I thought American citizens needed a passport to enter Canada

[keesio]

The NEXUS webpages seem to say that NEXUS is a replacement for the passport:

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

"The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is a U.S. law that requires all travellers, including U.S. and Canadian citizens, to present a valid passport or other acceptable secure document, such as a NEXUS card, when travelling to or through the U.S. from within the western hemisphere"

"NEXUS cards are now accepted as proof of identification and to denote citizenship when entering Canada by land, air (when entering Canada from the U.S.), or marine ports of entry. This means that Canadian or U.S. citizens who are NEXUS members may use their membership card when entering Canada by land, air or boat when using non-NEXUS lanes.

NEXUS members who are permanent residents of Canada or the U.S. are still required to travel with a passport and proof of permanent residence, and may be requested to present these documents to the officer upon arrival at the border."

But you are right - it is up to the officer's discretion to let you in or not. And if he/she wants a passport, then you need it. So it is better to be safe and have your passport on you.

 

[GustavesF]

Exactly, your documents are only as good as whoever has to approve them.

Nexus isn't worth a bag of sand in Pearson Airport in Toronto. They have a Nexus office at the airport, but good luck finding anyone who will let you on a flight without a passport.

At least that was my experience 2 months ago.

 

[keesio]

I fly out of YYZ all the time using Air Canada. When I check-in online, they ask for a passport or nexus number. When i provide the latter, I can just provide my nexus card to board my flight. The only time I need to provide a passport is to use the Global Entry kiosk where I need my US passport. When coming back to Canada, I don't need a passport at all.

 

[GustavesF]

I almost never fly YYZ, so that one experience painted all my expectations.

 

[Evadyrrehs]

My understanding is that an American does not need a passport to enter Canada but they do need a passport to re-enter back to the US when they want to return..

 

[Mariac819]

Exactly, your documents are only as good as whoever has to approve them.

Nexus isn't worth a bag of sand in Pearson Airport in Toronto. They have a Nexus office at the airport, but good luck finding anyone who will let you on a flight without a passport.

At least that was my experience 2 months ago.

So sorry you had that experience. I fly out of Toronto all the time and I use my Nexus card. I don't pull out my passport at all unless asked to do so.

1. I enter my nexus card when booking my flight
2. I use the nexus kiosks
3. I show nexus card to board the plane.

EASY!

And like mentioned above you can also use the Global Entry kiosks but you need your passport and they use your fingerprint to verify identity.

 

[keesio]

So sorry you had that experience. I fly out of Toronto all the time and I use my Nexus card. I don't pull out my passport at all unless asked to do so.

1. I enter my nexus card when booking my flight
2. I use the nexus kiosks
3. I show nexus card to board the plane.

EASY!

And like mentioned above you can also use the Global Entry kiosks but you need your passport and they use your fingerprint to verify identity.

Which terminal is this? I know when I fly out of Pearson from terminal 1, I have no choice but to use the Global Entry kiosks since they got rid of all the Nexus kiosks.

 

[Mariac819]

Which terminal is this? I know when I fly out of Pearson from terminal 1, I have no choice but to use the Global Entry kiosks since they got rid of all the Nexus kiosks.

I honestly don't pay attention to terminals when I travel through Toronto, for me its just a transfer point from Ottawa. I just follow the sings to USA transfers. lol...

Last time I flew into the USA (9/10/14) from Toronto. I did have to use a global kiosk though, they told me nexus was "down" but the machines were there just turned off. Could be they were removing them. Not sure.

 

[keesio]

I honestly don't pay attention to terminals when I travel through Toronto, for me its just a transfer point from Ottawa. I just follow the sings to USA transfers. lol...

Last time I flew into the USA (9/10/14) from Toronto. I did have to use a global kiosk though, they told me nexus was "down" but the machines were there just turned off. Could be they were removing them. Not sure.

They are slowing being replaced by Global Entry. Early last year when I decided to use one of the Nexus one, a US border officer called me over and asked me when i became a Nexus member. I told him in 2011 and he said, "then you are also enrolled in Global Entry. I'd start to get used to using Global Entry because we are phasing out the Nexus kiosks".

 

[Mariac819]

They are slowing being replaced by Global Entry. Early last year when I decided to use one of the Nexus one, a US border officer called me over and asked me when i became a Nexus member. I told him in 2011 and he said, "then you are also enrolled in Global Entry. I'd start to get used to using Global Entry because we are phasing out the Nexus kiosks".

Yeah I got an email early this year from Nexus where they told us Nexus members can now use Global Entry Kiosks. But the Nexus Kiosks still seem to be up and running when Entering Canada in Ottawa at least. And it is good when driving ... The nexus lane is quick.

 

[keesio]

Yeah I got an email early this year from Nexus where they told us Nexus members can now use Global Entry Kiosks. But the Nexus Kiosks still seem to be up and running when Entering Canada in Ottawa at least. And it is good when driving ... The nexus lane is quick.

Yeah I prefer the Nexus kiosk since you don't need to pull out your passport at all. Just an iris scan and a few questions on the kiosk.

 

[Mariac819]

Yeah I prefer the Nexus kiosk since you don't need to pull out your passport at all. Just an iris scan and a few questions on the kiosk.

I agree - even though I was really bad at those iris scans lol...