NEXUS center now open for applicants

Canada Border Services Agency and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced yesterday the opening of a joint “Trusted Traveler” Enrolment Center in downtown International Falls.
The centre is designed to make obtaining a NEXUS border-crossing card easy and convenient for nearby residents on both sides of the border.
NEXUS is a joint program of CBSA and CBP for frequent travellers that both the Canadian and U.S. governments have implemented to enhance border security while simplifying border crossings for pre-approved, low-risk travellers.
The first step in getting a NEXUS border-crossing card is applying for it. Residents can find application forms online at www.NEXUS.gov
Eligible applicants must be compliant with customs and immigration requirements, and pass a background check by both countries. The final step in the process is a face-to-face interview with CBP/CBSA officers at the enrolment center.
If they’re successful with the interview, NEXUS members will receive a card which they can use to travel in dedicated lanes at selected ports along the U.S.-Canadian border “with a minimum of customs and immigration questioning,” according to the CBP.
NEXUS cards also serve as an alternative to passports under the the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), and are acceptable for cross-border travel.
The enrolment center, located at 200 Fourth St. in International Falls, is open for scheduled interviews on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Applicants can call 1-218-283-2541 to schedule an interview at the center following receipt of an approved online application.
Interviews also can be scheduled online using the global online enrolment system at www.nexus.gc.ca or www.nexus.gov (for U.S. citizens).