TIPS: Streamlining Passport Control
BORDER CROSSINGS BETWEEN CANADA AND THE USA
Canadians and Americans who travel frequently by air or by land between Canada and the United States have a number of ways that they can streamline their border crossings, get through airport security faster and even travel domestically with greater ease. Starting with a card that does it all: NEXUS
NEXUS CARD
The Nexus Card was created to help speed up border crossings between Canada and the US. It is jointly run by both governments, and once you are approved, your card is valid for 5 years.
The application costs $120 and involves filling out an online application and then appearing for an in-person interview. But once you have the card, you have these perks that can reduce the need to wait in long lineups:
1. Dedicated Global Entry kiosks at major Canadian airports which help you proceed through passport control faster and more easily.
2. Dedicated lanes at land border crossings at more than a dozen locations into 5 states.
3. BONUS: Canadians can also use the NEXUS pass to speed through security screening lines at domestic airports! Game-changer.
IMPORTANT: Everyone you are travelling with must have a NEXUS card if you want to use these faster lines.
TIP: Be sure to include your Trusted Traveller Number (aka your NEXUS card number) when you check in either online or in person. This adds a TSE Pre-Check checkmark onto your boarding pass, without which many US airports will not allow you in their faster lines.
MOBILE PASSPORT CONTROL APP
The Mobile Passport Control app was introduced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to help speed up your wait when you are in line to enter the United States.
HOW IT WORKS: After downloading the MPC app to your smart phone, you enter all the information for you and/or your travelling companions (the way you used to on paper forms in the ‘olden days’), including where you travelled, anything to declare, etc.
Once completed, many airports have dedicated lines for people with completed MPC declarations, which can speed up your time considerably.
And unlike NEXUS, there is no ‘card’ required for any member of your party.
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