U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is offering an expedited NEXUS enrollment process prior to the beginning of the World Juniors Championship being held in Buffalo from December 26, 2017 through January 5, 2018.
DATES: Now through October 13, 2017
Buffalo-Niagara area residents in both the U.S. and Canada may take advantage of an expedited application process to conveniently join NEXUS.
Participation in the NEXUS program allows travelers and hockey fans to proceed with little or no delay into the U.S. and Canada through dedicated lanes, speeding cross-border travel. N
EXUS also affords the benefits of Global Entry which is located at most major airports, TSA Pre-Check, and expedited processing for boaters.
(Learn about the Global Entry program and how it can help you speed through international airports! Also, find out about other benefits that Global Entry members enjoy. Courtesy of CBP and YouTube)
NEXUS members may also cross the border on the Whirlpool Bridge in Niagara Falls, an exclusive benefit for NEXUS cardholders.
NEXUS application fees are $50 for adults, and children under the age of 18 are free. Once approved, the cards are good for five years at which time participants must renew their membership.
Applications for this event must be submitted online by October 13, 2017.
This expedited application process will be offered only to participants that have met the following requirements:
Applied for NEXUS through the on-line application at the Global Online Enrollment Systems on the CBP website and paid the application fee (children under 18 are free)
- Have emailed their name, PASS ID# and phone number to NEXUSBuffaloNiagara@gmail.com by October 13th, requesting an expedited application process
- After receiving conditional approval by both CBP and CBSA, participants will be contacted by CBP to schedule an interview at one of the local enrollment centers in Fort Erie, Canada or the Whirlpool Bridge in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
- Have a proof of citizenship and second form of identification (i.e. driver’s license or ID card) at the time of the interview.
- Lawful permanent residents must also present permanent resident card.
- If you would like to be included in Global Entry a valid passport is required
What is NEXUS?
The NEXUS program allows pre-screened travelers expedited processing when entering the U.S. and Canada.
Program members use dedicated processing lanes at designated northern border ports of entry, NEXUS kiosks when entering Canada by air, and Global Entry kiosks when entering the U.S. via Canadian pre-clearance airports.
NEXUS members also receive expedited processing at marine reporting locations.
(Save time at the border! This video shows the benefits of being a NEXUS member when traveling across the Canada-U.S. border by air, land or boat. Courtesy of Canada Border Services and YouTube)
How Does the NEXUS Program Work?
At Buffalo land border crossings, program participants proceed to dedicated NEXUS only lanes and present their NEXUS photo-identification cards.
All occupants of the vehicle must be enrolled in NEXUS to utilize the dedicated lanes.
In addition to dedicated NEXUS lanes at the Lewiston and Peace Bridges; the Whirlpool Bridge in Niagara Falls is designated as a NEXUS-only crossing, available exclusively to NEXUS cardholders.
Additional Benefits of Global Entry included with NEXUS
Individuals approved to participate in NEXUS receive photo identification cards that allow them to receive expedited passage at:
- NEXUS-dedicated lanes at the land borders (both into the U.S. and Canada),
- NEXUS kiosks at airports when entering Canada, at Global Entry kiosks when entering the U.S. (both in the U.S. and at pre-clearance locations), and
- By calling a marine telephone reporting center in the marine environment to report their arrival into the U.S. or Canada.
- NEXUS members who are U.S. citizens, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, or Canadian citizens will also receive the benefits of TSA Pre-Check.
How to Apply
You have two ways to submit your completed application.
- Global Online Enrollment System (GOES).
- Create a GOES account.
- Log in to your GOES account and complete the application. A $50 (USD) non-refundable fee is required with each completed application.
- After accepting your completed application and fee, CBP will review your application.
- If your application is conditionally approved, then your GOES account will instruct you to schedule an interview at a NEXUS Enrollment Center.
- Mail. Send your completed application, $50 (CAD) non-refundable fee and photocopies of supporting documentation to your designated Canadian Processing Center.
- If your application is conditionally approved, you will receive a letter that will instruct you to schedule an interview at a NEXUS Enrollment Center.
Apply for a NEXUS card today at GOES or visit the Trusted Traveler Programs section of the CBP website at www.CBP.gov.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry.
CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
