Nexus Card

[phalanges]

Hello!

 

Do any fellow Canadians presently / anticipating studying in the US have a Nexus card? I'm just wondering if I should wait until I get my F-1 before applying for the Nexus card, or if I can apply and then inform them of my visa status later?

 

Thanks!

[1Q84]

Do you plan on crossing the border that often? It's quite expensive... I don't think it's worth it unless you go at least once a month.

[TakeruK]

I know an American grad student attending a PhD program in Canada (both on border towns) who has a NEXUS card because she crosses the border at least 2-3 times a week, by car. I think it's totally worth it if you had to constantly cross a busy land crossing. I'm mostly going to be flying home, and probably only 1 or 2 times a year, so it's not really worth it. So far, I have not had to wait an excessive amount of time that would have been prevented if I had a NEXUS card (most of the time, both regular and NEXUS lines are close to empty). Optimistically, I would probably get to wait about 30 minutes less per year if I had a NEXUS card, or let's say 3 hours in the 5 year validity of the card. Even if my time was "worth" $20/hour, the 3 hours would cost me $60 while I think the NEXUS card costs a bit more (plus the time it takes to get approved for one). Crossing the border as a Canadian citizen under a F-1 or J-1 visa is super easy too, so there's no extra speed there with a NEXUS card. Just have all your documents ready and it's done in 5 minutes or less!

 

So that's why I don't have one, but if you were someone who were crossing multiple times a month by land, then it might be a good idea!

[phalanges]

I'm going to school that is a 3 hour drive from home, and I plan to cross the border at least 4 times this fall alone, and given how long the lines are for driving at Niagara Falls it seems totally worth it to me. The Nexus card is $50. Also, if I go to any conferences outside of the US and fly back, it is way faster to go through the Nexus customs station than the International arrivals customs (where they have to fingerprint and photograph everyone). The Nexus card is good for travel by land, air, or sea. 

 

I just called, and they told me to apply now, and that it'd be fine if I switched to having an F-1 after I get my nexus card.

[TakeruK]

Awesome -- actually I didn't know the NEXUS was only $50, I thought it was several hundred! I also thought that NEXUS was only valid for crossing from Canada to the US or vice-versa. Thanks for pointing this out -- I will definitely reconsider having one now!

[1Q84]

Wow, same! Guess you set us both straight