One of the worst nightmares of travelers between countries is having to wait for hours at borders for security reasons and inspections. Unpleasant experiences at borders when traveling by air or by land could leave a sore taste in your mouth and turn your whole trip into a negative memory that you don’t want to ever repeat. Especially in high peak seasons or high-traffic times, the waiting lines for border crossings could become unrealistically long.
If you’re looking for a way to avoid this undesired scenario and avoid having to waste time waiting in lines when traveling between Canada and the USA, you’ve landed on the right article. Here, we’ll offer a useful and practical tip to reduce your waiting time when traveling between these two countries. All you have to do is apply for a NEXUS card at nexuscard.com and enjoy its vast range of benefits.
Let’s look at what a NEXUS card is and how it can turn your travels around.
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The NEXUS Card: What does it do?
The NEXUS card allows people who travel often between the USA and Canada to enjoy a faster process and to dramatically reduce the waiting times at border crossings. Created to expedite the border clearance process and allows low-risk, pre-approved travelers from Canada and the United States direct access, the NEXUS program is a popular solution today. The program is a mutual, reciprocal agreement between Canada and the US and is appropriate for Canadian and American citizens.
By having a NEXUS card, you can use dedicated processing lanes at specific border ports of entry. The card is valid for air, land, or sea crossings and eliminates the need for the traveler to be screened, inspected, questioned, or asked to fill out forms of entry. The data is collected in advance and the traveler has been approved as low-risk and safe to travel.
You don’t even have to fill out any forms for declaration of goods when returning to Canada by being part of the program.
How to get your NEXUS card
Now that we’ve explained what the NEXUS program is and what the card entitles you to, you can see that if you’re searching for a way to travel faster between Canada and the USA, this is your best option. In order to become part of the NEXUS program and enjoy its benefits, you need to first qualify for it.
You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canaan or the United States or a Mexican citizen with a Viajero Confiable membership. In order to apply for a NEXUS card, you need to reside in the respective country for at least three years before your application. Another requirement you must comply with is immigration and customs regulations during past travels. You must also go through a criminal history check. All applicants must be 18 years old or older or present a written consent by both parents.
Applying for a NEXUS card: The process
The application will cost $50 and may take up to seven months for processing. There are a few simple steps that you need to follow in order to apply to become a member of the NEXUS program:
- Cover all requirements to be eligible for a NEXUS card
- Collect all the necessary documents
- Fill out and submit your application
- Pay the fee of $50
- Schedule an interview
Apart from the NEXUS card, you can also enjoy faster travel between Canada and the USA if you’re a truck driver by taking advantage of FAST (find out more about the FAST card program here). It’s specifically designed for commercial carriers as a trusted traveler program allowing quick and easy access between the two countries.
Turn traveling into a pleasant and stress-free experience by benefiting from these programs. We hope that you’ll find this article useful for your future travels.