Anyone applied for a Nexus card lately?

[Robert Mugabe]

Applied 18 months ago. Got called in for an interview with the Canadian side of things after a year, at the airport, and was told the only way to get the pass was to buy a plane ticket to the US and do their interview process after getting my boarding pass and going through security whereupon they photograph you and finger print you and conclude the inquisition. So I bought a plane ticket for a short flight to a close by US city, for an overnight stay to get the process completed. I got a handout letter from the guy who did the interview, telling me I would get a card within a month. That was more than a month ago.
Wrote to the US Nexus office and asked for an ETA on my card. Got an email saying probably in another 18 months. WTF? 3 years to get a card? At that rate it will expire two years after I get it.

 

[xix]

Funny during Covid 19 they were emailing me to renew and it would be quick.
If used to be fast before Covid19 but now I don't want to bother with it. Also they stopped sending me (email) reminders, something is up.

BTW I got the card here at Buffalo , then Pearson for renewal.

 

[bazokajoe]

Nexus cards are a waste of time and money.

 

[Robert Mugabe]

Nexus cards are a waste of time and money.

Definitely found that out.

 

[xix]

Well it saves time from waiting in line at Pearson. You can by pass the lone as long as you are not carrying anything expensive but your own clothing. Or else...

 

[bazokajoe]

Well it saves time from waiting in line at Pearson. You can by pass the lone as long as you are not carrying anything expensive but your own clothing. Or else...

Honestly the lines at Pearson aren't as bad as people make them out to be. I've waited longer at the airline check-in desk than I do at security screening or customs(US & Canada customs).
If you aren't going to the US what good are they? They aren't valid in other countries except for the Canadian and US borders. Just stick with a passport and be patient.

 

[stinkynuts]

for someone who travels a lot, Nexus cards can be a godsend. Can't count how many hours I saved from waiting in really long lines.

 

[shrek71]

for someone who travels a lot, Nexus cards can be a godsend. Can't count how many hours I saved from waiting in really long lines.

I used to travel frequently to the USA and found the MPC mobile passport control app to be almost as good as a Nexus card at Pearson airport. You get a separate line for US customs. I find if you are properly prepared for the security screening, the line can move at a decent pace.

Cheers

 

[xyphy]

Using the dedicated Nexus bridge in Niagara is worth getting the card if you ever drive across the border. literally about a 3 minute experience, can save hours in line at the bridges.
Also the TSA pre approval you get has saved me loads of time in the US. is it worth getting? if you travel through the US more than a few times a year for business, Absolutely. for personal use and you're not in a rush if you're just going places for pleasure, then maybe not so much.

 

[bazokajoe]

I used to travel frequently to the USA and found the MPC mobile passport control app to be almost as good as a Nexus card at Pearson airport. You get a separate line for US customs. I find if you are properly prepared for the security screening, the line can move at a decent pace.

Cheers

I've used the MPC mobile passport and it's good. Still have to chat with a US customs officer but line is shorter.

 

[JackBurton]

Nexus cards are a waste of time and money.

Not me. Love mine.

ps: it works in any US territory around the world.

 

[y2kmark]

Applied 18 months ago. Got called in for an interview with the Canadian side of things after a year, at the airport, and was told the only way to get the pass was to buy a plane ticket to the US and do their interview process after getting my boarding pass and going through security whereupon they photograph you and finger print you and conclude the inquisition. So I bought a plane ticket for a short flight to a close by US city, for an overnight stay to get the process completed. I got a handout letter from the guy who did the interview, telling me I would get a card within a month. That was more than a month ago.
Wrote to the US Nexus office and asked for an ETA on my card. Got an email saying probably in another 18 months. WTF? 3 years to get a card? At that rate it will expire two years after I get it.

Still a scam, but it used to be worse. Used to be you paid your money up front and they could arbitrarily reject you without supplying anything in the way of a reason, no appeal and keeping the money, of course...

 

[SaturnFan]

It's not the solution for everyone but I had an Enhanced Driver's License which was with me all the time, so you didn't have to worry about proper ID to cross the border, especially if one made a spontaneous decision for a stateside shopping trip or an evening dinner. It's too bad DoFo made the bad decision to cancel them.

 

[LiveInTorontoPartyInMontreal]

I used to go to the States a lot and last year I downloaded the MPC ( Mobile Passport Control) app and I went to the extreme right lane and bypassed the hour long + wait, not as fast as the Nexus line, but saved me an hour plus.

 

[dchoye]

Yea at first I thought it would useless. But saved a lot of time especially driving cross border on those weekends where the non nexus car line is more than one hour long and it’s no wait in the nexus line

 

[Robert Mugabe]

Yea at first I thought it would useless. But saved a lot of time especially driving cross border on those weekends where the non nexus car line is more than one hour long and it’s no wait in the nexus line

That was kind of my thought when I applied. The 3 year wait for one was unexpected.

 

[y2kmark]

It's not the solution for everyone but I had an Enhanced Driver's License which was with me all the time, so you didn't have to worry about proper ID to cross the border, especially if one made a spontaneous decision for a stateside shopping trip or an evening dinner. It's too bad DoFo made the bad decision to cancel them.

It still keeps you off the Whirlpool bridge since you aren't a member of the privileged NEXUS class. Also increases peak congestion at the other bridges. Government overreach at it's most insidious...

 

[Ilovewomen80]

Not me. Love mine.

ps: it works in any US territory around the world.

I drive to the states often. Don’t have to wait. Amazing. Well worth it

 

[Robert Mugabe]

I drive to the states often. Don’t have to wait. Amazing. Well worth it

I'll have to take you word for it.

 

[richaceg]

for someone who travels a lot, Nexus cards can be a godsend. Can't count how many hours I saved from waiting in really long lines.

This...a godsend to frequent flyers but for those who only visit relatives once twice a year....don't even bother....now my question is....don't they h ave nexus kiosk (US side) by the borders in niagara falls?