NEXUS is an expedited border crossing program that is jointly run by the US and Canadian border agencies. I travel to Canada often enough that I appreciate the benefits. Plus, at $50 which is half the cost of Global Entry with more benefits, it can be a good deal. Though the comparatively limited enrollment centers (only in Canada and US locations near the border) makes interviews difficult for some. It is about to get worse…
As stated by the Canadian Border Services Agency:
NEXUS is designed to speed up border crossings for low-risk, pre-approved travelers into Canada and the United States (U.S.). It is jointly run by the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. More benefits of NEXUS.
Unfortunately, due to the current status of the coronavirus pandemic, US based NEXUS Enrollment Centers are closing. CBSA sent a letter to members noting this closure:
Dear NEXUS Member,
Given the Government’s recent updated travel advisory for Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada, as well as the upcoming suspension of the short trip PCR test exemption, the CBSA will temporarily suspend NEXUS/FAST interviews at enrollment centers (EC) in the United States (US) starting Monday, December 20, 2021 until further notice. This will be re-evaluated as the border measures evolve.
Please consult the CBSA website frequently for all updates on the resumption of NEXUS/FAST interviews, log into your account to check the status of your interview, and schedule another one if required in the Trusted Traveller Programs portal.
NEXUS Enrollment Centers have been open less than a month…
After a long closure due to the pandemic, centers in the US only reopened on November 29, 2021, so this announcement means that after 3 weeks, they are closed again. Additionally, NEXUS enrollment centers in Canada have remained closed for nearly 2 years. Those that need interviews, or even update documents will have to continue to wait. This current closure is specified as temporary, but it’s anyone’s guess what that will actually mean.
Thankfully, there is now a 24-month grace period for those who renew before expiration.
What about NEXUS processing times?
In a past post about my initial NEXUS renewal, there have been many comments discussing the long processing times. I experienced that back in 2017, and seems like things are even worse now. I applied back in April of 2021, as renewals open up within a year of expiration. Nearly 9 months later, my status remains stuck pending review.
In my case, since I applied for renewal, and even though my NEXUS card expires in 2022, membership will be valid until 2024, and hopefully I’ll be able to get approved before them. Better yet, without an interview…I hope!
Have you had a long wait for NEXUS renewals? Can you beat my (almost) 9 months and counting?
