:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tgam/O6RS76PQYNDCBCZAHGEFLUHOOI.JPG)
The advantages of the Nexus program embrace diminished wait instances at designated airports and land borders because of devoted lanes and kiosks.J.P. MOCZULSKI/The Globe and Mail
What’s a Nexus card, and the way do you apply for one?
Nexus is an immigration program geared toward facilitating journey from Canada to the U.S. for pre-approved travellers. After an software course of, travellers obtain a Nexus card that they’ll use at land, marine and air borders to cross extra shortly and effectively into the opposite nation.
The advantages of the Nexus program embrace diminished ready instances at designated airports and land borders because of devoted lanes and kiosks. A Nexus card can be utilized as a substitute of different journey paperwork at areas that permit it, however it is suggested to carry a passport or everlasting resident card as effectively in case proof of citizenship or residence standing is required.
Who can apply for a Nexus card?
To use to the Nexus program, travellers have to be accredited by each the Canada Border Providers Company (CBSA) and the U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP).
Candidates who move a complete background examine and haven’t any disqualifying prison historical past are invited to go to an enrolment centre to finalize their membership and full two interviews, one with a customs officer from the U.S. and one other with a Canadian one. Nexus memberships are legitimate for 5 years and the applying prices US$50 for anybody over 18 years outdated.
What’s inflicting the Nexus software backlog?
On the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada and the U.S. closed their Nexus enrolment centres, successfully placing interviews for brand spanking new candidates on maintain indefinitely. In November, 2021, U.S. customs reopened Nexus enrolment centres on their aspect of the border, however a dispute between the 2 nations has brought on Canadian centres to stay closed.
The dispute, which stems from Canada and the U.S. failing to agree on authorized protections for U.S. CBP officers who work in Canada, resulted in a present backlog of about 274,000 candidates.
In an effort to sort out the backlog, Canada and the U.S. launched a pilot workaround final 12 months permitting Canadian candidates to have their interviews at two land border factors in Ontario: one close to Kingston and one at Fort Erie.
In a joint assertion on Jan. 10, Canada and the U.S. stated this measure and others had diminished the web backlog of candidates by 100,000.
What’s the present state of the Nexus backlog?
Canada and the U.S. stay at odds on the dispute, however they introduced a brand new workaround deal on the North American Leaders’ Summit in January, informally often called the Three Amigos Summit.
The workaround resolution would permit Canadian Nexus candidates to conduct their Canadian interview at a set of Canadian airports earlier than boarding a flight to the U.S. After clearing U.S. customs on the Canadian airport, candidates would head right into a U.S. customs workplace to finish their American Nexus interview.
“We count on a brand new enrollment possibility for air travellers to be out there by the spring that can embrace CBSA interviews at reopened enrollment facilities in Canada and separate CBP interviews in Canadian airport preclearance areas for departing candidates,” the 2 nations stated in an announcement.
Extra particulars concerning the workaround resolution shall be introduced shortly, the 2 nations stated.
Easy methods to apply for a Nexus card
Regardless of the backlog inflicting lengthy ready instances for interviews, some travellers might want to submit new Nexus purposes. To take action, Canadians should fill out their purposes on-line on the Trusted Traveller Packages System.
As a part of the applying, travellers should add a digital copy of their proof of citizenship, and driver’s licence if relevant, and provide 4 years of historical past of residential addresses and locations of employment. Moreover, candidates should present a listing of nations aside from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico they’ve travelled to prior to now 4 years.
As soon as accredited, candidates shall be invited to finish their interviews at an enrolment centre. Due to Canada’s closed enrolment centres, the ready instances for interviews are lengthy. The Globe and Mail reached out to Canada Border Providers Company for an estimate however had not acquired it on the time of publication.
What alternate options to Nexus do travellers have?
Some Canadian residents heading for the U.S. and not using a Nexus card can use one other program, referred to as Cell Passport Management (MPC) to hurry up their airport expertise.
MPC permits eligible travellers to submit their passport data and customs declaration by means of an software on their cellphone forward of time, permitting them to make use of a delegated line to undergo U.S. customs, sometimes making certain shorter ready instances and fewer congestion.
MPC is out there at three Canadian airports: Montreal Trudeau Worldwide Airport, Toronto Pearson Worldwide Airport, and Vancouver Worldwide Airport. One other 31 U.S. worldwide airports assist MPC, in addition to 4 seaports of entry.
