The NEXUS Trusted Travelers Program: How to Apply and the Benefits
When you're on a road trip, the last thing you want to do is spend even more time in the car.
I took a road trip to Montreal from Boston to visit family and crossing the border into Canada surprisingly didn't take too long. I went through a smaller border port of entry, so maybe that's why. But coming back from Montreal and re-entering the US was a different experience.
We waited in line in the car for over an hour. That was after two hours of driving and we had three more hours to go.
We learned our lesson and got NEXUS which allows us to use the dedicated NEXUS lane to get through the border more quickly.
What is the NEXUS program?
NEXUS is a joint program between the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Canada's Border Services Agency (CBSA).
It allows pre-screened travels to have expedited entry when entering the United States and Canada by using dedicated plans at land border ports of entry, self-service kiosks at designated airports, or marine reporting locations along the shared United States and Candian border.
What are the benefits of joining the NEXUS program?
If you're a frequent traveler between the US and Canada, a NEXUS card can make border crossings a breeze. You'll be able to skip regular security lines at land crossings, airports, and marine ports of entry through a dedicated NEXUS lane or kiosk.
I personally usually travel by air when visiting my family in Canada so I make more use of Global Entry. Then I went on a road trip with my partner and dog and we had to wait in line in the car for an hour to re-enter the US. It didn't help that we really needed to use the restroom. We're not doing that again.
Who is eligible for NEXUS?
U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents, and Mexican nationals are eligible for NEXUS.
You may not qualify if any of the following apply ...
- You provide false or incomplete information on the application
- You have been convicted of any criminal offense or have pending criminal charges to include outstanding warrants (including driving under the influence)
- You have been found in violation of customs, immigration, or agriculture regulations or laws in any country
- You are the subject of an investigation by any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency
- You are inadmissible to the United States under immigration regulation
- You have waivers of inadmissibility or parole documentation
- You cannot satisfy CBP or Canada Border Services Agency of your low-risk status or cannot meet other program requirements
How do you apply for NEXUS?
You can apply for NEXUS through the Trusted Traveler's Program website.
You'll be asked for basic information about you, documents to prove citizenship, your driver's license, employment information, and travel history.
To submit the application, you must pay a $50 application fee.
You should it to take 30 business days for your application to be processed. At this time, the government agencies run background checks on you to determine whether you'll be approved for the program.
You must receive approval by both U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency.
Scheduling a NEXUS Interview
Upon approval by both agencies, you'll need to schedule a visit to an enrollment center on the United States/Canada land border.
As of June 1, 2023 there is a massive backlog of over 270,000 people waiting for a Nexus interview.
Use AppointmentScanner to get notified of new interview availabilities.
You have three options for completing your NEXUS interviews.
1. Joint United States and Canada interview at a land enrollment center in the US.
This is the simplest option because you only need to schedule one apointment. You can select an enrollment location through the Trusted Travel Programs scheduler.
2. Split interview at a Canadian enrollment center followed by an interview at a US enrollment center
This option requires you to go to two separate enrollment centers and is more time consuming. You'd schedule the first portion of your interview at a Canadian land enrollment center and the second appointment will be automatically scheduled for the same date at the nearest US land enrollment center.
The following Canadian land enrollment centers are open for scheduled NEXUS split interviews:
- Lansdowne, Ontario / Alexandria Bay, New York
- Fort Erie, Ontario (Peace Bridge) / Buffalo, New York (Peace Bridge)
Depending which Canadian enrollment center you start at, that may be an hour or more of travel time.
3. Two-step interview at a Canadian airport enrollment center followed by an interview at a US preclearance location in a Canadian airport
This option may present the most hassle, but if you're already going to be at the airport, it might make sense to go this route.
You must schedule the first interview at a Canadian airport enrollment center then complete the second interview before your flight to the US at a US preclearance location within a Canadian airport.
Note that you do not need to do both interviews on the same day.
If you're trying to book an appointment use AppointmentScanner to get notified of new interview availabilities.
What to Expect During the Interviews
During your interviews, the CBSA and US CBP officers will review your documents (proof of citizenship, work permits and visas) and the information on your application and make sure you meet the eligibility requirements.
After the interview, the officers will take your fingerprints and take your photo for the NEXUS membership card.
The Impact of COVID-19 on NEXUS
The backlog grew to such a massive size because all 13 Canadian enrollment centers were shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented anyone from booking interviews for new applications or renewals.'
On January 30, 2023, Congressman Bill Higgins introduced the Make NEXUS Work Act to allow for virtual NEXUS interviews in an effort to get through the backlog, pointing at how the Global Entry application allows for remote interviews.
