Let's Take a Day Trip

CHICAGO — Canada’s warm season is just around the corner, which means many people in the U.S. are ready to travel to The North. 

Both Toronto and Montreal are known for their summer of concerts, festivals, and outdoor activities. If you plan to hit Canada multiple times a year, consider getting a NEXUS Card.

What is a NEXUS Card?

Simply put, NEXUS is designed to speed up border crossings into Canada and the United States ( U.S. ) for low-risk, pre-approved travelers. It’s a joint program run by the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is valid for five years. 

NEXUS can be used when traveling by air, land, or marine. While driving, there are special lanes for NEXUS card holders; the same is true when flying into Canada. 

The main advantage of having a NEXUS card is the expedited processing at designated NEXUS lanes, allowing members to bypass regular immigration and customs queues. This streamlining can significantly reduce wait times at border crossings and airports.

It costs $50 to apply for the NEXUS card, and you can learn more about applying by clicking here. Though the card’s purpose is to travel to/from Canada, there’s a benefit to being in the program when traveling domestically in the U.S.

NEXUS card comes with T.S.A. Precheck:

Cardholders are also eligible to participate in the T.S.A. Precheck program. Now, you can streamline your travels to Canada and domestically by bypassing the regular security line and going through the precheck lines. It’s a cool built-in feature because you’re paying $50, about $30 less than T.S.A. Precheck, and getting the value of two different programs. 

So, apply for your NEXUS card.

Let’s wrap this conversation up:

The NEXUS program is open to citizens and permanent United States and Canada residents who pass comprehensive background checks. Applicants must undergo an extensive vetting process. 

It involves a thorough review of criminal records and immigration history and an interview with customs and immigration officers. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate their low-risk status and willingness to comply with program requirements