Canadian cruisers!!

[hancogran]

We applied on-line. Once we were approved we had our interviews scheduled within a week for Fort Erie. Toronto Perason would have been a 6 weeks for 3 appointments in a row. We also got the iris scan done at the same time. Not every location does this. A great investment.:)

 

This video link says it all for a car crossing.

 

Calgary airport pre-security.

 

Thanks so much for the videos! :)

[A&L_Ont]

Fort Erie also has free parking and you're unlikely to encounter anything remotely like the crazy Toronto-area traffic. :)

 

At Fort Erie we had a Friday 2 pm apt and all 3 of us were done and in the car in an hour. We had our approval email within 10 minutes of being in the car.

 

We booked a room at Niagra Falls for the night and were tourists. We hadn't been for 10 years and DS had never been there before. He said it was the best day of his life, better than Disney and cruising. :eek: Had we know that years earlier we could saved some money.:) It was amazing how much Clifton Hill has changed since I was a kid.

[tomko2]

Canadian Cruisers - if anyone is going on Independence or your ship will disembark at pier 25, do yourselves a favour and do self disembarking and leave early. We missed our 12pm Air Canada flight to Toronto yesterday - we stood in lines for 3 hours to get off ship and through Customs. I knew by reading these boards that it was not a good process for this pier so we went to Guest Services on last sea day to ask for first baggage tags called and got #9 which was 8:30 and we didn't get called until 9:30 - got luggage at 10:10 and stood in Non-US customs line until 11:25. There were only 2 Customs Officers for Non US and were painfully slow. There were about 10 other Canadians that arrived at airport after us in same situation - AC rebooked us on 7;15pm flights - we are exhausted today after getting home at midnight versus 3pm :( Bad ending to a great cruise.

 

So sorry you missed your flight. We were on the Indy Jan 30 - Feb 4th - left from Pier 25 however docked at Pier 19 on return. Our embarkation was very slow (there were will 500 people to be processed at 11:30 am through Customs/Immigration) and we did not begin boarding until around 2pm. If the vast majority of the passengers are US or Canadian, the process is pretty smooth and fast however the cruise before us (Zumba Charter) had mostly international passengers and that ground the process to a crawl.

[canuckcruiselover]

Crossing at the Whirlpool bridge at Niagara is the best. It's only for Nexus cardholders and the agents usually just ask one question going both ways - "Anything to declare? . . . goodbye." Easy peasy.

[goodml]

Just had to renew our Nexus as we've had them 5 years now. The renewal process is very easy if you have no violations. We live near the Windsor/Detroit border. There are so many benefits, I would hate to be without it. Love the fast lanes, the TSA Pre on my boarding passes etc. One thing I will say to those who haven't had them long and cross at land crossings; you will likely at some point be randomly selected for secondary inspection on the US side. It happened to us three times the first two years but we do cross quite frequently so that's not too bad. They send you inside and then search the vehicle. Inside they review your ID and basically have you sit for half hour or so for whatever reason. It was a bit unnerving the first time even though we had nothing to hide. After that we knew the routine and it was fine. Because you're a part of the "trusted traveler" program they said they just randomly make sure you're not violating the terms. Hasn't happened for quite some time so we're probably due again lol.

[Host Jacquelyn]

I would suggest you get the Nexus card.

$50 for 5 years.

I recently used it at Port Everglades and they are now set up for Global Entry/ Nexus.

I asked where the Global Entry line was and was escorted to the head of the line in front of US passengers and they looked at my passport and waved through.

Felt like a diplomat and everybody stared (What's so special about her LOL).

 

Port of Miami is not set up yet.

 

With Nexus we can use the Global Entry line? I thought it needed to say Nexus

[moopetguy]

With Nexus we can use the Global Entry line? I thought it needed to say Nexus

 

NEXUS members receive the Global Entry benefit if you opt-in by providing your fingerprints when attending your interview with a CBP officer at a NEXUS enrolment centre.

 

Frankly it's really awesome because NEXUS only costs $50 CAD (mail-in application) or USD (online application) for 5 years. As a U.S. citizen, applying for Global Entry costs $100 for 5 years.

[Virtopia]

Ok, so I'm not a frequent traveler, but I'll be crossing the border at least twice per year for that time period. $50 still seems worth it to me but the interview part has me a bit confused. I'm in Toronto, so could I schedule my interview at either Pearson or Billy Bishop? Does it have to be a border crossing, like the Rainbow Bridge?

[moopetguy]

Ok, so I'm not a frequent traveler, but I'll be crossing the border at least twice per year for that time period. $50 still seems worth it to me but the interview part has me a bit confused. I'm in Toronto, so could I schedule my interview at either Pearson or Billy Bishop? Does it have to be a border crossing, like the Rainbow Bridge?

 

You can schedule your interview through the GOES web site at any NEXUS enrolment centre, once you have your conditional approval. Since you probably want to get the iris capture done as well, select a location that has this facility (Pearson does). Billy Bishop doesn't have a NEXUS enrolment centre.

 

Here is a list of enrolment centres:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/location-eng.html

 

NEXUS has three modes: Air, Land, Marine. Only certain ports of entry have NEXUS capability. More information on CBSA's web site:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html

 

Under each mode, there is a list of where NEXUS is offered. But, they don't include Global Entry locations, which you will also be entitled to use once you opt-in and provide your fingerprints to the CBP officer during your interview. Global Entry is available at kiosks inside Terminal 1 at Pearson because it has U.S. CBP pre-clearance (lots of travellers going to the U.S. through Pearson). This is why you don't have to go through U.S. immigration when getting off an international flight that departed from Pearson. The GE kiosks at Pearson have never been busy in my experience.

Edited February 20, 2016 by moopetguy
Added comment about Global Entry from Pearson

[ckrobyn]

We have Nexus and it's great. The airport experience is a breeze. Less stress and no lines!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mvannie]

One item to note is that everyone in your party must have a Nexus card or you will be separated. This includes children I believe.

 

I am in the process right now of getting mine and the soonest appmt at the Toronto Center is in late May for an interview.

[A&L_Ont]

One item to note is that everyone in your party must have a Nexus card or you will be separated. This includes children I believe.

 

I am in the process right now of getting mine and the soonest appmt at the Toronto Center is in late May for an interview.

 

Check Fort Erie. We got in for our interview in less than a week VS 3 months at Pearson.

 

Another point is if crossing by car everyone in your car must have it, otherwise you go to the normal lines.

Edited February 20, 2016 by A&L_Ont

[Host Jacquelyn]

How do I know whether I have global entry? My card just says Nexus. I renewed my kids' membership a few years ago and I don't recall an option for Global entry but I seem to recall providing fingerprints for them. I last renewed close to 5 years ago and can't recall at all what was required for me. That said, I do use the machines at Pearson going into the US so of they are Global Entry (I never paid attention, I thought they were nexus)

 

I will log in to Goes and see if the info is therr

 

 

Sent from my SM-T330NU using Forums mobile app

Edited February 20, 2016 by Host Jacquelyn

[Ourusualbeach]

How do I know whether I have global entry? My card just says Nexus. I renewed my kids' membership a few years ago and I don't recall an option for Global entry but I seem to recall providing fingerprints for them. I last renewed close to 5 years ago and can't recall at all what was required for me. That said, I do use the machines at Pearson going into the US so of they are Global Entry (I never paid attention, I thought they were nexus)

 

I will log in to Goes and see if the info is therr

 

 

Sent from my SM-T330NU using Forums mobile app

 

All Nexus cards are eligible to use global entry. When we had ours done fingerprints were mandatory and the iris scan was optional.

 

The iris scan is only used in Canadian Airports.

 

From the Nexus website,

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html#a1

 

What are the benefits?

Avoid long line-ups and save time by using automated self-serve NEXUS kiosks when entering Canada at nine major international airports and U.S. Global Entry kiosks for entry into the U.S. As well, enjoy faster security screening at select airports in Canada and the U.S. Visit NEXUS Air for more information.

Enjoy a simplified entry process using dedicated vehicle lanes at 20 designated land border crossings. Visit NEXUS Land for more information.

When arriving to Canada by boat, report by phone to a Telephone Reporting Centre at more than 450 marine sites across Canada. Visit NEXUS Marine for more information.

Edited February 20, 2016 by Ourusualbeach

[hancogran]

Crossing at the Whirlpool bridge at Niagara is the best. It's only for Nexus cardholders and the agents usually just ask one question going both ways - "Anything to declare? . . . goodbye." Easy peasy.

 

Oh I had totally forgot about the Whirlpool Bridge... another bonus to getting a Nexus card. :D Thanks for the reminder.

[canuckcruiselover]

Oh I had totally forgot about the Whirlpool Bridge... another bonus to getting a Nexus card. :D Thanks for the reminder.

 

. . . and there's never more than 2 or 3 cars ahead of you. Often, it's completely clear. Note that it's open from 7 am - 11 pm every day. Coming back into Canada, you need to load your Nexus card with some money to get across the bridge. It costs a little bit less than the regular bridges. There's a small office with a machine right at the entrance to the bridge where you can add Canadian cash to your card.

[hancogran]

. . . and there's never more than 2 or 3 cars ahead of you. Often, it's completely clear. Note that it's open from 7 am - 11 pm every day. Coming back into Canada, you need to load your Nexus card with some money to get across the bridge. It costs a little bit less than the regular bridges. There's a small office with a machine right at the entrance to the bridge where you can add Canadian cash to your card.

 

Thanks! That's good to know.. now I will just have to remember that if we ever cross at the Whirlpool after getting our Nexus cards. ;)

[bluemeansgo]

One item to note is that everyone in your party must have a Nexus card or you will be separated. This includes children I believe.

 

I am in the process right now of getting mine and the soonest appmt at the Toronto Center is in late May for an interview.

 

Children under 16 are FREE to add to Nexus. Yes, they need Nexus... but it doesn't cost you anything.

 

Also, claim EVERYTHING with Nexus. Caught once and your Nexus is taken away.

[Ourusualbeach]

Children under 16 are FREE to add to Nexus. Yes, they need Nexus... but it doesn't cost you anything.

 

Also, claim EVERYTHING with Nexus. Caught once and your Nexus is taken away.

 

Actually there are no fees for children under the age of 18.

[A&L_Ont]

Also, claim EVERYTHING with Nexus. Caught once and your Nexus is taken away.

 

I can't imagine if caught cheating how you would be treated after losing your trusted traveller label. It would be back to the old ways and line ups.

 

There is no way we would ever risk it, not to mention the duty we paid has been minimal in comparison to the declared item. I would guess there is the exception to the norm, who would risk it, but I don't know why they would.

[hancogran]

Well I completed our applications on the weekend and sent them off. :) From what I've read, it will likely take a few months before we hear anything back to schedule our interview. I'm just glad I read so many positive things about it here on our Canadian thread.

 

I had thought about it previously but figured it really wasn't worth the hassle and bother. After reading that somebody coming off Indy a few weeks ago, missed their noon flight back to Toronto due to the customs lineup at FLL, I figured it was a good investment. Can't wait to become a Nexus holder! :D

 

Thanks to all of you for your input and help. This thread is great!

[skatie]

tHe Customs line issue was actually at the Pier and not FLL. The airport customs was done in Toronto, so no delays getting to gate once we got to FLL. Just remember to ask for Nexus line in pier building as there was no clear signage that I could see that would direct you there.

[hancogran]

tHe Customs line issue was actually at the Pier and not FLL. The airport customs was done in Toronto, so no delays getting to gate once we got to FLL. Just remember to ask for Nexus line in pier building as there was no clear signage that I could see that would direct you there.

 

Yes, that's what I meant... the port in FLL. Was it you who missed your flight? Thanks for the tip about asking where the Nexus line is.

Edited February 22, 2016 by hancogran

[skatie]

Yes i missed the flight. Was a very long day and frustrating end to a great cruise. One person in our group had Nexus but since we all didn't we couldn't go to that line. Will apply for Nexus now!

[hancogran]

Yes i missed the flight. Was a very long day and frustrating end to a great cruise. One person in our group had Nexus but since we all didn't we couldn't go to that line. Will apply for Nexus now!

 

So sorry that happened to you. :( After reading your thread, it made me realize how a Nexus card could be so beneficial and might have prevented you missing your flight. Glad you had a good cruise but it's a shame it ended the way it did.

Edited February 22, 2016 by hancogran