Nexus conditionally approved. Tips for interview?

[Quink]

Hi guys,

Now that I'm (finally) a PR with my PR Card safely in my wallet, I've applied for Nexus and have been conditionally approved. My interview is scheduled in about 10 days from now and I'm wondering if anyone has gone through this and has any tips or things I should prepare for.

I've heard that they ask you what your job is and say that you have to keep them updated if you change jobs, however I've also heard from people that weren't told to do this. I'm leaving my current job about 2 weeks after my Nexus interview so I'm wondering if this will be a problem? I might also potentially end up being self employed as a freelance worker too, but that's not for sure yet. Should I tell them that's what I'm thinking or just leave that out?

I'm a United States B1/B2 Visa holder which expires late 2017 (even though I'm from Australia and I'm technically visa exempt and don't need ESTA). Will they still issue me a 5 year Nexus without my B1/B2 lasting that long?

I'm not too worried about all this, and I think it's going to be fine, but just wanted to see if the brains of this forum had any input on the matter.

Thanks!

 

[scylla]

I say keep it simple and honesty is the best policy. This is how my interview went:

US immigration: Do you visit the US for pleasure more than once a month?
Me: No.
US immigration: Do you visit the US on business frequently?
Me: No.
US immigration: So why do you want a Nexus card?
Me: My husband has one and I am sick of waiting in the regular immigration line while he zips through the Nexus line.
US immigration: I'm approving your application.

 

[kateg]

I've heard that they ask you what your job is and say that you have to keep them updated if you change jobs, however I've also heard from people that weren't told to do this. I'm leaving my current job about 2 weeks after my Nexus interview so I'm wondering if this will be a problem? I might also potentially end up being self employed as a freelance worker too, but that's not for sure yet. Should I tell them that's what I'm thinking or just leave that out?

A hint about border officials - what you say is not nearly as important as how you say it. They are looking for evidence of deception, and they do so by reading you, and examining if what you say makes sense.

The best thing you can do is understand that their job is to protect Canada and the United States, and if you aren't a threat to national security or borders, then their job is not to cause you issues. They are asking the questions in order to help determine who to give more scrutiny, and even if that means you, if you have nothing to hide then there's nothing to fear.

Be honest, and answer their questions. Don't try to play games with them. If they ask what you do for work, answer them, and don't feel the need to hold back. As far as NEXUS is concerned, it doesn't matter if you lose your job or switch it. Just notify them when you do, and everything will be fine.

 

[AshesNdust]

I say keep it simple and honesty is the best policy. This is how my interview went:

US immigration: Do you visit the US for pleasure more than once a month?
Me: No.
US immigration: Do you visit the US on business frequently?
Me: No.
US immigration: So why do you want a Nexus card?
Me: My husband has one and I am sick of waiting in the regular immigration line while he zips through the Nexus line.
US immigration: I'm approving your application.

Lol, yeah, the interview is very anti-climactic. I just got ask one question, why do you want a Nexus? I just said I have family in Seattle and it makes it easy to get across the better. They just said okay and approved me.

 

[kateg]

Lol, yeah, the interview is very anti-climactic. I just got ask one question, why do you want a Nexus? I just said I have family in Seattle and it makes it easy to get across the better. They just said okay and approved me.

Ours took roughly 5 minutes. My wife's was a little more involved than yours, but not by a whole bunch. They spent more time on the documents than the questions.

 

[Quink]

Thanks guys, I'm sure this'll be smooth. My friend who had a tough interview must have just been unlucky with an officer that hadn't had his coffee yet.

I also just realised how lucky I've been to manage to schedule an interview so quickly. I looked again today to see if there were any sooner but the next available one isn't until late March! Getting one in 10 days seems to be quite exceptional!

 

[SZ84]

Hi guys,

After landing in Canada as PR, do one have to wait for some time before applying for a Nexus card or it can be done immediately after landing?

 

[Quink]

Hi guys,

After landing in Canada as PR, do one have to wait for some time before applying for a Nexus card or it can be done immediately after landing?

The Nexus application requires you to fill in the details of your PR Card which you won't know until you receive it. Technically a CoPR is supposed to be enough, but the online form does not have anywhere you can enter it. I read on this forum a while ago that someone was able to do it somehow, but I couldn't figure it out.

The PR Card number is just your UCI, so you should already know that anyway, but you won't know the expiry date which is also a required field on the form. I suppose you could just guess and then update it during the interview (but not sure if they'll frown on you doing that), and you're going to need it in your possession anyway. If you can find a way to do it earlier before you get your card please let us know because others will find that info useful in the future.

 

[kateg]

Hi guys,

After landing in Canada as PR, do one have to wait for some time before applying for a Nexus card or it can be done immediately after landing?

It depends on if you are a US Citizen, or if you have been in Canada for a while.

(b) A condition will be added requiring permanent residents of Canada within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and permanent residents of the United States to have resided only in one or more of the following countries during the three-year period preceding the day on which the application is received and up until the day on which the authorization is issued:
(i) Canada or the United States;
(ii) a foreign country in which the person is serving as a member of the Canadian Forces or the United States Armed Forces;
(iii) a foreign country in which the spouse, common law partner or person of whom they are a dependent is serving at a Canadian or American diplomatic mission or consular post or serving overseas as a member of the Canadian Forces or United States Armed Forces.

If you have been living in Canada for 3 years (and have not lived at all in any other country for that three year period), you are potentially eligible. The same is true if you are a US citizen.

If not, the answer is no.

 

[Quink]

Oh yeah right, I forgot about that bit.

 

[SZ84]

Thanks a lot Quink & Kateg for your replies.

I am not from US. so unfortunately I will have to wait for 3 Years before I can apply for it

 

[Quink]

Well, that was easy. 8)

I've had more trouble getting a drivers licence renewed. No questions about job, and my stated reason for applying was "I'd like to cross the border quicker" which was all they wanted to hear. The Canadian side didn't even ask my anything at all - just said "here's your documents back, do you have any questions?".

One tip for people who haven't entered the US in the past 6 months - your I-94 will likely be expired but you'll still need to have the printout of the most recent I-94. They made me use one of their computers to look it up and bring them the printout. If you have that handy it'll save you a little bit of time.

 

[crister929]

Hello,

I am now holding of PR Canadian card & have been living in Canada for 3 years. After I fill in the form for applying Nexus on-line, there are one problem asking to select a Citizenship documents of Canada. The screen showed "You must provide at least one document as proof of this citizenship. Click add/update documents to add a document." It is because I am still not become a citizen now but only a PR Canadian so what can I do this now. It always need me to re-fix the error.

Thank you.
Wong

It depends on if you are a US Citizen, or if you have been in Canada for a while.

If you have been living in Canada for 3 years (and have not lived at all in any other country for that three year period), you are potentially eligible. The same is true if you are a US citizen.

If not, the answer is no.

 

[crister929]

May I know how do you fill in the column of "Citizenship Information" when you are not become a Canadian now?

Thanks.

Hi guys,

Now that I'm (finally) a PR with my PR Card safely in my wallet, I've applied for Nexus and have been conditionally approved. My interview is scheduled in about 10 days from now and I'm wondering if anyone has gone through this and has any tips or things I should prepare for.

I've heard that they ask you what your job is and say that you have to keep them updated if you change jobs, however I've also heard from people that weren't told to do this. I'm leaving my current job about 2 weeks after my Nexus interview so I'm wondering if this will be a problem? I might also potentially end up being self employed as a freelance worker too, but that's not for sure yet. Should I tell them that's what I'm thinking or just leave that out?

I'm a United States B1/B2 Visa holder which expires late 2017 (even though I'm from Australia and I'm technically visa exempt and don't need ESTA). Will they still issue me a 5 year Nexus without my B1/B2 lasting that long?

I'm not too worried about all this, and I think it's going to be fine, but just wanted to see if the brains of this forum had any input on the matter.

Thanks!

 

[Quink]

May I know how do you fill in the column of "Citizenship Information" when you are not become a Canadian now?

Thanks.

You put the information of whatever citizenship you hold (doesn't have to be US or Canadian, as long as you're a Canadian PR and can provide the card number). There are probably exemptions though, but as long as you are allowed to enter both countries and have the appropriate US visa (or are visa exempt with ESTA) it'll be fine.