Nexus Card Question

Does it (nexus) help you get through the crap with "Joe the Border Guard"? I just had a real bad time in May 09 in Port Huron with them due to a young offender (Y.O.) record for some theft and mischief (no drugs, not ever) I admitted to in 1993 when I lived in Niagara Falls ON, and now they need to see what the offences are from the Govt Agency(s). Funny thing is I have been in and out of the states like 8 times since then. They kept me there for 2 hrs and ran my name, prints and photo through NCIC and CPIC and found nothing (just like I told them), and then the old good cop bad cop on me for a while to try to make me say something else which there is nothing else and told me they want to see the paperwork and sent me back to Canada. I think I might have ranted about this before, but upon trying to find my Y.O. record from 18 yrs ago, I found out it doesn’t exist anymore. I called up nexus they said they could help me and told me what CBP was really looking for is drug offense convictions, either Y.O. or adult and I don’t have any. So much for honesty being the best policy with CBP, because my mouth got me banned until I can prove my Y.O.

A NEXUS card is merely a replacement for a passport for crossing between the US and Canada. It confers no other benefits at all, e.g. in relation to visas, background checks or anything else.

A NEXUS card is merely a replacement for a passport for crossing between the US and Canada. It confers no other benefits at all, e.g. in relation to visas, background checks or anything else.

This is most certainly not what I have been led to believe. I was on the understanding this is a pre-screening process and background check. As the website states that "nexus is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low risk, pre approved travelers into Canada and the United States".

So why pay if it doesn’t do that, or why even have an interview with these guys at all? Why the grief with all the paperwork and questions on the form about where I lived and worked for the past five years. Please explain as I am in the middle of the process right now.

I have a Nexxus card. The customs agent referred to it as "a trusted traveller card". I'm not sure if it was coincidence, but I presented my card along with my passport the last 4 times that I drove over the border and they were the 4 most hassle-free crossings I've ever had when my reason for crossing was to visit my boyfriend.
Also, they told me it would make my customs clearing at airports a lot easier as I don't have line up to go through customs but I can use the self-serve retina scanner kiosk (I'm about to try this next month, so we'll see how THAT

Got my pre-approval and have to schedule an interview. I assume they know about my Y.O. record from here on in and hope that it will all be behind me soon. The ability to travel to the US without being detained or denied is essential to my family and future. Hope this works out and I will report back soon so others can know how this really works.

-- Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:15 am --

Received my Nexus card after I dug up some real old papers I found with my high school report cards. Just lucky sometimes I guess, I was having a really hard time with the Province of Ontario about finding anything about my old Y.O. record. I didn’t even know my Mother had kept all that stuff. Gold ol Mom, I will remember that one come Mothers day this year. The interview went well, I was in my Canada Post uniform as I had to go to work after the interview. Of course I made sure my uniform looked really nice and crisp that day. I actually think that helped. The US guys just wanted to photo copy those old papers and it was over. Scan the eyes, bio fingerprints, learn the little computer for scanning your card and you’re done. No hairy eyeball from the Customs guy while waiting to cross the border for me. However, my wife who is Canadian by birth but is 1st generation CBC (Chinese born Canadian) and did not take my white guy name at marriage, was declined entry into this Nexus program due to the most vague reason I have ever seen and I quote " other: You do not meet the program eligibility requirements." and then was referred to the ombudsman for the program in Vermont. Now, my wife has never been arrested, has no criminal record or past and has worked for some of the strictest RCMP security checked positions in Canada Corrections at multiple prisons across Canada and also now works at Canada Post with me. So this kinda looks like the old race thing we see at the land borders when you go into the office and you are the only white guy standing in there wanting to enter the US. Ya I said it the guys and gals at the US borders pull over people of colour more than white people. What can you do? It’s probably why we got pulled over in the first place that day in Port Huron Mi, my wife was driving and I was the passenger. We are still appealing this decision. Nothing ever comes easy eh?

Hi I applied for my NEXUS via goes system and got my Conditional Approval. I am a US citizen and driving 6 hours each way to do this in Detroit as my company is making me.

I assume Conditional Approval means I passed the back ground checks in US and Canada. One thing that puzzles me is on the confirmation letter for me interview it say the below

"Document Required for Interview:
A copy of your Conditional Approval Notification
For Citizenship of UNITED STATES:
Passport
For Admissibility:
Passport


Special Instructions: If you have ever been arrested bring original court documents reflecting disposition of those charges.
"
Is the special instructions standard or is this just me? I got a disorderly charge that was expunged over a decade ago. I have no clue how to get those docs and have passed numerous back ground check since then. I just dont want to drive 12 hours round trip to get hassled as I had a wierd experience crossing from Niagra last month.

Thx

-- Wed Jul 21, 2010 1:51 pm --

Hi I applied for my NEXUS via goes system and got my Conditional Approval. I am a US citizen and driving 6 hours each way to do this in Detroit as my company is making me.

I assume Conditional Approval means I passed the back ground checks in US and Canada. One thing that puzzles me is on the confirmation letter for me interview it say the below

"Document Required for Interview:
A copy of your Conditional Approval Notification
For Citizenship of UNITED STATES:
Passport
For Admissibility:
Passport


Special Instructions: If you have ever been arrested bring original court documents reflecting disposition of those charges.
"
Is the special instructions standard or is this just me? I got a disorderly charge that was expunged over a decade ago. I have no clue how to get those docs and have passed numerous back ground check since then. I just dont want to drive 12 hours round trip to get hassled as I had a wierd experience crossing from Niagra last month.

Thx

Darkstar

How long did it take you to get you conditional approval?
I applied over two weeks ago. And its still in "pending review" process

my wifes appeal went well when they found her husband (me) was already a member. she was given her nexus membership and we have been down south since.