NEXUS Membership is a Canada-U.S joint regulatory discretionary trusted traveler program. GOES or Global Entry is a U.S. regulatory discretionary trusted traveler program. NEXUS and Global Entry are different expedited entry programs.
HOWEVER, and this is very important, a person who uses a NEXUS lane at a Canadian land border crossing must have a NEXUS card. A driver of a vehicle that uses the NEXUS lane at a Canadian land border crossing must ensure that all passengers have NEXUS cards. If the person has a Global Entry Card (or one or more persons in the vehicle has a Global Entry Card rather than a NEXUS Card), they cannot use the NEXUS Lane. The Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) at land border crossings do not have access to the U.S. Global Entry data. The Canadian and U.S computer systems do not share all information with each other. The CBSA cannot obtain Global Entry information. The CBSA can access the jointly shared NEXUS information.
What this means is that the CBSA may confiscate a person’s NEXUS Card or Global Entry Card when they use a NEXUS lane and breach a rule of the NEXUS program. Many people think the programs are interchangeable and make this common mistake. If this should happen due to a misunderstanding, it may be possible to appeal the NEXUS confiscation to the NEXUS Redress Committee.
By the way, Canadians should get the NEXUS Membership Card. It only costs $USD 50.00. The Global Entry Card costs $USD 100. So, it is preferable from a Canadian perspective to have the NEXUS Card.
For more information, please contact Cyndee Todgham Cherniak at 416-307-4168 or at cyndee@lexsage.com. Alternatively, visit www.lexsage.com.