Nexus Card
 

Hi there

If my girl friend and me both have Nexus card, can we use the Nexus card for the trip from Vancouver to Los Angeles next week at YVR ??

I never use Nexus air to travel to USA by Air so please kindly bear with my ignorance.

Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Yes, you can both use your Nexus at YVR. Make sure you bring your passport to clear US Customs as it is required.

Thanks for your prompt reply. May I know when we use Nexus at YVR, is it using scanner to scan our eyes (biomatric) for authencications or just simply use the Nexus card ?

Please kindly advise.

Part of using the Nexus card at the airport is using the eye scanner. Make sure you're not wearing contacts! I learned the hard way

When clearing US Customs (going to the US) you will need to scan your passport as well as provide finger print scan. The machine will also take a live photo capture, so look into the camera. It will ask you some questions and then spit out a receipt to which you see the officer.

Coming back into Canada is when you use the iris biometric scanner. You will need to slide your card into the reader then follow the prompts on the screen. I can't speak for people who wear contacts, but I wear my glasses and the trick is to stand close to the camera until you see the green squares/boxes and you're set. Your mileage may vary but I have not had a problem with over 20 flights this year.

In addition to what the others have already said, your Nexus card also allows you to fastrack yourself through security. You'd still have to line up for the X-ray / body scanner check, but before that, there is almost always a line up that leads up to the boarding pass holder only area, and you can bypass that first line up with your Nexus card.

not all US airports have nexus. They have a new program now called Clear and even their card is clear.

Still go to the airports early, only a hand full of nexus cards are allowed in the cities of US.

Passport?

Have never needed to use my passport after getting the Nexus card. Still carry it, just in case, just haven't ever had to use it.

-Dave

Even when flying? Every time I fly out and go through the Nexus line to the US booth, the electronic kiosk always asks to scan my passport. Am I missing something?

My mom doesn't even have a valid passport but gets across at border crossings with her nexus card just fine.

Even with flying? I am very surprised that works.

For land crossings, I am 100% certain that you don't even need to have a passport (as long as you have Nexus). I think the same holds true for sea crossings as well.

For land crossings, it's okay, but they have every right to ask you for it, so your mileage may vary.

For air travel into the US, you must have it.

Nexus Card
 

I'm so glad someone asked this. I was trying to find the answer on their website but couldn't find anything as I'm flying to New Orleans tomorrow.

I've always just used nexus without passport for land crossings but always wondered what the procedure was for air crossings

Assuming you're answering my direct quote, I'm not sure how she can get past the electronic kiosks without a passport. I know you don't need a pp when crossing the land borders.

I always have my pp with me when traveling by air so I never thought about it. But if she's able to get by without having her pp on her, then I'd think about leaving it at home for short trips as it's one less thing to lose.

My rule of thumb is when traveling by air is to always bring your passport with you - Nothing can ever replace this.

Nexus, while useful, is not necessarily recognized by all airports, especially airports that do not participate in GOES/Nexus etc.

My personal experience is to always bring a passport regardless of method of travel. Better safe than sorry. Happy and safe travels in New Orleans! :)

Yes, even when flying. When the electronic kiosk ask you to scan your passport, you simply place your nexus card on the reader. I always have my passport, but I never pull it out of my bag. Fly and/or cross anywhere from 1-5 times a month.

-Dave

Thanks for clarifying. Very interesting that they'd ask for passport specifically then.

I was able to shave off about half an hour or so of waiting to get into security and another half hour inside of security with nexus. Although I didn't know when at the electronic nexus kiosk I was suppose to scan my card instead of passport. So I went into regular line but could've shaved off another 15 min. I'm pretty sure I would've missed my flight if I didn't have my nexus.

I was not aware of this going into the US. I always thought you had to scan your passport.

I'll try it next week and follow up accordingly.

I've always only scanned my Nexus card at the kiosk.

Just so we're all on the same page, when you all say "kiosk" do you mean the Global Entry ones on the way to US customs? Or do you mean the nexus kiosks just before Canadian customs?

I was referring to the global entry one on the way to US customs.

They recently changed the Nexus machines on the US Customs side (well recent as in the last year or so), so that you MUST use your passport. Prior to that, the older machines didn't require you to actually place your NEXUS card or passport on the machine and relied solely on your iris scan.

Coming back into Canada, you need your card but they don't ask for your passport. That too seems like something fairly new (also within the last year) as we used to just do iris scan there too. Also, if you're coming in late at night, sometimes the NEXUS terminals are offline and you'll have to get into the regular line. It'll be a lot faster if you have your passport so you can use the automated booths there as well. (I'm hoping though that the manned booths can process a NEXUS card though)

Never tried the Global Entry at US airports yet. I'd suspect you'd need passport for that though.

Clear is actually something else and doesn't have to do with crossing any borders. It's just an "express line" for the security checkpoints at US airports. Probably only useful if you live in the US and frequently fly domestically.

Most airports without any NEXUS facilities won't take the NEXUS card as a form of ID. (for example, I couldn't use it at BLI to pass security) Always bring it when you fly.

This is exactly what I'm used to doing - using the passport on the US Customs side. Before, you could use the card, but not anymore. You must have your passport and it's been a while since they changed it.

Nexus is an approved travel document by US CBP and can be used instead of a passport.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...-residents-%2F

However I have read many many stories of AIRLINE STAFF not accepting Nexus as valid ID for the flight. They want a valid passport.

So rule of thumb: Bring the passport.