Changes are coming for Canadians who need to renew their Nexus memberships, according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), with shorter timelines to schedule required interviews.
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who → come → interviews
The changes were detailed in a release Thursday.
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changes → detail → release
Starting April 1, 2027, applicants will have up to two years to schedule a Nexus enrolment interview upon receiving a conditional approval.
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applicants → start → approval
Under the current requirements, applicants have up to five years to schedule interviews, which was a temporary measure put in place since the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBSA says.
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CBSA → have → pandemic
Since the pandemic years, the agency says its enrolment interview capacity has improved, which prompted the change to the original two-year time limit.
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which → say → limit
For applicants that were conditionally approved for a Nexus membership before April 1, 2027, the five-year time limit will still be honoured provided an interview is scheduled within that timeframe, or by April 1, 2029 — whichever comes first.
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whichever → approve → April
Nexus, the CBSA says, is an exclusive membership program designed to speed up processing and wait times for approved “low-risk” travellers to cross the border into Canada or the United States.
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travellers → say → Canada
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This is mainly done by pre-screening passengers, allowing access to priority lanes to reduce wait times and other benefits.
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This → get → times
The program is run jointly by the CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP), and memberships are valid for five years.
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memberships → run → years
To qualify for Nexus, the CBSA says one must be considered admissible to Canada and the U.S. under immigration laws, provide complete and accurate information on the application, and not have violated any customs, immigration or agriculture laws.
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one → qualify → laws
An application may also be denied if an applicant has been convicted of a criminal offence in any country, unless a pardon for that offence has been granted.
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pardon → deny → offence
Members over 18 years of age also have to pay a non-refundable processing fee of US$120, while those under 18 years are free.
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those → have → years
Once an application is filed, it then goes through both the CBSA and USCBP for approval.
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it → file → approval
Each agency then assesses an applicants risk to determine if they meet all Nexus requirements, and may then be granted a conditional approval.
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they → assess → approval
The CBSA says applicants may have to undergo a criminal background check, be questioned by either agency about any arrests, charges or convictions, and be asked to provide fingerprints to determine eligibility.
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applicants → say → eligibility
If an applicant passes the risk assessment phase, they may be granted a conditional approval.
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they → pass → approval
It’s at this point where an applicant will have up to two-years to schedule an interview to finalize a Nexus membership.
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applicant → ’ → membership
Those interviews must be done with both agencies before a Nexus card can be issued.
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card → do → agencies
The CBSA portion can be conducted at a Nexus enrolment centre, while the U.S. CBP portion may be completed at a CBP enrolment center or through Enrolment on Arrival at various border crossings and airports.
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portion → conduct → crossings
The CBSA is also warning anyone currently waiting for an interview to book an appointment as soon as possible, because applications are considered expired once the applicable timelines are exceeded.
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timelines → warn → appointment
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