NEXUS US/Canada pass

ITN readers who often travel between Canada and the USA before continuing overseas might wish to invest $50 for a 5-year NEXUS (866/639-8726, www.nexus.gc.ca) border pass, which facilitates travel between those two countries.

For those possessing a NEXUS pass and for those airports, such as Vancouver, B.C., that have the system, a Customs and Immigration check in or out of the country is a one-minute procedure. A kiosk reader scans your eyes and requests touchpad answers to four questions. A border pass is produced in less than a minute, then it is off to the luggage carousel.

At each major land crossing a special NEXUS lane is designated, and the credit card given to NEXUS pass recipients is used to expedite the Customs and Immigration clearance.

My daughter and I and two teens obtained the pass to facilitate our 4-times-yearly road trips to Washington state. There are no restrictions re use of the pass except that all car passengers using the NEXUS lane must have NEXUS.

Incidentally, persons under 18 get NEXUS free; others pay $50 for five years.

Applying for NEXUS requires a passport and birth certificate and entails a background check. My application, which I sent in in September ’07, took three months to process, then I had to book an appointment (it took three months to get one, given the demand) at the designated offices, including the Vancouver Airport.

At the airport, I visited the Canadian Immigration office for fingerprinting and an iris scan, then crossed over to the U.S. Immigration office to have photos taken before receiving my NEXUS photo ID card.

I used it in April ’08 crossing by car and in May going between Maui and Vancouver. Ideally, the NEXUS system should be implemented between other countries, for there is nothing more convenient than taking one minute to clear Immigration.

ZONIA HODGE

Burnaby, B.C., Canada