Can I get a NEXUS card with no intention of regularly traveling to or from Canada?
As other questions have noted, the NEXUS card is the best thing since sliced bread. Cheaper than TSA Pre-Check (especially if you have children) but includes all the benefits of Pre-Check, Global Entry, and some of its own unique benefits, for example expedited lanes at land crossings into Canada. The only downsides are that it takes longer to process and you have to go to a small set of locations for the interview.
Even though I only live a few hours away from the Canadian border, I've only gone there a handful of times, perhaps once every five years or so.
Will the Canadian and/or US border authorities take that into account when deciding whether to grant NEXUS membership?
Naturally, it's never wise to lie to any border control authority, which would including saying you plan to visit Canada more frequently in the future than you did in the past.
Best Answer
The purpose of the CBP Trusted Traveler programs is to establish that you are a low security risk. They want to know about any criminal history, associations with terrorist or anti-government groups, violations of customs or immigration laws, and so on. To help with that, you provide them a travel history they can look over for suspicious destinations.
Your non-travel to a non-suspicious destination is not going to constitute a reason for denial. Consider furthermore that they don't expect you to know your exact travel plans for the next five years. Someone applying for a NEXUS card because of frequent work travel to Canada might switch jobs and no longer make those drives; that alone is not going to cause either the Canadian or American government to decide that she is now a threat.
The application form does not ask any questions about when or where or how you plan to use the program. You are not required to make any number of trips to any particular destination over the lifetime of the membership to maintain it, either. It's not unlike someone applying for a passport but never going on any international trips. In fact, it's less strange than that. The NEXUS processing fee is subsidized expressly to encourage people to apply for it, and it's not against the law to take advantage of a bargain even if you're interested in some benefits more than others.
If you are asked about it during the interview, just be truthful. I doubt you will be asked, however. If you're like me— a natural-born U.S. citizen with a clean criminal record and no ties or past travel to suspect countries— the interview is something of a bureaucratic formality; they've already done the background check at that point. My Global Entry interview lasted at best 10 minutes, and the vast majority of that was the interviewer reading from a script and then taking my fingerprints.
Pictures about "Can I get a NEXUS card with no intention of regularly traveling to or from Canada?"
Is NEXUS only for Canada?
NEXUS is a bi-national, Canada-United States program for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering Canada or the United States (U.S.) at designated air, land and marine ports of entry.What are the requirements to get a NEXUS card?
NEXUS- be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the U.S., or a Mexican citizen who is also a member of the Viajero Confiable program. ...
- be admissible to Canada and the U.S. under applicable immigration laws.
- pass background security checks conducted by Canada and the U.S.
- meet all of the other NEXUS requirements.
Is NEXUS open at land borders?
Until further notice, NEXUS is accepted in all lanes. The NEXUS lane is temporarily closed. NEXUS members whose travel is essential should use the regular primary inspection lanes to seek entry to Canada. Closed on holidays.Can a Canadian permanent resident get a NEXUS card?
If you are a permanent resident the USA (a green card holder) or Canada (PR Card holder), you may be eligible to apply for a NEXUS Card. You must have lived continuously in the US or Canada (the country you are a permanent resident of) for at least 3 years.Am I Eligible for a NEXUS Card?
More answers regarding can I get a NEXUS card with no intention of regularly traveling to or from Canada?
Answer 2
There's no reason why you can't apply. Just note that almost all the interview centres are in Canada or at the Canadian border (Seattle Boeing Field is the one that's furthest from the border). Unless you're in Seattle or intend to travel there, you'll have to, at a minimum, go to the border, if not across, for your interview.
Also, to register your retinal scans for the Canadian kiosks, you'll need to go to an interview centre that's equipped with the retinal readers. Most of the US interview centres lack this.
Air Canada and WestJet are increasingly targeting US business to overseas destinations; NEXUS would be a considerable help in transiting Canada while going on such flights. Something to keep in mind.
Also, living only five hours away, you should really come to Canada more often. The currency exchange rate is significantly in your favour at the moment. :)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Leah Kelley, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Leah Kelley