The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will reopen enrollment centers at eight Canadian airports to expand enrollment and manage backlogs for the NEXUS pre-screen expedited processing travel program.
NEXUS allows subscribed members to use dedicated processing lanes and kiosks at entry to certain airports and marine reporting locations. All members are subject to background checks and interviews with border officers to make final eligibility determinations.
“CBP and CBSA rely on our close collaboration and strong relationship to support the NEXUS program and its mission to help facilitate travel of trusted and low-risk travelers,” Matthew Davies, executive director of CBP admissibility and passenger programs, said. “We are proud of the NEXUS program and the historic cooperation we have achieved in facilitating the travel of trusted and low-risk travelers, and remain committed to keeping NEXUS a viable option for the traveling public.”
Soon, travelers will be able to book interviews at Halifax Stanfield International Airport and Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport as of March 27, Vancouver International Airport on April 3, Calgary and Edmonton International Airports on April 12, Montreal-Trudeau International Airport on April 17 and, finally, Toronto Pearson and Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airports beginning April 24.
The agencies hope this will help them weed through the thousands of applicants awaiting interviews. Those conditionally approved for the program must either complete a joint interview at a U.S.-based enrollment center, split interviews between a Canadian land enrollment center and a U.S. enrollment center at the Canadian border, or, if traveling by air, can complete the Canadian portion at appropriate airport enrollment centers, with a U.S. interview following at Canadian airport preclearance locations.
“NEXUS is a win-win for Canada and the United States,” said Marco Mendicino, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety. “That’s why we’re finding new, flexible solutions to cut wait times and enlarge the program. The reopening of NEXUS airport enrolment centres in Canada is making a major difference – reducing the backlog, expanding capacity, and helping more people get NEXUS cards. We’ll keep supporting NEXUS so it can keep generating billions in economic activity on both sides of the border.”
Despite the new facilities added, a restriction on applications remains firm: participants must complete their two NEXUS interviews in the same mode, whether land or air. They cannot combine/mix the two.