people are getting the NEXUS, that line can get backed up, too.

True - it can, I've had Nexus for about 8 years now and it was pretty great at the start, bit hit and miss these days ...

 

[RCMommy]

Our renewal took about two weeks to complete. I was able to book three appointments together and 4 of us actual renewed at the time. We were in the building for maybe 15 minutes total.
At the Blue Water bridge we have had several experiences where the Nexus line is longer than the regular lines!!! The TSA precheck is nice though.

 

[marisabuzz]

I've also heard that since more people are getting the NEXUS, that line can get backed up, too.

Are you talking about all lines? Land and air? We've been crossing by land once every couple of months and I wish we'd have Nexus at those times because there was never any lines. And I had no idea about the all Nexus Whirlpool Bridge.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I was referencing TSA lines in Canada. I haven't heard anything about any other lines.

 

[marisabuzz]

We just had our interviews yesterday at Pearson. I'd say the process was painless and such an interesting setup. I knew you had to speak to both US and Canadian customs agents but I had no idea that they'd be sitting beside each other like that.

I was being processed by the Canadian agent while the US agent was processing my DH. Canadian agent took the retina scans and the US did the pictures and fingerprints. Because my kids are too young still, they didn't do fingerprints and retina, but said when they're seven or eight years old they can get theirs update.

One thing I didn't expect so I must have missed it somewhere is that you need the long form birth certificate for the kids to prove that you're the biological parents.

I kinda expected to be grilled. They asked us about legal middle names (I apparently don't have one because it's not on my birth certificate). They asked us about other legal names. I thought they would ask us why we wanted to get into the program. We had "trained" DS to say "because we want to go to Disney World!"

What was awesome is that the agents that were around us all interacted with our kids. Our kiddos were shy at first but were their usually cute selves within minutes.

We were at the airport for about an hour (a little longer because the kids and DH just had to stop for a Booster Juice). Parking cost us $15 (would have been $10 if not for the Booster Juice). We parked in Express parking at Terminal 1 and once you walk into the terminal if you take the escalators to the left by the Booster Juice you will pretty much be at Post 8 (not really useful info after today because they're moving for renovations). We waited about 25 minutes to be called and the interview for all four of us was about the same amount of time.

I hope this helps people who are applying for the program. Now I have to get our flights updated with our Known Traveller Number now so we can take advantage of TSA-Pre. I don't know why it took so long for us to do this other than sheer laziness.

 

[tinkerone]

We just had our interviews yesterday at Pearson. I'd say the process was painless and such an interesting setup. I knew you had to speak to both US and Canadian customs agents but I had no idea that they'd be sitting beside each other like that.

I was being processed by the Canadian agent while the US agent was processing my DH. Canadian agent took the retina scans and the US did the pictures and fingerprints. Because my kids are too young still, they didn't do fingerprints and retina, but said when they're seven or eight years old they can get theirs update.

One thing I didn't expect so I must have missed it somewhere is that you need the long form birth certificate for the kids to prove that you're the biological parents.

I kinda expected to be grilled. They asked us about legal middle names (I apparently don't have one because it's not on my birth certificate). They asked us about other legal names. I thought they would ask us why we wanted to get into the program. We had "trained" DS to say "because we want to go to Disney World!"

What was awesome is that the agents that were around us all interacted with our kids. Our kiddos were shy at first but were their usually cute selves within minutes.

We were at the airport for about an hour (a little longer because the kids and DH just had to stop for a Booster Juice). Parking cost us $15 (would have been $10 if not for the Booster Juice). We parked in Express parking at Terminal 1 and once you walk into the terminal if you take the escalators to the left by the Booster Juice you will pretty much be at Post 8 (not really useful info after today because they're moving for renovations). We waited about 25 minutes to be called and the interview for all four of us was about the same amount of time.

I hope this helps people who are applying for the program. Now I have to get our flights updated with our Known Traveller Number now so we can take advantage of TSA-Pre. I don't know why it took so long for us to do this other than sheer laziness.

Its funny how different things are at different places. With ours, there were only Canadian agents (two) and the person who did the interview also did our finger prints and retina scans. We didn't have questions others have been asked. Must depend on the mood of the day. lol.

 

[Sue M]

We just had our interviews yesterday at Pearson. I'd say the process was painless and such an interesting setup. I knew you had to speak to both US and Canadian customs agents but I had no idea that they'd be sitting beside each other like that.

I was being processed by the Canadian agent while the US agent was processing my DH. Canadian agent took the retina scans and the US did the pictures and fingerprints. Because my kids are too young still, they didn't do fingerprints and retina, but said when they're seven or eight years old they can get theirs update.

One thing I didn't expect so I must have missed it somewhere is that you need the long form birth certificate for the kids to prove that you're the biological parents.

I kinda expected to be grilled. They asked us about legal middle names (I apparently don't have one because it's not on my birth certificate). They asked us about other legal names. I thought they would ask us why we wanted to get into the program. We had "trained" DS to say "because we want to go to Disney World!"

What was awesome is that the agents that were around us all interacted with our kids. Our kiddos were shy at first but were their usually cute selves within minutes.

We were at the airport for about an hour (a little longer because the kids and DH just had to stop for a Booster Juice). Parking cost us $15 (would have been $10 if not for the Booster Juice). We parked in Express parking at Terminal 1 and once you walk into the terminal if you take the escalators to the left by the Booster Juice you will pretty much be at Post 8 (not really useful info after today because they're moving for renovations). We waited about 25 minutes to be called and the interview for all four of us was about the same amount of time.

I hope this helps people who are applying for the program. Now I have to get our flights updated with our Known Traveller Number now so we can take advantage of TSA-Pre. I don't know why it took so long for us to do this other than sheer laziness.

Did you have to bring your marriage certificate too for name change proof? With me its sheer laziness!! I always get TSA pre check but my 30 yr old daughter rarely. So me getting pre check really doesn't do me much good! I still have to wait, so I just go thru regular line.

 

[marisabuzz]

Its funny how different things are at different places. With ours, there were only Canadian agents (two) and the person who did the interview also did our finger prints and retina scans. We didn't have questions others have been asked. Must depend on the mood of the day. lol.

That is funny. Was your interview at Pearson too? I didn't peer over to see if other desks were the same setup and we had one US and Cdn because we were a family.

 

[marisabuzz]

Did you have to bring your marriage certificate too for name change proof? With me its sheer laziness!! I always get TSA pre check but my 30 yr old daughter rarely. So me getting pre check really doesn't do me much good! I still have to wait, so I just go thru regular line.

No I didn't think to bring my marriage cert. I had put my maiden name in a spot somewhere in my application so maybe that's why I didn't need it?

 

[tinkerone]

That is funny. Was your interview at Pearson too? I didn't peer over to see if other desks were the same setup and we had one US and Cdn because we were a family.

No, not at Pearson. Ours was at Lansdown. I liked the way ours went, very quick with only a few questions that had little to do with travel IMO. He talked more than anything.