Tell me what it's like doing the Nexus interviews at Pearson

[peacefrogdog]

I got the first step of the approval process done, but now have to schedule interviews. There is an option to do the interviews at Pearson. Is it held in the area after you go through US Customs before going to the gates? And are both the Canadian and the US interviews done back to back and in the same location? How long are the interviews?

 

[kittyab]

I got the first step of the approval process done, but now have to schedule interviews. There is an option to do the interviews at Pearson. Is it held in the area after you go through US Customs before going to the gates? And are both the Canadian and the US interviews done back to back and in the same location? How long are the interviews?

We had our interview at the Edmonton Airport. It wasnt that bad, just bring every document you have regardless if it is not asked for just in case.

 

[scrappinginontario]

At Pearson it’s in an area before you go through security so you don’t need to be taking a flight to book the interview. Yes, both CDN and US are there.

 

[Bea]

We had our Canadian interview done in Halifax. We made an appointment online. Six months later we flew to Florida connecting through Pearson. After we saw the US customs officer and before you go through the sliding doors, there is a waiting area on the left. It’s first come first serve and we weren’t able to make an appointment. We had 2.5 hours between flights so we had plenty of time. There were 5-6 other people waiting. We were connecting so it could be different depending on your situation.

When we were called in, it was pretty quick. Just confirmed our addresses and a few quick questions, This was 18 months ago.

 

[kittyab]

When we renewed our Nexus passes we were able to do it at the border is Callas, Maine. You can update changes to your Nexus profile online though. IE newer passports etc.

 

[peacefrogdog]

At Pearson it’s in an area before you go through security so you don’t need to be taking a flight to book the interview. Yes, both CDN and US are there.

Great to know thanks!
What documentation do you need to bring? Is it in terminal 1?

 

[peacefrogdog]

At Pearson it’s in an area before you go through security so you don’t need to be taking a flight to book the interview. Yes, both CDN and US are there.

Also to confirm, you can do the US interview (which I understand is the CBP interview) as well WITHOUT flying that day/going through US customs?

 

[optstud]

Did it at Pearson last month. You do Canadian interview before going through security. Our family had various appointment times from 10:30am to 1:30pm but we all showed up at 12:30 and was seen all right away. You need a flight to US to do US interview. It is done after making your US declaration. You take a number and wait for an agent to come get you. How long you wait depends on how many ppl are ahead of you. When we took our number there was only 3 ppl ahead of us and waited 20 min. When we were done our interview we noticed 10 ppl waiting.

 

[peacefrogdog]

Did it at Pearson last month. You do Canadian interview before going through security. Our family had various appointment times from 10:30am to 1:30pm but we all showed up at 12:30 and was seen all right away. You need a flight to US to do US interview. It is done after making your US declaration. You take a number and wait for an agent to come get you. How long you wait depends on how many ppl are ahead of you. When we took our number there was only 3 ppl ahead of us and waited 20 min. When we were done our interview we noticed 10 ppl waiting.

Thanks - did you have to prebook the Canadian interview?
My wife & I both need to do the interviews - I have a flight to MCO booked this May but worried that we won't be able to get both sets of interviews done before boarding. Although I guess we can just show up extra early to the airport.

What time did you arrive to do the US interview (when only 3 people were waiting), and what time was it when you were done (when 10 people were waiting).

 

[optstud]

We booked appts for the Canada side but heard others online say they sometimes take walkins if not busy. We did our US interview at 2:00pm and were done at 2:30pm. Our flight was at 6pm. We were there early to ensure we had enough time.

 

[Aladora]

I got the first step of the approval process done, but now have to schedule interviews. There is an option to do the interviews at Pearson. Is it held in the area after you go through US Customs before going to the gates? And are both the Canadian and the US interviews done back to back and in the same location? How long are the interviews?

So, not YYZ but I did mine at YVR last April. It was done in 2 parts, the Canadian portion was before security and the actual interview took just a few minutes. The American portion had to be done on the same day as I had a ticket to fly to the States and it was done after security, in the same area as the US Customs. I had an early-ish morning flight so I did the Canadian part on one day, stayed overnight at the airport hotel, and then did the US part the next day when I was flying to California.

The American part took much longer than the Canadian one, first I had to wait for about 20ish minutes until there was a free agent and then to interview took at least another 20 minutes. Basic questions but she spent ages typing things into her computer. Finally, she approved me, took my picture, and told me I would get my card mailed to me within a month. It was maybe 2 weeks later when I got it.

 

[SirDuff]

At Pearson it’s in an area before you go through security so you don’t need to be taking a flight to book the interview. Yes, both CDN and US are there.

This is no longer true (and hasn't been for over a year). If you do it at the airport, you now have to do it in two stages - the Canadian one is, as you say, before security but the American one is done during pre-clearance (i.e. when you are flying out to the US). You can still do it in one step if you do it at some land crossings (which I what I did when I needed an interview for my renewal).

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/nation...es-announce-new-nexus-interview-option-expand

 

[peacefrogdog]

Ended up booking the two interviews at the land crossing at niagara falls. Didn't want to risk having to wait for the US interview at Pearson and missing my flight.

How often do you have to do the interview for renewal?

 

[SirDuff]

Ended up booking the two interviews at the land crossing at niagara falls. Didn't want to risk having to wait for the US interview at Pearson and missing my flight.

How often do you have to do the interview for renewal?

You renew every five years. Most people don't need an interview (not sure what the percentage is but none of my family or friends have needed interviews), but I've had one for both of my renewals. To be fair, during the five years of my first NEXUS, I moved from Canada to the US to Europe and visited some...interesting countries. During the five years of my second NEXUS, I moved from Europe to Asia and visited more...interesting countries. Honestly though, just not living in Canada or US might be enough to flag an interview since they can do less tracking of me (i.e. I don't have to prove my address, since there is no system for doing so).

 

[SirDuff]

Also, I did my interview at Niagara Falls and it was quite painless. I actually showed up close to an hour early (I wanted to give plenty of time in case of traffic and/or border crossing issues) and they let me just come in early (probably because it was a quiet time). Stopped by to visit the falls for the first time in probably 25 years.

 

[asc]

At Pearson it’s in an area before you go through security so you don’t need to be taking a flight to book the interview. Yes, both CDN and US are there.

No. The US interview is NOT in the same place. You need a US flight.

 

[asc]

Ended up booking the two interviews at the land crossing at niagara falls. Didn't want to risk having to wait for the US interview at Pearson and missing my flight.

How often do you have to do the interview for renewal?

Much smarter.

 

[ExcitedForWDW]

Ended up booking the two interviews at the land crossing at niagara falls. Didn't want to risk having to wait for the US interview at Pearson and missing my flight.

How often do you have to do the interview for renewal?

Question. Looks like I can book my interview on the usa side at niagara. Do I need a separate interview on the Canadian side of the border? Or does the usa place have canadian agents,

 

[peacefrogdog]

Question. Looks like I can book my interview on the usa side at niagara. Do I need a separate interview on the Canadian side of the border? Or does the usa place have canadian agents,

I haven't done my interviews yet but I'm under the impression both will be there.