Updated September 4, 2021

I’m sitting at the gate at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) with my boarding pass, passport, and NEXUS card, waiting for my flight to Halifax via Boston. I can’t help but reflect on my experience a couple of hours ago with U.S. immigration, customs, and airport screening procedures. The whole process was quick and painless. Once again, I’m thankful to have a NEXUS card. In fact, I seem to experience these moments of gratitude every time I enter the U.S. or return to Canada. Throw a connecting flight into the mix and those anxious moments about missing the connection seem to dissipate, thanks to NEXUS benefits.

Is a NEXUS card worth it?

A couple of hours ago, with my NEXUS card in hand, I was directed to the lane leading to the Global Entry self-serve kiosks.

global-entry-kiosks

Without fail, I’ve always found a free kiosk and completed the questionnaire within a couple of minutes.

Whether it’s Vancouver, Montreal, Boston, Philadelphia, or Los Angeles, the non-NEXUS alternative has always been a much longer process. It invariably involves a long snaking queue of travellers waiting for available kiosks or to be interviewed by border services officers. In fact, one arrival in Boston from Zurich resulted in queuing to queue. The lines were so long, passengers from our SWISS flight were herded into two lines in a hallway while members of NEXUS and other trusted traveller programs simply skipped the lines and proceeded to the Global Entry kiosks.

Back to my LAX experience, next came TSA (Transportation Security Administration) screening. My boarding pass for the LAX to Boston flight had been issued in Taipei and it didn’t include a TSA Pre✓ designation. As a result, I was directed to the non-NEXUS lane. The thought of joining a long queue with extra screening measures wasn’t particularly attractive. Instead, I headed to a United kiosk to obtain a United-issued boarding pass. With my NEXUS information in the system, the new boarding pass displayed the requisite TSA Pre✓ designation permitting access to the TSA Pre✓ lane. The queue was short. It was also a fast process. The fact that shoes, belts, light jackets, laptops, and 3-1-1 bags don’t have to be removed makes for an expedited trip through screening.

tsa-pre-enter-here

My best guess on my LAX experience? My NEXUS card likely saved an hour that would have otherwise been spent in queues. Last year in Philadelphia, I figure it was closer to two hours. And I won’t even speculate on the queue-to-queue nightmare in Boston!

What’s NEXUS?

NEXUS is a Canada-United States trusted traveller program. It’s for pre-approved low-risk Canadian and U.S. citizens and permanent residents travelling to, from, or within the U.S. or Canada. Mexican nationals who are members of Mexico’s Viajero Confiable program can also apply for NEXUS membership.

The program facilitates expedited entry using automated self-serve kiosks at airports. At land crossings, there are designated NEXUS lanes. For travellers using marine services, there’s a call-ahead system.

It also fast tracks members through dedicated airport security screening lanes. At busier airports, there may be a dedicated lane leaving the baggage claim area.

Benefits in Canada

I live in Canada, and use my NEXUS card on all domestic and international flights.

  • The larger airports have dedicated NEXUS screening lanes. All that’s required to enter is a boarding pass and a NEXUS card. If there isn’t a dedicated screening officer, NEXUS cardholders receive priority access to an agent serving both NEXUS and non-NEXUS lanes.
  • If there’s a queue, it’s short and efficiently managed. NEXUS members tend to be experienced in screening procedures so the process moves quickly. It’s unusual to see families with young children and strollers in NEXUS lanes. 
  • When arriving by air in Canada, NEXUS members don’t need to complete a Declaration Card if the airport has self-serve NEXUS kiosks.
  • My only contact with CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) officers is at customs control to hand in the receipt printed by a NEXUS kiosk. Instead of queuing to be interviewed at immigration control, I spend a few minutes at a self-serve kiosk.

nexus-kiosks-montreal

  • A NEXUS kiosk has always been available, without any queues. I place my passport on the reader, get in position for an iris scan, and answer a few simple questions similar to those on the Declaration Card. The kiosk prints a receipt to be handed to an officer at customs control. It takes less than two minutes. There have been numerous occasions, especially when arriving at less busy airports such as Halifax, that it’s clear I’ve been the first one to reach the arrivals area.
  • I use my NEXUS card where government-issued identification is required. This is handy when boarding a plane for flights within Canada. Why reach for a passport or driver’s licence when a NEXUS card is so handy after passing through security?  

Benefits in the U.S.

Most of my Aeroplan redemptions involve flights through U.S. hubs. It’s on these occasions my NEXUS card has been invaluable.

  • A NEXUS application costs 50 USD and if approved, NEXUS benefits are in effect for five years. NEXUS provides access to both Global Entry and TSA Pre✓. It costs $100 to apply for Global Entry (that includes access to TSA Pre✓) or $85 to apply for TSA Pre✓. NEXUS is a good deal.
  • When entering the U.S. or at U.S. pre-clearance centres in Canada, there are dedicated Global Entry lanes for members of NEXUS and other trusted traveller programs. Unlike in Canada, my experience has been that there’s contact with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. If there isn’t a dedicated officer, NEXUS members receive priority access to one.
  • NEXUS membership grants access to TSA Pre✓ expedited screening. This is a huge time saver at busy airports. HUGE. Unlike in Canada, presenting a NEXUS card doesn’t provide access. A TSA Pre✓ designation needs to appear on a boarding pass. When booking travel, enter your Known Traveller Number or PassID to qualify for TSA Pre✓.

Zero tolerance for mistakes or abuse

As trusted travellers, NEXUS members are held to a high standard. The smallest of infractions can result in having a card confiscated and NEXUS privileges revoked. Trade lawyer Cyndee Todgham Cherniak cites several examples in Canadians Living in Border Cities at Risk for Nexus Pass Confiscations.

Carefully and honestly completing a declaration card or responding to questions at a kiosk is a condition of continued participation in the program. An honest or dishonest mistake may result in losing trusted traveller status. It’s a good idea to be aware of what you’re carrying, and pinpoint exactly what needs to be declared. Jet lag is no excuse for failing to provide correct information.

How to apply for a NEXUS card

My own experience is described in How to apply for a NEXUS card.

For information on eligibility requirements and the application process, consult the official NEXUS site.

Get a ‘free’ NEXUS membership

(i) CIBC

In 2018, CIBC was the first credit card issuer in Canada to offer a NEXUS fee rebate. It’s available *once every four years (up to 100 CAD) by charging the application or renewal fee to a CIBC card with the NEXUS benefit:

  • CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
  • CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege (*2 statement credits every four years)
  • CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card

CIBC-NEXUS-rebate

Effective November 8, 2020, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card has an entitlement to one NEXUS application fee rebate every 4 years (50 USD).

(ii) TD

Effective November 8, 2020, TD introduced a NEXUS benefit to all cardholders on the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, TD Aeroplan Visa Business, and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards. It provides a statement rebate of up to 100 CAD every four years for each cardholder, up to a maximum of four rebates in each four-year period.

(iii) American Express

Effective September 1, 2021, the AMEX Platinum and the AMEX Aeroplan Reserve cards offer a $100 NEXUS credit once every four years. The NEXUS credit on the AMEX Gold Rewards card is $50. 

Is a NEXUS card worth it?

With one application fee and one renewal fee behind me, it’s the best $100 travel expenditure I’ve ever made. After eight years of NEXUS benefits, and two connecting flights I would have surely missed but for my NEXUS card, it’s worth its weight in gold.

 

What’s your experience travelling with a NEXUS card?

 

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NEXUS-card-worth

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