NEXUS Air - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is NEXUS Air?
2. What is the benefit of using NEXUS Air?
3. Where are the kiosks?
4. Who may apply for NEXUS Air?
5. How can I apply for NEXUS Air?
6. What documents do I need to apply for NEXUS Air?
7. Where do I send my completed application form?
8. How long will it take to process my application?
9. What will happen after I send in my application?
10. What personal information do I have to provide and why?
11. Is there a fee?
12. How will NEXUS Air work?
13. How does the NEXUS Air kiosk work if I am entering Canada?
14. How does the NEXUS Air kiosk work if I am entering the United States through Preclearance?
15. How do NEXUS Air members declare goods they are bringing into Canada?
16. How do NEXUS Air members declare goods they are bringing into the United States?
17. How will NEXUS Air members pay duties and taxes on goods that exceed personal exemptions?
18. How does the $10,000 currency reporting legislation affect me?
19. What happens if a traveller fails to report goods or to comply with customs and immigration requirements while using the NEXUS Air automated kiosk?
20. When and where is the Enrolment Centre available?
21. What is iris recognition biometric technology?
22. What is the process of iris recognition?
23. Are there any known health risks associated with photographing your iris?
24. Which company is providing the technology?
25. Will members in the NEXUS Highway, Free and Secure Trade (FAST), and CANPASS Air programs automatically be considered NEXUS Air participants?
26. Why do members of other inspection programs have to apply separately for NEXUS Air?
27. How will the Canadian and American governments make sure that travellers enrolled in NEXUS Air are low-risk?
28. Will there be passport readers at the NEXUS Air kiosks?
29. Will NEXUS Air be available in countries other than the U.S. and Canada?
30. What happens if either Canada or the U.S. goes to a higher security alert status?
31. What is the difference between CANPASS Air and NEXUS Air?

1. What is NEXUS Air?

NEXUS Air is a process for travellers clearing the border at airports. It is an alternative primary inspection process that will make it easier and faster for pre-approved, low-risk, frequent air travellers to enter Canada and the United States by using an automated kiosk to clear customs and immigration.

NEXUS Air uses iris biometric technology (examining the unique patterns of the iris, which do not change in any condition) to confirm an individual's identity before the person can be admitted into Canada or the United States.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been working together to develop NEXUS Air as a follow-up to the Smart Border Declaration between the two countries. NEXUS Air was launched as a pilot project at the Vancouver International Airport on November 30, 2004, and will continue operating as a pilot until further notice. Updated information will be posted on this Web site and members will be given adequate notice of any changes to the program that may affect their NEXUS Air membership.

2. What is the benefit of using NEXUS Air?

NEXUS Air members can avoid long line-ups by passing through an automated kiosk. Travellers use a touch screen to answer questions similar to those a border officer would ask.

This will allow officers of the CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to focus their efforts on unknown and potentially higher-risk travellers and goods.

NEXUS Air members flying from Vancouver International Airport receive priority access to the Vancouver International Airport Authority's FasTrack Lane. Members are given expedited access to pre-board security screening when they present their membership card and boarding pass to the attendant on duty.

3. Where are the kiosks?

The kiosks are located in the Canadian Inspection Services area (customs and immigration) and the U.S. Preclearance area at Vancouver International Airport.

4. Who may apply for NEXUS Air?

Citizens of Canada or the United States, resident aliens of the United States, or permanent residents of Canada who have continuously resided in either Canada or the United States for the last 3 years may apply.

5. How can I apply for NEXUS Air?

You can download a NEXUS Air application form from the CBSA Web site. Complete the application form and mail it, with your payment and the required documents to the address shown on the application form and on our Web site (also see A.7 below).

6. What documents do I need to apply for NEXUS Air?

You must send us a photocopy of an acceptable proof of citizenship or permanent resident status and a second document, such as a driver's licence, to demonstrate your current place of residence.

7. Where do I send my completed application form?

NEXUS Air Pilot Project

28 176th Street
Surrey, BC V3S 9R9
CANADA

8. How long will it take to process my application?

It takes from four to six weeks to process an application.

9. What will happen after I send in my application?

There is a two-step process:

10. What personal information do I have to provide and why?

The CBSA and U.S. CBP will collect personal information from your application form, such as your name, date of birth, address, citizenship, proof of citizenship and residency information. This information will be used for background checks and to administer the pilot project. The information may be shared with other law enforcement and government agencies in Canada and the United States in accordance with applicable laws for the purpose of assessing your application. The information will be stored in a secure database at the CBSA.

NOTE:
Membership in NEXUS Air is voluntary. The application form contains privacy statements about the use of the personal information collected.

11. Is there a fee?

Yes. The non-refundable processing fee is CAD $80 or USD $50 for each applicant over the age of 18. You can pay by certified cheque, international money order, or credit card (Visa, American Express or MasterCard). All credit card payments will be processed in Canadian funds. As a result, the U.S. amount may fluctuate depending on the exchange rate.

12. How will NEXUS Air work?

You will be issued a photo-identification membership card. When you arrive at the kiosk, you will be prompted to insert the NEXUS Air card or select "iris". A photograph of your iris will be taken and the kiosk will match it to the photograph we have on file. Once membership has been confirmed, you will answer customs and immigration questions using a touch screen.

All members remain subject to examination at any time when entering either Canada or the United States.

13. How does the NEXUS Air kiosk work if I am entering Canada?

When you arrive in the Canadian Inspection Services area, go directly to the kiosk. You do not need to go through the primary inspection lines.

The kiosk screen will ask for your membership card, or will ask you to select "iris", to begin the clearance process. You will hear recorded instructions that will tell you where to stand and where to look so that your iris can be photographed.

Once we have confirmed the photo of your iris matches the one we have on file, you will use the touch screen to answer standard Canadian customs and immigration questions. Then, the kiosk will issue a transaction receipt and you can go to collect your baggage.

After you have collected your baggage, you will give the kiosk receipt and your completed Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Declaration Card (Form E311) to a customs officer. The officer will direct you either to the exit, to a secondary officer for inspection, or to another area to pay any duty and taxes owing.

14. How does the NEXUS Air kiosk work if I am entering the United States through Preclearance?

When you arrive in the Federal Inspection Services area (U.S. Preclearance), go directly to the kiosk. You do not have to go through the primary inspection lines.

The kiosk screen will ask you for your membership card, or will ask you to select "iris" to begin the clearance process. You will hear recorded instructions that will tell you where to stand and where to look so that your iris can be photographed.

Once it is confirmed the photo of your iris matches the one on file, you will use the touch screen to answer standard U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) questions. Then, the kiosk will issue a transaction receipt. Give the kiosk receipt and your completed Customs Declaration (CBP Form 6059B) to a CBP officer, who will direct you either to secondary inspection or to continue on to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) security screening.

15. How do NEXUS Air members declare goods they are bringing into Canada?

NEXUS Air members must declare goods they are bringing into Canada on the CBSA Declaration Card (E311).

16. How do NEXUS Air members declare goods they are bringing into the United States?

Members entering the United States must complete a Customs Declaration (CBP Form 6059B) and present it along with their kiosk receipt to a Customs and Border Protection officer before they can exit the U.S. Preclearance area.

17. How will NEXUS Air members pay duties and taxes on goods that exceed personal exemptions?

Entering Canada:

Members who live in Canada and who exceed their personal exemptions will be prompted by the kiosk for a Traveller Declaration Card (TDC), which will automatically charge the amount owing to their credit card. Those who choose not to use the TDC will be referred to the customs cashier to pay the duties and taxes they owe.

Members who live in the United States will be referred to the customs cashier to pay the duties and taxes they owe.

Entering the United States:

All members must go through the kiosk. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will then direct them to the CBP secondary area for further processing.

18. How does the $10,000 currency reporting legislation affect me?

Entering Canada: you must report currency or monetary instruments of a value equal to or greater than CAD $10,000. You may use the kiosk or use the regular line to make your declaration to a CBSA officer.

For more information, see CBSA pamphlet RC4321, Crossing the Border With $10,000 or More?

Entering the U.S.: you must report currency or monetary instruments equal to or greater than USD $10,000. You may use the kiosk or you may use the regular lane to make your declaration to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.

For more information, see the U.S. Department of Treasury FinCen 105, Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments.

19. What happens if a traveller fails to report goods or to comply with customs and immigration requirements while using the NEXUS Air automated kiosk?

NEXUS Air has a zero tolerance policy for violations. If a NEXUS Air member violates any of the terms and conditions, officers will take appropriate enforcement action and will cancel the person's membership privileges.

20. When and where is the Enrolment Centre available?

The Enrolment Centre is available to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, at the Vancouver International Airport. It is located in the International Terminal on Level 3, U.S. Departures.

21. What is iris recognition biometric technology?

Iris recognition biometric technology identifies the unique patterns of the iris (the coloured ring around the pupil of the eye). There are 266 unique characteristics in the human iris, which the technology reads.

22. What is the process of iris recognition?

The iris recognition process takes a photograph of your iris. Your iris pattern is processed and encoded into a record that is stored and used for comparison any time a live iris is presented for verification. When you go through the kiosk, the system will verify your iris with the record stored in the database.

To get the clearest iris photo during enrolment, we may request you remove your eyewear (prescription glasses and contacts, as well as sunglasses and coloured or patterned contacts). At passage, you will not need to remove your prescription glasses or contacts, but you may need to remove sunglasses and coloured or patterned contacts.

23. Are there any known health risks associated with photographing your iris?

There are no known health or safety issues associated with using an iris recognition device. Iris recognition technology involves a monochrome camera that uses both visible and safe, low-range, infrared light.

24. Which company is providing the technology?

IBM has been contracted to build the kiosks using iris biometric technology under patent by Iridian Technologies.

25. Will members in the NEXUS Highway, Free and Secure Trade (FAST), and CANPASS Air programs automatically be considered NEXUS Air participants?

No. Members of any of these programs must apply separately for membership in the NEXUS Air pilot project. NEXUS Air applicants must be approved by Canada and the United States.

26. Why do members of other inspection programs have to apply separately for NEXUS Air?

Our inspection programs have different criteria, policies, and regulations; therefore, participation in each program requires a separate application and fee.

27. How will the Canadian and American governments make sure that travellers enrolled in NEXUS Air are low-risk?

First, travellers must be pre-approved before they can participate in the pilot project. All applicants will undergo a rigorous background check and will be interviewed by a customs or immigration officer before they are enrolled in the NEXUS Air pilot project. Second, automated enforcement checks will take place every time the member uses the NEXUS Air kiosk to enter Canada or the United States. Third, any member of NEXUS Air may be examined at any time when entering either Canada or the United States.

28. Will there be passport readers at the NEXUS Air kiosks?

No, there are no passport readers at the kiosks. Members' documents are verified at the time they enrol in the pilot project. Members still have to carry identification and citizenship documents and be prepared to show them to a border officer when asked to do so.

29. Will NEXUS Air be available in countries other than the U.S. and Canada?

No, NEXUS Air will not be available in other countries.

30. What happens if either Canada or the U.S. goes to a higher security alert status?

The intention is to keep the NEXUS Air kiosks open to members. Members present a low risk because of the extensive background checks and risk assessments they go through at enrolment and at the kiosk. However, membership in NEXUS Air does not exempt you in any way from any other measures that either country might put in place during crisis situations.

31. What is the difference between CANPASS Air and NEXUS Air?

The CANPASS Air program is a Government of Canada initiative, developed and operated by the CBSA. It offers pre-approved members faster customs and immigration clearance when they arrive in Canada.

NEXUS Air is a partnership program between the CBSA and the U.S. CBP. NEXUS Air will provide customs and immigration clearance for members travelling between the United States and Canada.