Is a Nexus Card appropriate for me?

[Matt the Aussie]

I am a Canadian PR holder (Australian citizen) and my wife is a Canadian citizen. Even though I hold a visa exempt passport for the US, I'm always caught waiting in line at the road border, sometimes for several hours, to pay my $6 and have my fingerprints and photo taken. We also travel from the US when going to Australia to visit family, and I often wait much longer than my wife does at immigration. I was looking forward to becoming a citizen to remove a lot of this waiting, but now that 4 out of 6 years with no pre-PR time is in effect, I'm looking at a much longer wait than hoped. $50 seems like a fair price to pay for skipping all those lines and all those hassles.

For anyone who can help or who has been through this before, could you help me answer the following:

1. The website mentions PRs must have lived in Canada or the US for 3 years prior to the application. Is this 3 years as a PR or 3 years with any legal status? I've lived in Canada since 2008 but just became PR in April.

2. I assume if I'm travelling with my wife it would be best for her to also get the card so we don't have to separate?

3. How long does the card last?

4. Do you have to go to the border for interviews and to collect the card?

5. What sort of processing time am I looking at, all in?

 

[scylla]

1. I can't answer this question.
2. Yes - you should both get it. It will make her life much better too.
3. 5 years - then you renew.
4. Yes - you must appear for an interview in person. There are many different interview locations available. You can pick the location you want. My interview was held at Pearson Airport. After the interview they mail the card to you.
5. I think it's at least 3 months right now. Most of the waiting time is interview waiting time. I got my card three weeks after applying a number of years back - but the card was much less popular back then.

 

[Matt the Aussie]

Thanks Scylla,

Any other replies to my first question would be much appreciated...

1. The website mentions PRs must have lived in Canada or the US for 3 years prior to the application. Is this 3 years as a PR or 3 years with any legal status? I've lived in Canada since 2008 but just became PR in April.

 

[Leon]

It doesn't say you must have been a PR for 3 years so I'd apply for it and see what happens.

 

[Matt the Aussie]

Another question, if my wife and I both applied, would we be able to go to the same appointment?

 

[Alurra71]

I am a Canadian PR holder (Australian citizen) and my wife is a Canadian citizen. Even though I hold a visa exempt passport for the US, I'm always caught waiting in line at the road border, sometimes for several hours, to pay my $6 and have my fingerprints and photo taken. We also travel from the US when going to Australia to visit family, and I often wait much longer than my wife does at immigration. I was looking forward to becoming a citizen to remove a lot of this waiting, but now that 4 out of 6 years with no pre-PR time is in effect, I'm looking at a much longer wait than hoped. $50 seems like a fair price to pay for skipping all those lines and all those hassles.

For anyone who can help or who has been through this before, could you help me answer the following:

1. The website mentions PRs must have lived in Canada or the US for 3 years prior to the application. Is this 3 years as a PR or 3 years with any legal status? I've lived in Canada since 2008 but just became PR in April.

2. I assume if I'm travelling with my wife it would be best for her to also get the card so we don't have to separate?

3. How long does the card last?

4. Do you have to go to the border for interviews and to collect the card?

5. What sort of processing time am I looking at, all in?

I was just curious is you could elaborate a bit more on the statement I have highlighted. If you are visa exempt to the US, then what photos/fingerprints are you talking about? If you are always being sent into 'secondary' inspection, then there is a reason for it and the Nexus card may or may not work to alleviate that. Remember, the Nexus card is a way to pass through faster, but it doesn't mean pass through without issues.

When I went for my nexus appointment, I was able to choose my day/time frame from a 'list' they sent me. If it's similar where you are at then you should be able to book your appointments together.

 

[polara69]

Same here, exempt passport, but always have to fill in the green form and fingerprints and pics.. That is just the way it is. I asked for Nexus and the US border officer said, it won't make a difference. Only when I'm Canadian, it will change.

 

[Matt the Aussie]

I was just curious is you could elaborate a bit more on the statement I have highlighted. If you are visa exempt to the US, then what photos/fingerprints are you talking about? If you are always being sent into 'secondary' inspection, then there is a reason for it and the Nexus card may or may not work to alleviate that. Remember, the Nexus card is a way to pass through faster, but it doesn't mean pass through without issues.

When I went for my nexus appointment, I was able to choose my day/time frame from a 'list' they sent me. If it's similar where you are at then you should be able to book your appointments together.

The US-VISIT program requires all 10 fingerprints and a digital photo be taken of all non-US citizens, even those that are part of the Visa Waiver Program and even those who are PRs of Canada.

Special exception is given to most Canadian and Mexican citizens.

I also have to pay $6 for the I-94 (or whatever that's been replaced by).

 

[Matt the Aussie]

Same here, exempt passport, but always have to fill in the green form and fingerprints and pics.. That is just the way it is. I asked for Nexus and the US border officer said, it won't make a difference. Only when I'm Canadian, it will change.

You know what I'm taking about.

The only time I wasn't taken into secondary was when we went back within 90 days of our last visit. The guy waved us through and explained that my previous I-94 was still valid.

 

[GK]

Just apply. As long as you don't need a entry visa for the US, have no criminal record and no passport stamps from the Middle East/Northern Africa , you will be fine. I was PR and had only lived in Canada for 8 months and got my Nexus.