Fact Sheet

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April 2006

NEXUS Marine Pilot Project

The NEXUS Marine pilot project, which first began in 2005, is a joint initiative of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and United States Customs and Border Protection. It is designed to simplify border crossings for pre-approved, low-risk recreational boaters.

The pilot project will be implemented in the St. Clair/Lake Erie area during the 2006 boating season from May 18 to October 31 on the following waterways:

• St. Clair River
• Lake St. Clair
• Detroit River
• Lake Erie
• Upper Niagara River

NEXUS Marine is open to citizens and permanent residents of Canada and citizens and resident aliens of the United States who have continuously resided in either country, or a combination of both countries, for the last three years.

It allows low-risk, pre-approved recreational boaters the opportunity to clear customs and immigration of either country by using the Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC). As a result, border officials from Canada and the United States are able to concentrate their efforts on unknown or high-risk travellers and goods.

Once approved, low-risk recreational boaters can call the TRC on each passage within 30 minutes and up to 4 hours before their arrival. They will be required to report their destination, the necessary information concerning individuals on board, imported goods and estimated arrival time.

Although NEXUS Marine participants may not be greeted by a customs or immigration official each time they cross the border, they may be subject to an examination at any time.

The pilot project is an extension of the NEXUS Highway program. Existing NEXUS Highway members are automatically approved as participants in NEXUS Marine and new NEXUS Marine members will be automatically enrolled in NEXUS Highway.

Approved participants will be issued a photo identification card for entry into Canada and the United States.

Applications for NEXUS Highway and NEXUS Marine are reviewed and approved by both countries. Applicants must comply with the requirements for admission to both Canada and the United States and undergo complete security checks.

The NEXUS Marine pilot project builds on the initiatives of the Smart Border Declaration 32-point Action Plan.

For more information on NEXUS Marine or to obtain an application form, please visit www.cbsa.gc.ca

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