I-94 is an annoying cash grab that you will need to renew every 6 months(?) and you will have to go in for that, I haven't heard anything about fast tracking inside but it might happen as all you need to do is pay them to get it renewed and be on your way, there should not be any questioning since its pretty straight forward ...

I-94 is only for the US side so you can use the Nexus card going back to Canada no problem.

The I-94 expires after 90 days. It's a pain in the ass. I guess the next time we go, we'll go through the regular lanes (inside/outside) and ask the US customs office what the deal is.

You may not need an interview if your information on the GOES website (such as address, passport number if you used it) hasn't changed. But you won't know that until you start the process. So get it done early.


There's no more car registration linked to your NEXUS card, so you just need the card and that's it. That said, everyone in the vehicle has to have NEXUS. But I'm sure you already knew that.

Finally got my nexus, first time this weekend, do I actually have to stop at the reader to wait for it to read or does it usually just read it when the car is in motion?

Also watched a video where people are holding the card out their window when they do the x-ray, is that necessary?

i've only used mine a couple times so far. but each time i'll pull up to the reader and by the time i fully extend my arm out the window, i see the counter work. the counter hasn't worked when i have the card around my steering wheel, so yes, I think you have to stick your card out the window.

Yup you can try and roll through it with your arm out the window, but the guard might think you're a weirdo.

Like someone mentioned, the Canadian side has no counter. So just stop, wave for 5 seconds, then go ahead and hope it read properly lol

Going south the American's have a digital readout that shows how many times your card had been read. Hold it out the window about 6 inches from the reader and the number will change, don't roll through. Also don't put it away right after its done reading, sometimes the guard may want to look at your card, other times not(especially in regular lanes).

On the way back North the Canadian's do not have a digital readout so just hold it up to the white square for a couple of seconds and move forward, if it doesn't read there is another white plate at the booth and the guard may ask you to try again(they should tell you if it didn't read).

But for both you do need to stick your arm out and put the card in front of the readers.

Since we're on the topic of card reading....Does it matter which way the card is facing the reader and does we need to show each card individually?

or can you just put all the cards in a stack and stick them out the window until the counter goes up

I guess what will help answer my question is....are the readers strictly through radio frequency? or is there a camera element to it?

I usually don't cross over on weekends because its usually busy but I had nothing to do today so I went across just for the hell of it. One thing I noticed is at peace arch, they have 2 nexus lines going to the states and only 5 regular lines. That made for a quick 2 minute line up for nexus and 45 for everyone else. I ended up going to Bellingham Costco just to check it out to see what's on sale. Goodyear wiper blades were 5 bucks each for any size, which is a steal, usual price is 8. The amount of people in Costco was insane, I expected the cashier line to be long but it wasn't. On my way back I usually cross back at pacific border but I had to get gas for my dad so I stopped in Blaine by peace arch and filled up some jerry cans. The estimated time was 1 hour to cross back at peace arch instead of 20 at pacific border crossing. I went to peace arch and they only had one nexus lane entering Canada, it took all 2 minutes to get over in the nexus lane.

Another thing, just before the pacific border crossing exit they have a place for emergency cars to make u turns. State patrol was just chilling there with his radar gun. I saw him both times today, so slow down. The limit is 70mph which is already pretty quick.
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I went to Bellingham Costco yesterday as well. Never again. It made Willingdon Costco in peak hours look like a walk in the park.

On the topic of TDCs: I'm a real stickler for rules, so I always have a TDC ready just in case I'm asked for one. Have any of you been asked to produce one? I'm 0/2 so far and I'm beginning to think it's a waste of paper.

I also noticed that with longer regular waits, the Nexus guard usually rolls you through just asking simple questions. I'm finding that if I don't say I spent north of $500 per person for a day trip they won't bother asking me to drop in to pay taxes. Has that been the same for everyone else?

The NEXUS uses the same RFID technology that credit cards use. No cameras are involved when interrogating the card.

The orientation of the card doesn't matter, but they do need to be separated and scanned individually.

How sure are you about scanning individually? I've only gone through with 2 ppl at most. I hold both cards in 1 hand, pictures face the reader, and the counter jumps to 2 right away.
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I guess I'm wrong then! I haven't used multiple passes at the border myself.

I carry multiple RFID cards daily (credit card, access pass for work, gym card, school and other ID) and have always had to separate the cards for them to work. I always have at least three in my wallet.

No they don't.

I used to do what you did when I first got my Nexus -- always used to carry a TDC with all the info filled in each time I come back in my car. However, I find that most of the time if I am not bringing back a significant amount of stuff (in terms of $$ value), the CBSA officer seems to actually prefer a simple verbal declaration and just wave me through. As a matter of fact, there were a few occasions when I tried to give the CBSA officer the TDC right off the bat and he refused it -- instead, he asked me verbally and waved me through when he deemed that the $$ amount I was bringing back wasn't worth their time to tax it.

Thus far, I have never been asked to produce a TDC. However, the TDC is infinitely helpful when I am bringing bigger ticket items back into Canada. During the crossing, I do the verbal declaration first, telling the officer what I am bringing back and how much it is. Then I hand him my completely filled out TDC. So far it has worked like a charm for me, and he just waves me through after taking the TDC. Sometimes I get charged tax and duty afterwards, and sometimes nothing comes out of it even though they've taken my TDC. I say it's a win-win for everyone involved. During those times, I am reasonably certain that if I didn't have the TDC for him, I would have been called in and asked to pay taxes. Getting taxed is always something I am prepared to do, but not needing to waste time is a major bonus. And, the occasional times when I don't get taxed because of the TDC just makes it even nicer.

As mentioned before there is no camera involved.

When you have more than one card to scan, just fan the cards out in your hand and they should scan. I was told during the interview to hold your picture since the RFID chip is on the opposite side.

Last trip south the reader picked up my card before my arm was out the window...

bumped my interview from may to this weekend.

They sent a email about new spots opening up for march to help speed things up at the canada place office.

this is me everytime lol i didnt know there's some sort of counter...:suspicious:

There isn't on the Canadian side lol. US side is much more informative!

Renewal interview was nice and fast. I was in and out in 10 minutes. I was their last appointment.

Thought I would add the link in here as well since it affects us nexus card holders:

http://www.revscene.net/forums/69395...g-tickets.html

we tried waving 4 nexus cards at the senor and it worked. Spread the cards out and wave them and the sensor should pick it up. You dont have to wave them one at a time.

Does anybody know or experienced the following:

My parents, also nexus members, are going on a Alaska cruise and then arriving in Seattle. They will be away for more than 48 hours. My parents want me to pick them up and they also want to buy a case of beer. If I'm going down on a one-day trip using the Nexus card, and we are coming back together in the Nexus lane, will the Nexus guard hassle us for the alcohol because I'm going down for the day?
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^ I think it'll depend on how much alcohol you bring back. the allowance for your parents only or some for you too.

You shouldn't have any issues because your parents are there for 48+ hours. I often come back with a bottle of wine or a 6 pack after getting gas/package from PR and I've never had an issue.
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