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NEXUS is simply a associated Canada–United States programme designed to trim hold times and perchance destruct immoderate of the hassle astatine borderline crossings and airdrome information lines successful some countries.
With immoderate upfront limb enactment and a spot of patience, a five-year rank with NEXUS is good worthy the effort for predominant travellers.
Let’s look into the galore benefits of enrolling successful NEXUS, including however to motion up, which recognition cards connection NEXUS rebates, and wherefore each eligible traveller should person a NEXUS paper successful their wallet.
As a reminder, the NEXUS exertion interest is rising from $50 (USD) to $120 (USD) connected October 1, 2024. Therefore, your champion stake is to use present to debar having to wage much than treble for the membership.
What Is NEXUS?
NEXUS is simply a programme for Canadians and Americans that pre-approves low-risk travellers for cross-border entry.
Those who enroll successful the programme volition payment by entering the countries with greater easiness by utilizing automated self-serve kiosks and passing done abstracted borderline lines.
The programme offers benefits to NEXUS cardholders who are entering Canada oregon the US by air, land, and sea.
Entering Canada by Air
NEXUS cardholders tin bypass perchance agelong information lines by going straight to NEXUS self-serve kiosks oregon NEXUS eGates aft landing successful Canada from extracurricular the country.
Skipping perchance agelong lines applies to travellers entering into Canada from anyplace successful the world, not lone from the United States.
There are 9 Canadian airports equipped with NEXUS kiosks oregon eGates successful Canada, located astatine the pursuing airports:
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
- Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
While functioning astir precisely the aforesaid arsenic a regular non-NEXUS accomplishment kiosk, NEXUS kiosks and eGates bash not necessitate you to capable retired the tedious E311 Declaration Card, required of each different passengers.
NEXUS cardholders travelling with non-NEXUS cardholders would person to usage the NEXUS kiosk oregon eGate separately, arsenic they’re not allowed to bring a non-NEXUS companion done with them.
While anyone with thing to state is inactive capable to usage the NEXUS kiosks oregon eGates, they would person to talk with an serviceman aft utilizing a kiosk oregon eGate. Meanwhile, those with implicit $10,000 worthy of currency and monetary instruments to state cannot usage NEXUS kiosks oregon eGates and indispensable usage the regular gates.
CATSA/ACSTA Verified Traveller Line
The Verified Traveller enactment is simply a precise beardown NEXUS payment for those flying domestically wrong Canada.
Not to beryllium confused with the “Trusted Travelers Program,” a US programme of which NEXUS is simply a part, the CATSA/ACSTA Verified Traveller enactment allows NEXUS cardholders, subject members, and formation unit a simpler and faster information screening successful Canadian airports.
NEXUS members are capable to bypass the regular screening line, and alternatively articulation the Verified Traveller line.
Eligible travellers person a streamlined experience, and whitethorn support their shoes, belts, and airy jackets on, support tiny items successful their pockets, and permission compliant liquids, aerosols, and gels successful their carry-on bags.
NEXUS cardholders aren’t required to region immoderate laptops from their carry-on (except connected transborder flights to the US), and indispensable inactive walk done X-ray screening.
Where Verified Traveller screening lines are not available, those who would person different benefited volition inactive person front-of-the-line service, but volition person to travel regular screening procedures.
For home and planetary flights, co-travellers 17 years oregon younger, arsenic good arsenic 75 years and older, whitethorn travel anyone who is eligible for Verified Traveller access. For transborder flights, immoderate co-traveller whitethorn travel you, careless of age.
Entering the US by Air
Similar to NEXUS cardholders entering Canada, those entering the US whitethorn besides bypass perchance agelong lines.
That’s due to the fact that your NEXUS paper besides provides entree to Global Entry, which allows expedited introduction upon entering the US by air.
Whether you’re entering the US via Canadian pre-clearance locations oregon from different planetary destination, you’ll usage Global Entry kiosks, which are precise akin to NEXUS kiosks.
We’ll sermon much astir the assorted similarities and differences betwixt NEXUS and Global Entry below.
TSA PreCheck
As an further benefit, due to the fact that NEXUS confers Global Entry benefits, this means that each NEXUS members automatically get entree to TSA PreCheck.
Currently disposable astatine much than 200 airports crossed the US with much than 90 airlines participating successful the program, TSA PreCheck allows for further benefits for travellers flying retired of the participating US airports to immoderate home oregon planetary location.
TSA PreCheck benefits see the usage of TSA PreCheck “fast lanes” wherever applicable. Furthermore, and surely of large payment to predominant flyers, members bash not request to region shoes, belts, allowable liquids, laptops, oregon airy jackets portion going done screening astatine security.
Note that TSA PreCheck is strictly constricted to departures retired of US airports. It isn’t applicable to travellers leaving from oregon arriving astatine a Canadian airport.
Unlike the NEXUS program, children aged 12 and younger whitethorn usage the TSA PreCheck payment portion travelling with an eligible genitor oregon guardian.
Children aged 13 to 17, who bash not person TSA PreCheck, whitethorn find it indicated connected their boarding walk if they are connected the aforesaid preservation arsenic a genitor oregon guardian who is simply a subordinate of the program. Otherwise, they would not beryllium eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits.
To bask TSA PreCheck benefits, each you person to bash is participate your NEXUS paper number, called your “PASS ID number,” arsenic your “Known Traveller Number” erstwhile you marque your adjacent formation reservation. This nine-digit fig is located connected the backmost of your NEXUS card.
When you person your boarding pass, written connected it volition immoderate signifier of a TSA PreCheck indicator. It comes successful assorted forms, specified arsenic TSAPRECHK, TSA PRE, oregon TSA PreCheck®. Any of these grants you the afloat TSA PreCheck benefits.
Entering Canada and the US by Land
NEXUS members crossing the Canada–US borderline by onshore whitethorn usage dedicated NEXUS lanes successful bid to skip the longer lines successful the regular lanes.
There are 20 Canada–U.S. borderline crossings with designated NEXUS lanes. Not each person NEXUS lanes connected some sides of the borders.
More information, including the hours of cognition and impermanent closures, tin beryllium found connected the CBSA website.
There are a fewer important exceptions to beryllium mindful of erstwhile trying to usage a NEXUS lane with your NEXUS card:
- Similar to entering Canada by air, those travelling with $10,000 oregon much cannot usage the NEXUS lane portion entering Canada.
- Travellers entering the US who are implicit their idiosyncratic exemption oregon entitlement cannot usage the designated NEXUS lane.
- Those travelling with non-NEXUS cardholders cannot usage the NEXUS lane, nary substance the property of oregon narration to the different passenger(s).
- Travellers entering Canada with commercialized goods cannot usage the NEXUS lane.
- Those travelling into Canada with restricted, controlled, prohibited, oregon licence required goods (such arsenic firearms) cannot usage the NEXUS lane.
Those who often transverse the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge betwixt Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York, with their NEXUS paper whitethorn person to take further steps successful bid to harvester their required toll relationship with their NEXUS account.
Entering Canada and the US by Sea
While not arsenic often utilized arsenic aerial and onshore borderline crossings, NEXUS cardmembers person circumstantial benefits related to reporting procedures if entering Canada oregon the US by oversea astatine implicit 400 marine sites.
Again, this payment is lone applicable if each persons connected committee are NEXUS members, and is not applicable to those carrying implicit $10,000 successful currency.
For much circumstantial steps astir utilizing these reporting benefits, refer to the Canada Border Services Agency website.
What Is the Difference Between NEXUS and Global Entry?
NEXUS and Global Entry are some a portion of the Trusted Traveler Program by the US Department of Homeland Security. NEXUS is simply a associated Canada–US program, portion Global Entry is simply a US programme only.
NEXUS gets you Global Entry benefits, but not the different mode around. NEXUS members tin usage Global Entry kiosks erstwhile entering the US, but Global Entry members cannot usage NEXUS kiosks erstwhile entering Canada.
In addition, NEXUS is cheaper astatine $50 (USD) for a five-year membership, arsenic opposed to $100 (USD) for Global Entry. However, support successful caput that the NEXUS interest is rising to $120 (USD) arsenic of October 1, 2024.
Children nether the property of 18 tin use for a NEXUS rank for free, portion determination is nary akin discount offered to Global Entry applicants.
Global Entry kiosks are disposable astatine 75 airports some successful the U.S. and internationally. This means that NEXUS and Global Entry members besides person expedited introduction benefits successful different countries extracurricular of Canada and the US, including at:
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
- Aruba – Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
- Bermuda International Airport (BDA)
- Dublin Airport (DUB)
- Grand Bahamas International Airport (FPO)
- Nassau – Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport, Bahamas (NAS)
Both programs person akin exertion processes that necessitate you to conscionable with idiosyncratic astatine an enrollment centre.
Additionally, some programs assistance the aforementioned benefits of TSA PreCheck and the CATSA/ACSTA Trusted Traveller programs.
How to Sign Up for NEXUS
Eligibility
NEXUS rank is lone disposable to citizens oregon imperishable residents of Canada oregon the United States, arsenic good arsenic Mexican nationals portion of the Viajero Confiable program.
Permanent residents of either state indispensable person lived arsenic ineligible residents for astatine slightest 3 years earlier applying for a NEXUS card. A fewer exceptions are fixed for those progressive with the equipped forces oregon connected diplomatic missions successful overseas countries.
Applicants indispensable beryllium capable to participate Canada oregon the US nether regular circumstances, and applicants convicted of a superior transgression discourtesy are not eligible to articulation NEXUS.
While determination is nary property requirement, children nether 18 volition request either each parents oregon guardians contiguous oregon a missive of consent from the parent(s) oregon guardian(s) not present.
Interestingly, portion children request further support for membership, the parents oregon ineligible guardians bash not request to beryllium NEXUS members for the kid to go a member.
Application
All applications for NEXUS cards are processed online done the Trusted Traveler Program website. The NEXUS programme utilized to judge insubstantial applications by mail, but that is nary longer the case.
After creating an relationship and selecting NEXUS, you person to capable retired an application, which includes a assortment of idiosyncratic accusation requiring documentation, specified arsenic impervious of citizenship and impervious of residency.
You indispensable besides capable successful employment history, question history, and reply inheritance questions related to imaginable erstwhile transgression activity.
After certifying that everything is confirmed and true, you are sent to a leafage to wage the $50 (USD) exertion fee. All applicants nether the property of 18 are free.
After making the payment, your exertion volition beryllium pending reappraisal for conditional approval.
While determination is simply a banner informing applicants that getting conditionally approved whitethorn instrumentality 5 concern days, nary 1 seems to beryllium getting it that quickly.
Some are being approved aft 3 weeks, portion others are being told that processing clip volition instrumentality 12–14 months.
Interview
Upon being conditionally approved, you person 730 days to docket and implicit an interview. If you don’t implicit the interrogation during this clip period, your exertion volition beryllium cancelled without a refund.
Currently, you person 3 options for completing your interview:
- A associated interrogation astatine a onshore enrolment centre successful the US
- A divided interrogation astatine Canadian and US onshore enrolment centres
- A two-step interrogation astatine participating Canadian and US airports
Joint Interviews astatine Land Enrolment Centres
If you take a onshore enrolment centre, you’ll person a associated interrogation with a Canadian CBSA serviceman and a US CBP officer.
There are presently 15 unfastened enrollment centres successful the United States to take from:
- Jonesport (Calais) Enrollment Centre, Maine
- Houlton (Woodstock) Enrollment Centre, Maine
- Derby Line Enrollment Centre, Vermont
- Detroit Enrollment Centre, Michigan
- Port Huron Enrollment Centre, Michigan
- Sault Ste. Marie Enrollment Centre, Michigan
- International Falls Enrollment Centre, Minnesota
- Warroad Enrollment Centre, Minnesota
- Pembina Enrollment Centre, North Dakota
- Sweetgrass NEXUS and FAST Enrollment Centre, Montana
- Alexandria Bay Enrollment Center, New York
- Champlain Enrollment Centre, New York
- Niagara Falls Enrollment Centre, New York
- Ogdensburg Enrollment Center, New York
- Blaine NEXUS and FAST Enrollment Centre, Washington
In Canada, you tin find the pursuing enrolment centres:
- Buffalo-Fort Erie, Ontario Enrollment Center
- Lansdowne, Ontario Enrollment Center
You tin motion up for an assignment on the Department of Homeland Security website.
Your champion accidental astatine getting a NEXUS assignment astatine 1 of these locations is to perpetually refresh the leafage and anticipation for a cancellation, though you whitethorn beryllium refreshing for hours. You tin besides hunt X (formerly Twitter) for bots that comb for disposable appointments, though those appointments thin to vanish quickly.
Enrolment centres that are farther distant from large cities, specified arsenic the locations successful Minnesota, thin to person much availability, truthful you could see making a travel to velocity up the process.
Split Interviews astatine Land Enrolment Centres
If you take the divided interview, you’ll bash 1 interrogation connected 1 broadside of the border, and past the different crossed the border.
The 2nd information of the interrogation volition beryllium automatically scheduled for the aforesaid date.
You tin take to bash the divided interviews astatine the pursuing onshore enrolment centre pairings:
- Lansdowne, Ontario / Alexandria Bay, New York
- Fort Erie, Ontario (Peace Bridge) / Buffalo, New York (Peace Bridge)
- Derby Line, Vermont / Stanstead, Quebec
Two-Step Interviews astatine Participating Canadian and US Airports
If you don’t unrecorded adjacent immoderate of the onshore enrolment centres, your champion stake is apt to take this option.
With two-step interviews, you person 1 interrogation astatine a Canadian airdrome enrolment centre, and past the 2nd interrogation either earlier your adjacent formation astatine a US pre-clearance determination wrong a Canadian airport, oregon enrolment upon accomplishment successful the US.
You’ll request to archetypal docket an interrogation astatine immoderate of the pursuing Canadian airdrome enrolment centres:
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
- Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG)
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Then, erstwhile that interrogation has been completed, if you take to implicit the 2nd interrogation astatine a US pre-clearance location, you tin bash truthful astatine the pursuing ports:
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
- Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG)
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
- Alaska Marine Highway System Ferry Terminal (Prince Rupert, British Columbia)
Alternatively, you tin implicit the 2nd interrogation upon accomplishment successful the US. More accusation tin beryllium recovered on the CBP website.
Once you get an appointment, the interrogation itself is reasonably straightforward. In astir situations, it’s beauteous quick.
During the interview, you volition beryllium asked astir your erstwhile question past and wherefore you privation the NEXUS card. They’ll besides explicate the program, instrumentality your fingerprints, and instrumentality your photograph for the card.
After the interview, applications tin theoretically beryllium approved successful astir 1 oregon 2 concern days; however, I’ve heard it tin instrumentality arsenic agelong arsenic 2 weeks for travellers to person their NEXUS paper successful the mail.
Which Credit Cards Offer NEXUS Rebates?
While the $50 (USD) exertion interest is surely worthwhile for predominant travellers, determination are respective Canadian- and US-issued recognition cards that connection a reimbursement connected NEXUS applications.
Canadian Credit Cards with NEXUS Rebates
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card and American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card connection connection credits of $100 (CAD) each 4 years to screen NEXUS exertion fees charged to the card.
The American Express Platinum Card offers a connection recognition of up to $100 each 4 years for NEXUS exertion oregon renewal fees charged to the card.
The American Express Gold Rewards Card gives 1 $50 connection recognition each 4 years to screen the NEXUS exertion interest charged to the card.
The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card offers 1 connection recognition up to $100 each each 4 years, to screen the NEXUS exertion interest charged to the card.
The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card and the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card each person 1 $100 connection recognition each 4 years to screen the NEXUS exertion interest charged to the cards.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card and TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card person 1 connection recognition up to a $100 each 4 years to screen the NEXUS exertion interest charged to the card. Up to 3 further cardholders besides person a $100 NEXUS recognition each 4 years.
Credit Card
Best Offer
Value
70,000 MR points
$1,676
Apply Now
100,000 MR points
$1,361
Apply Now
Up to 95,000 Aeroplan points
$1,147
Apply Now
85,000 Aeroplan points
$858
Apply Now
Up to 75,000 Aeroplan points†
$661
Apply Now
Up to 40,000 Aeroplan points†
$544
Apply Now
45,000 CIBC Aventura Points†
$542
Apply Now
Up to 80,000 CIBC Aventura Points
$420
Apply Now
The US recognition cards with rebates for NEXUS applications are each offered by Chase:
- Chase Aeroplan Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- Chase Unite Quest Card
- Chase United Explorer Card
- Chase United Club Infinite Card
- Chase IHG Rewards Premier Card
- Chase IHG Rewards Premier Business Card
- Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card
Each of these cards supply the cardholder with 1 connection recognition of up to $100 (USD) each 4 years for either the NEXUS, Global Entry, oregon TSA PreCheck exertion interest charged to the card.
Conclusion
Unless you emotion waiting successful agelong lines, getting a NEXUS paper is simply a nary brainer. This is particularly existent for those who person one of the galore recognition cards that volition reimburse you for the exertion fee.
Whether you’ve been a NEXUS cardholder for galore years, oregon person precocious braved the travel southbound of the borderline for your interview, you tin look guardant to enjoying galore time-saving benefits erstwhile you yet person your NEXUS paper successful the mail.
As a reminder, the interest is acceptable to emergence to $120 (USD) connected October 1, 2024, truthful beryllium definite to use for NEXUS (or use for a paper with a NEXUS credit, and past use for NEXUS) earlier then.
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