US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) wars that there are significant delays in processing times for their Trusted Traveller Programs, including NEXUS card renewal applications. At their website they say the following:
The extended partial government shutdown has resulted in a substantial backlog of CBP’s Trusted Traveller Programs (TTP) applications and renewals.
Applicants for Global Entry (GE), SENTRI, NEXUS, and FAST should expect significant delays in applications processing times and limited appointment availability at TTP enrollment centers.
Processing times for NEXUS cards are estimated on average by US Customs and Border Patrol to now take around 6 months, while those for SENTRI will also take 6 months. Global Entry and FAST applications are expected to take up to 12 months.
According to The Washington Post, this is due to a number of factors, including the partial government shutdown early in 2019, as well as a surge in immigration which has meant personnel has had to be shifted to the US-Mexican border and away from enrollment and processing centres.
Because of this, CBP is now informing NEXUS members that their renewal applications’ grace period is being extended from 6 months to 1 year. In other words, if you have submitted an application for a NEXUS card renewal you will continue to receive the benefits of NEXUS for 1 year while CBP processes your application.
NEXUS is an expedited program for pre-approved, low-risk travellers between the U.S. and Canada who cross the border at designated air, land, and marine points of entry. As a NEXUS card holder, you use:
- Automated self-serve kiosks at airports
- Dedicated lanes at land border crossings
- Telephone Reporting Centres (TRC) before arriving at marine ports of entry.
Who is eligible for NEXUS?
To be eligible for the program you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident: Permanent residents of Canada must have been legal residents for a minimum of 3 years on the day they apply for a NEXUS card (they may be exempt from this requirement under certain conditions); OR
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident: Permanent residents of the U.S. must have been legal residents for a minimum of 3 years on the day they apply for a NEXUS card (they may be exempt under certain conditions); OR
- Be a Mexican citizen who is a member of the Viajero Confiable program.
- All applicants must be legally admissible to Canada and the U.S. under immigration law in the applicable country;
- All applicants must pass background security checks conducted by both Canada and the U.S.;
- All applicants must meet other NEXUS requirements.
How are NEXUS applications processed?
- All applications are processed through the US CBP’s Trusted Traveller Programs (TTP)
- Once an applicant passes the initial security check, they will be interviewed at a joint Canada-United States NEXUS enrollment centre where they will be photographed, have digital fingerprints taken, and submit to an iris photo scan (in other words, they will give biometrics).
- Go here to apply online for a NEXUS card.
- A non-refundable US$50 processing fee must be paid by Credit Card.
CBP Contact information:
For general inquiries call: 1-800-842-7647
For TTY call: 1-866-335-3237
