NEXUS Trusted Travler Card

The NEXUS Trusted Traveler card is WHTI-compliant document issued to travelers who frequently cross the U.S. and Canada border by land or water. NEXUS Trusted traveler program is part of the three travel programs together that are offered to frequent cross boarder to US & Canada and US & Mexico. Specifically, NEXUS Program is a joint Canada– United States program to let pre-approved, low risk travelers cross US-Canada borders quickly and easily than normal international travelers. NEXUS members now have crossing privileges at air, land, and marine ports of entry. This program is under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that pre-approves NEXUS card holders / members to enter by land, sea, or even air in the US-Canadian boarders. Both the US and Canadian Citizens may apply for the said program.

 Instead of waiting for long lines and wait for a long time in border entry points, members NEXUS can be able to use the self-serve kiosks at the airports, reserved lanes at land crossings, and phoning border officials in sea ports. This program is legally and bindingly operated by the Canada Border Service Agency and the U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection.

NEXUS approved applicants are issued a photo identification, proximity Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card. Participants use the three modes of passage where they will either present their NEXUS card or have their iris scanned and make a declaration. This will give the pre-approved NEXUS members a more simplified and pre-approved passage to US and Canada boarders.

Benefits of NEXUS Travel Program

A member or a holder of a NEXUS travel card will have the following benefits during border crossing to the US and Canada:

• Expedited (Faster) Passage via NEXUS-dedicated lanes and kiosks in airports, NEXUS reserved lanes in land crossings, and privilege to call a marine telephone reporting center to report arrival into the US or Canada.
• Cross the US or Canada Border with minimal immigration questioning.
• Save more time and effort for those frequent US and Canada Business travelers.

The NEXUS program allows United States and Canadian border agencies to concentrate their efforts on potentially higher-risk travelers and goods, which helps to ensure the security and integrity of our borders. Needless to say, if a traveler posts a potential high risk to enter US or Canada border, they will still be subject to rigorous immigration questioning.

How to apply for NEXUS

You can apply for your NEXUS using the CPB online application system named Global Online Enrollment System (Goes), or for Canadian Citizens, any Canadian Processing Centers. Make sure to bring your essential supporting documents and identification and citizenship proofs. The basic fee is US $50 or CN $50 for the processing in GOES online. If you have been conditionally approved, you should schedule an appointment for your personal interview. During the interview, you should go to a NEXUS Enrollment Center. For one applicant, there will be one application, one fee, and only one interview appointment. So if you are a group, your application should be individual as well as your interview appointments.

Not every U.S. or Canadian Citizen is entitled in the NEXUS Travel program. Before being approved as one that is eligible for this privilege, you are screened by the Canadian and US immigration rigorously with broad background checks and criminal records search. There will also be an individual personal interview per appointment that is required for every applicant that is conditionally approved. So basically, what does it take to be qualified for NEXUS? And most of all How much would it cost for the Processing?

Eligibility and Non-Eligibility

Qualified or Eligible travelers that may avail of the NEXUS program should be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or of Canada. They should have resided in either or both countries for the past three years. Also, they should not have any pending criminal records or law enforcement cases. For those who have been dismissed form such criminal or law enforcement cases, they should have valid documents to do so. They should also pass the required background and criminal record checks made by the US or Canadian Immigration officials.

However, individuals may not qualify or will be non-eligible if they:

• Are inadmissible to the United States or Canada under applicable immigration laws;
• Provide false or incomplete information on their application;
• Have been convicted of a criminal offense in any country;
• Have been found in violation of customs, agriculture, or immigration law;
• Will not lawfully reside in either Canada or the United States for the term of their NEXUS membership; or
• Fail to meet other requirements of the NEXUS program.

If ever, he or she will be denied of either US or Canada immigration, then he or she cannot participate in the NEXUS Program. Only an applicant that has been approved of Both US and Canada is enabled to be an approved NEXUS member.

NEXUS Program Fees

The application of the NEXUS program can be done online via the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) or via Canada Border Service agency for Canadian and US Citizens. The non-refundable application fee is US $50 that can be paid through direct debit in a US Bank account or through a credit card when you apply online. On the other hand, the non-refundable application fee for NEXUS is CN $50 that can be paid by check, credit card, or money order to the Canada Border Services Agency for the processing of an application submitted by regular mail for Canadian Citizens.

After their application online, they will be told if their application is conditionally approved. If so, they will have to schedule a personal interview appointment at the NEXUS Enrollment Centers. After the application has been approved and the applicant has passed their personal interview at the NEXUS Enrollment Centers, a photo identification id with an RFID will be mailed to them within 7 to 10 business days. For further inquiries about the NEXUS program they can also call for NEXUS toll-free information (U.S. and Canada) call 1-866-NEXUS 26 (1-866-639-8726).