Is a Nexus Pass Good for International Travel

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Air travel has gotten more and more than complicated over the past decide with border crossings clamping downward when it comes to customs and airport security.  As a traveller, nosotros dread having to speak to a community officer and can really put a damper on your holiday if yous're pulled bated or questioned in-depth.  Just thinking about fifty-fifty the light interrogation gives me stress.

If you lot tin believe it, there'south a solution for this if you lot're from Canada.  If y'all're from the United states and you lot travel to Canada ofttimes, this could be for you as well.  Even if yous're not a frequent traveller, in that location's an argument for why the NEXUS card is worth information technology.  Let'southward dive into what makes this card a must-accept.

Tabular array of Contents

Looking for something specific to larn about Articulate?  Spring to what you want to read.

Hither'southward what nosotros're roofing:

• So what exactly is the NEXUS card?
  • Air crossings
  • State crossings
  • Marine crossings
• six reasons why it's worth it to get a NEXUS card
• How to get a NEXUS card
• What you might not have known well-nigh your NEXUS card
• Getting a complimentary NEXUS Card
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Read More Travel Hacking Tips

So what exactly is the NEXUS card?

NEXUS is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States."  This is a trusted traveller program that has a lot of similarities to the American programs, Global Entry and TSA Pre✓.

This is essentially a reciprocal agreement betwixt Canada and the Us that allows pre-cleared Canadians to cross borders at ease whether past air, land, or sea.  Vice versa, Americans tin can use this well in the other direction.

Past existence enrolled in Nexus, you are automatically part of Global Entry and TSA Pre.

The NEXUS card is for Canadians and Americans and provides benefits of expedited customs clearance and airdrome security screening.  You are automatically eligible for US Global Entree and TSA Pre past being part of the NEXUS program.

For this particular slice, nosotros'll be focusing on how the NEXUS card works for Canadians.

Air crossings

Departing Canada

At that place are two scenarios here for Canadians.  When flight to the US from Canada, community clearance usually occurs on the Canadian side.  If this is the example, in that location will be NEXUS/Global Entry kiosks available where yous'll need to do a finger print scan, take a photo, answer the general questions, and take the slip over to the officer.  Custom officers won't ask any questions unless you are flagged.

Arriving in Canada

When arriving into Canada, you tin bypass the standard machines or border officers by going straight to the cocky-serve NEXUS kiosks.  These are a little different from the Global Entry ones.  Hither, you'll practice an iris browse, respond the general questions, and take your printed skid to hand over to the officer.  Once again, no questions are asked by an officer unless you are flagged.

Land crossings

When crossing the edge by automobile, you'll be able to leverage the special NEXUS line.  When you arrive at the gate, yous'll exist prompted to pull out your NEXUS Card in forepart of the RFID reader.  You will and then proceed to speak to an officer who will ask yous a few basic questions and typically wave you through quickly.

Marine crossings

I have not done this personally simply according to the CBSA there's a call-alee system in identify if yous're crossing the edge via h2o.  The number to call is 1 866-99-NEXUS (1-866-996-3987) and notice needs to be given between 30 minutes to 4 hours ahead of crossing.

For a listing of airports that have kiosks available for either Global Entry or NEXUS, make sure you caput to the NEXUS wiki.

half-dozen reasons why it'due south worth it to become a NEXUS menu

Example of the Nexus pass with RFID shield

If I oasis't convinced yous still, hither are my six all-time reasons why y'all should get the NEXUS card ASAP.

1. And so affordable – Information technology's but $l and is valid for 5 years.  That means it's $10 a twelvemonth .  Every time I tell someone this, they're so surprised.  Aye information technology's that cheap!
2. Faster lines – Especially with my experience from Toronto Pearson International Airport, you're talking about faster security screening and customs whether I'm leaving or coming back domicile.  Especially during high traffic times at the airport, this means I'k laughing my way through.
3. No questions – Perchance the worst part of flying when y'all get nervous for no reason.  With NEXUS, y'all barely ever have to speak to customs unless you've been randomly selected past the car.  Win!
4. NEXUS by auto is a breeze likewise – I've washed the crossing to Buffalo, NY and to Blaine, WA and the NEXUS line is seldom used.
5. Non limited to North American travel – As I learned from my postal service most this new discovery, you tin can use NEXUS when arriving back in Canada even from International destinations.
6. Don't need to fill out any forms – When coming back home to Canada, you don't need to fill out those customs forms that you used to have to fill up out.  Wave the flying bellboy off and go direct to the NEXUS machines when yous land.

How to go a NEXUS carte

If in that location's one major con to the NEXUS carte du jour, it's the awarding process as you lot'll see with the steps numbered out.  The primary bottle neck is the interviews and talking to The states border officials isn't exactly a fun past-time.

So hither'south how information technology works:

1. Figure out if you're eligible – Most of you lot volition be and this involves the basics such as whether you're able to travel to the other country (Canada/US).  Y'all also either need to be a citizen or as a legal resident of either country for a minimum of 3 years
2. Get your documents set up – Yous demand to bring a proof of Canadian or U.s.a. citizenship.  The NEXUS awarding page has the options.
3. Make full out the application – You tin do this online or past newspaper.  This volition take you to the Trusted Travelers Plan page.
4. Pay – If yous fill out the paper class and mail service it in to the Canadian role, you can pay $50 CAD.  If you lot put in your application online, since you'll be using the United states arrangement, you volition have to pay $fifty USD.
5. Schedule and accept interview – If conditionally approved, you'll exist given the option to volume an appointment at a NEXUS Enrolment Center.  This is the almost challenging part considering of how competitive this is.  If you're hoping to become an appointment at a major hub (i.e. YYZ), you'll be looking months out for an appointment.  The play tricks is to look at small border crossing.  During the meeting, they'll be asking you questions about your reasons for needing the card and blazon of travel you do.  Y'all'll be asked nearly your work as well.  Lastly, a photo of yous, retina and fingerprints will be taken.

What you lot might not have known about your NEXUS card

• What y'all need to practise to get TSA-Pre on your boarding card – When y'all're checking in, brand sure to fill in the Known Traveler Number field which you've probably always left blank.  This spot is for your NEXUS number.  This matters most when yous're flying outbound from the USA since TSA Pre is dependent on this.
• Declaring honestly – The second con to the programme is that information technology's non a programme y'all want to be blacklisted from.  As a outcome, when it comes to declarations, you want to be very conscientious.  The category that officers aren't consistent on is the nutrient category.  It'south never really clear whether things like granola confined and chips need to be declared but some are determined that these count.  As a result, if you want to exist by-the-book, you need to check off that yous're bringing in food to the country which would result in automatic secondary.  That said, at most airports, when they meet the designation on the printout and y'all tell them direct away that you're only declaring snacks, they usually stamp y'all through.

Getting a free NEXUS Menu

Wait I just said that NEXUS is $fifty right?  Well that is true but there is a new Canadian credit card that can plow information technology gratis.

CIBC's Aventura Visa Infinite bill of fare has a pretty sweet perk where every iv years, you're eligible to use for a rebate on the NEXUS application fee.

Tip:  When ready to utilize or re-apply for NEXUS, make sure to sign up for the Aventura right before so you can get that $50 right back.

Frequently Asked Questions

So far you've written from a Canadian perspective.  Why would an American want NEXUS? – That'southward a dandy question.  Then far, I've made it sound like Americans don't demand NEXUS because you've got Global Entry and TSA Pre.  That is partially true except this caveat – Global Entry works for travel back into the USA just does not piece of work for travel into Canada.  That said, NEXUS does work both ways and in that way is a superior card and on height of that requires $50 for registration vs Global Entry which is $100.

How does the renewal process piece of work? – I've gone through renewal twice and in the latest iteration, the US system has been updated from GOES to the new Customs and Edge Protection (CBP) website.  In the past, y'all used to exist able to renew your carte online and they'd simply send you a new card.  The new process is more than rigorous and as if you're applying for the first time.  You accept to go for an interview all over again to renew.

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So what are you waiting for?It'southward time to go one!

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