New Potential Land Border Delays

[VeeNDee 44]

So my brother linked this article to me today:

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Delays+Canada+border+likely+worse+budget+slashing+looms/8035866/story.html

Someone in the article said land crossings could spike to 4 hours! AGH! That is SO not okay. I am still in the process of waiting for AP and was wondering, am I eligible to apply for a Nexus pass with Advance Parole? Do I need to wait on my AOS approval/greencard? Do I need to wait till I have ROC/permanent green card? Ideally I'd like to get it ASAP as soon as I have AP. The land crossings near where I live in BC on weekends can spike to over an hour routinely during peak hours when we'd have to cross and if it gets worse I'd really really like to avoid that.

Any idea?? I searched VJ and couldn't find an answer RE AP and Nexus.

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

So my brother linked this article to me today:

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Delays+Canada+border+likely+worse+budget+slashing+looms/8035866/story.html

Someone in the article said land crossings could spike to 4 hours! AGH! That is SO not okay. I am still in the process of waiting for AP and was wondering, am I eligible to apply for a Nexus pass with Advance Parole? Do I need to wait on my AOS approval/greencard? Do I need to wait till I have ROC/permanent green card? Ideally I'd like to get it ASAP as soon as I have AP. The land crossings near where I live in BC on weekends can spike to over an hour routinely during peak hours when we'd have to cross and if it gets worse I'd really really like to avoid that.

Any idea?? I searched VJ and couldn't find an answer RE AP and Nexus.

I would call the Canadian passport people and ask them if you're eligible. I'm sure there's an information line.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/elig-admis-eng.html

Edited March 1, 2013 by JensJrny2Ray

[VeeNDee 44]

Thanks for the link and the idea. I called the number on that website for BC residents (which technically I no longer am) but figured it was most suitable. The officer that answered (I had to press '8' for other inquiries since the other options weren't helpful) said that I was eligible even if I wasn't a resident so long as I was a Canadian citizen. Which I am. But when I told him about the advance parole he was like 'uhhh... oh.. I am not sure then. You'd better call the American side of nexus!" So he gave me a number to call which I did but it just rang 10 times and would have rang infinitely from what I could tell with no answer and no answering machine. I wonder if he gave me the right number. Regardless, still not sure of the answer! I will try the number again later but if anyone has experience let me know

[VeeNDee 44]

Found the answer to my question:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/125837-advanced-parole-questions/

Took a lot of searching but seems like I can't use or apply for NEXUS while having AP and have to wait until I have my greencard. That information was given by a VJ member who was a former border agent so am pretty sure it's valid. That's frustrating. I guess it makes sense but still!

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

Found the answer to my question:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/125837-advanced-parole-questions/

Took a lot of searching but seems like I can't use or apply for NEXUS while having AP and have to wait until I have my greencard. That information was given by a VJ member who was a former border agent so am pretty sure it's valid. That's frustrating. I guess it makes sense but still!

Keep in mind that that thread is over 4 years old and the rules have changed somewhat. I would still call the American side to get current information.

[moemac59 192]

Found the answer to my question:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/125837-advanced-parole-questions/

Took a lot of searching but seems like I can't use or apply for NEXUS while having AP and have to wait until I have my greencard. That information was given by a VJ member who was a former border agent so am pretty sure it's valid. That's frustrating. I guess it makes sense but still!

Vee,

I used my Nexus card to come back into the US from Canada when I had my AP card. I let NEXUS know what my immigration status was (IE. going into their office at the Whirlpool bridge to show them my card). I was informed by the CBP guy there that I could not use a NEXUS only bridge such as Whirlpool as they do not have immigration officers there who can parole you in, but I could use the NEXUS lane at Niagara Falls. I would usually gave them my NEXUS card along with my passport and AP card. The CBP guy would take my AP card and passport and send it into the office. I would then have to go into the office to be paroled back into the US.

I visited Canada every month until I got my GC last month.

Hope this helps you out.

[VeeNDee 44]

Thanks for the info moemac. Sounds like you could use it but you still had to go into the office. I am guessing waiting in a different line sped things up. My situation is a ltitle different since I don't have a Nexus card to use but was hoping to apply for one. I am thinking that they will just tell me to wait until I have my greencard since everything is 'pending' now. I never did get ahold of the US side of Nexus. The phone number I found for them online was fully automated and just repeated itself in all options, and the phone number the Canadian Nexus agent gave me just rang and rang and no one ever picked up. I tried it several times and days too. I think we are just going to have to wait until later when I have the greencard to apply. I don't really want to waste time and money to be denied the first time.

At least it kind of worked out for you! This whole time I got to know my now husband I kept thinking "if only I had a Nexus, if only I had a Nexus" --- too bad I didn't apply before I met him! Back then I rarely crossed the border though so it never even occurred to me.

[moemac59 192]

Thanks for the info moemac. Sounds like you could use it but you still had to go into the office. I am guessing waiting in a different line sped things up. My situation is a ltitle different since I don't have a Nexus card to use but was hoping to apply for one. I am thinking that they will just tell me to wait until I have my greencard since everything is 'pending' now. I never did get ahold of the US side of Nexus. The phone number I found for them online was fully automated and just repeated itself in all options, and the phone number the Canadian Nexus agent gave me just rang and rang and no one ever picked up. I tried it several times and days too. I think we are just going to have to wait until later when I have the greencard to apply. I don't really want to waste time and money to be denied the first time.

At least it kind of worked out for you! This whole time I got to know my now husband I kept thinking "if only I had a Nexus, if only I had a Nexus" --- too bad I didn't apply before I met him! Back then I rarely crossed the border though so it never even occurred to me.

You are so welcome. Next time you cross over, maybe you can pop into the office that has a Nexus location and or even try to apply. It might not hurt..you never know.

Yeah, my Nexus card has been a real blessing. I remember one thanksgiving when I was down here and there was a 2.5 hour wait at the Lewiston-Queenston border. Thankfully, I had my Nexus card and used it at the Whirlpool bridge in Niagara where there was no wait, only took me 30 seconds to go thru customs.

[hikergirl 277]

I applied for both myself and my DD online here: https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes

I think it’s supposed to be faster online

I was going to interview in Calgary at the airport but I checked and the land border crossing into the US was a lot faster. You could check the land crossings near you to try and get a faster appointment if necessary when it comes time of course.

[VeeNDee 44]

Yeah I think both of you made a good point. Once I get AP and can go visit family, I'll pop by a Nexus office to ask them about eligibility. I'll be there anyway so why not right? Although I have to wonder if you approach the Nexus office by the CDN or the USA side and if you have to cross the border first or after. Guess I'll find out once we get there. You'd think I would know after crossing so often!

[hikergirl 277]

At Sweetgrass, MT I have to cross into the US and park and wait on the US side. The NEXUS office is upstairs on the US side.

Then I have to cross through the Canadian border guards to go home.

Honestly, It was the best $50 I have ever spent.

When you go for your interview they also enrol you into Global Entry - if they don’t mention it make sure you ask about it.

Global Entry is normally $100 and gets you into the US at lots of airports.

Edited March 6, 2013 by hikergirl

[moemac59 192]

Yeah I think both of you made a good point. Once I get AP and can go visit family, I'll pop by a Nexus office to ask them about eligibility. I'll be there anyway so why not right? Although I have to wonder if you approach the Nexus office by the CDN or the USA side and if you have to cross the border first or after. Guess I'll find out once we get there. You'd think I would know after crossing so often!

It will be the US side. When I applied for my Nexus card, I had to go to Pearson airport and do the interview with US Customs

[hikergirl 277]

hmmm….

Both of our interviews were with an agent from each country. We were able to get our prints done for Global Entry.

Then we had to go to Calgary to get our irises scanned as well for the airports. This was with a Canadian Border Agent.

Interesting.

[The Mean Lady 604]

Hope someone is going to be waiting on the bridge with some gas because I sure as heck don't cross with a full tank

[Krikit 1,164]

Make sure they do the iris scan or you won't be able to do the expedited screening at the airports.

It will be the US side. When I applied for my Nexus card, I had to go to Pearson airport and do the interview with US Customs

At the Peace Bridge Enrollment Center it was the Canadian side... Fort Erie.

Edited March 8, 2013 by Krikit