NEXUS/Global Entry Discussion Thread for AC Flyers

From own experience, I rather suspect that you have the right of it. Secondaries are never any fun, even if they come to a reasonable resolution in the end. I signed up for NEXUS in part to make the southward journeys less-stressful (even though I expected that there would still be line-ups), and to speed the northward journeys.

I am not sure that GE offers that much functionality to non-immigrant Canadians, in the end. Having to have one's fingerprints retaken is a non-issue, as by this point I would expect that we've all aready got voluminous identifiers on file, on both sides of the border.

On another side-issue altogether, on my most recent land-mode shopping trip down from Vancouver to Seattle, the northbound lineup was actually ten minutes longer for NEXUS than for non-NEXUS. Am still puzzling over that.

The immigration check is the guy at the counter and the "card taker" is only there to direct traffic to secondary customs checks if the first agent suspects something. Nexus has its own "lottery" system of double or random checks and there should be a nexus line for exit the customs hall .

because some jerk went into that line w/o his card and the CBSa guy didn't rush him over to secondary as he should have. That's the typical reason for a delay unless the RFID readers are not working.

Right. Entering by car, the Nexus lane is susceptible to a single-individual-induced delay. At an airport, there will be typically be 2-6 machines, so even the one person having trouble using the iris scanner won't cause a big line-up.

Agreed, but this wasn't where the woman was. This is at the top of the escalators.

Right -- the immigration check.

Nothing so official as a stamp. Several H1s ago, a kindly CBP agent wrote "Multiple Entry - Do Not Remove" on the I94 to dissuade airline staff. Since then, every time I have got a visal renewal, I've asked the CBP agent who processed my first entry to do the same, and they've always obliged. I suppose I could just write it in myself if one ever declined. So I don't really know whether I am allowed to keep it while traveling internationally. I have done so in the past, but that doesn't mean I was supposed to.
It only just occurred to me that I have AC status to thank for my limited experience on the subject- the ability to upgrade (or at least to play aerolotto) means that I almost always fly US-international via Canada.

There is an official Multiple Entry Stamp which I recall being used when I had a TN1, I thought they had done the same for yours.

I used to do the AC international route, INSpass/CANpass and Nexus helped the transition. I also found the USCIS agents much friendlier in Canada (TO or Mtl) than when coming in directly. IIRC, I never surrendered my I-94 when traveling transborder, so I never had to fill out a new one coming via Canada.

Ah yes the person who makes sure you have the card stamped with R..... befoe you get to the exit downstairs and wait in line to hand it in................its all so brillianty efficient

AC 762 delayed 40 minutes this morning as 15 pax were still stuck in the early-morning US immigration line at YYZ. Meh ... at least I got some extra sleep on the plane this morning!

Monday Morning Madness!

Hope the same doesn't apply this Friday, since I will be on that flight, unless of course they cancel it the night before on me like they did one Friday in February.

No lounge access either .

At least NEXUS will get me through US immigration quickly!

Monday mornings are the worst by far for US immigration, I think.

Pretty sure it is. Just glad that March break is over!

Followed by Sunday night, I believe.

Because sometimes you get a 'chatty' CBP Officer who thinks Nexus is just a form of ID and still puts everyone through 20+ questions and visual vehicle inspections. It's frustrating especially at other times I've been asked to confirm the first names of the people in the and waved through.

Just like the Lotto Max - I have yet to 'win' a secondary inspection over the past 4 years!

i got my CBP sticker at ORD yesterday, they said get the sticker or otherwise be refused in the future!

Took a bump in Chicago a couple of weeks ago, so had a few hours to kill. Stopped by the Global Entry enrollment office and after a 5 to 10 minute wait, was brought in to add the fingerprints to my file. DHS officer was super friendly, but he had to check a PDF file of screenshots to process the application. He apologized and said it was because he hadn't done many, and their IT backend process hadn't been changed before the announcement of Nexus members getting Global Entry access. So they have to create a Global Entry application, take your fingerprints, and then link them to your Nexus file, and then cancel the Global Entry application.

He said you may get a denial letter in the mail, but it would just be a result of the cancelled application, so ignore it.

Other big thing is you make your declaration on the kiosk, and don't need to fill out a paper declaration too!

Anyway, looking forward to using Global Entry and saving standing in line for an hour later this year!

Angry "lanes don't merge" woman was at the top of the escalator in YYZ again last night, infuriating flight crews and NEXUS members. She actually blocked any of us from getting past.

I just signed up for GE, but now I realize that I'll have to transit YVR a few months after my first GE use! Am I correct that I will have to sign up for Nexus completely separately? There's no GE->NEXUS free path but there's a NEXUS->GE path?

GE and NEXUS are separate programs and machines.

NEXUS members were offered to participate in GE (provided they are willing to give their 10 finger prints).

I have not heard about GE members being offered NEXUS.

For your info, NEXUS uses an iris scan of the eye

anyone have a child under 14 able to use GE? i get the sense that even though a young child can use nexus by having the crew sticker, GE might be out.

Note her ID number on her uniform, post it here the next time you see her.

Went to use the Nexus kiosk's at YVR for entry into the USA. The machine recognized by iris but then it would not proceed onward. I noticed the other two people using kiosk's were also having a problem, they have up and just went to line up with the crowds. I looked at the CBP officer who does crew members etc, I walked over and told him there was a problem with the kiosk. He took my passport and the blue customs form and said, "it's not the machines, it's you and the others that don't know how to work them." I kept my mouth shut, he grilled me, getting pretty personal and then stamped the blue form and let me go on my way. This is exactly why I have Nexus and GE, I don't want any interaction between myself and them. I willl say the only ones that seem to be at least courtious are the ones you give the blue forms to when exiting.