Canadian NEXUS applicants will soon have less time to book interviews
Canadians hoping to get their NEXUS cards may want to keep an upcoming change in mind before putting off an important step.
On Thursday, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced changes to the amount of time Canadians have to schedule their NEXUS interview.
“Starting April 1, 2027, applicants must schedule their NEXUS enrolment interview within two years of getting conditional approval. This changes the current five-year time limit back to the original two-year rule,” reads the statement.
“The timeframe was temporarily extended to five years due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now with more enrolment interview capacity available, the two-year deadline is returning.”
Interviews are required both with the CBSA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before receiving your NEXUS card.
So what does the new timeframe mean for Canadians who just submitted their application?
Changes won’t apply to Canadians who received conditional approval before April 1, 2027. This means you’ll have to schedule your interview within five years of your approval date or by April 1, 2029.
Sadi Hockmuller/Shutterstock
However, the changes will affect those who are conditionally approved on or after April 1, 2027. With previous timeframes kicking in, applicants will only have a two-year window to schedule their interview.
As for Canadians still waiting for an interview, CBSA advises them to book their appointment soon before their application expires.
NEXUS is a pre-approval program operated by the CBSA and the CBP that makes it faster and more convenient when crossing the border into Canada and the U.S. A NEXUS card lets you skip long lines at immigration and access Global Entry airport kiosks, priority lanes at select ports of entry, and TSA PreCheck. Memberships are valid for five years, and each application costs US$120 (C$170.64).
Have you already applied but are not sure about the status of your application? Sign in to the U.S. Trusted Traveller Programs (TTP) System dashboard to find out.