see also: in August 2008:   CBP in New York Apprehends Suspected Interpol Fugitive   Louisville CBP Finds Heroin in Woman’s Suit   CBP Officers Nab More than $1 Million in Narcotics in 48-hour Period   Philadelphia CBP Seizes $650,000 in Fake Bank Checks   CBP on a Roll Seizing Fake Handbags, Footwear Again in California   Calexico Downtown Port Officers Intercept $100K Narcotic Smuggling Attempt   CBP Outbound Inspection Yields 293 Unreported Ostrich Skins ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers on the web:   Join the NEXUS Program today!

contacts for this news release

Sweetgrass, Mont. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced the opening of a joint “Trusted Traveler” enrollment center at the shared U.S.-Canadian port of entry. The Enrollment Center 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 CBP-Canada Border Services Agency program for frequent travelers that both the American and Canadian governments have implemented to enhance border security while simplifying border crossings for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Approximately 225,000 U.S. and Canadian citizens/residents are currently enrolled in the NEXUS program nationally. NEXUS members can use dedicated lanes at selected ports along the U.S.-Canadian border. The dedicated “NEXUS lanes” allow travelers to cross the border with a minimum of customs and immigration questioning.

“Border security remains our highest priority,” said Larry Overcast, CBP area port director. “The NEXUS program presents us with a ‘win-win’ situation: trusted travelers are able to cross our border with a single travel document which reduces border waiting, allowing our officers the ability to concentrate their efforts on higher risk traffic.”

As of January 31, oral declarations of citizenship alone are no longer sufficient to establish identity and citizenship for entry into the United States. U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older are asked to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate. Children ages 18 and under are currently asked only to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Passports and trusted traveler cards, such as NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST, are considered WHTI-compliant documents and are accepted for cross-border travel. NEXUS pre-approved, low-risk travelers crossing the U.S./Canada border receive the added benefits of access to dedicated commuter lanes, expedited marine reporting and access to NEXUS kiosks at designated Canadian airports.

NEXUS is a harmonized program and applicants need to complete only a single application form, available online at the Join the NEXUS Program today! website. ( Join the NEXUS Program today! )

Eligible applicants must be compliant with customs and immigration requirements and pass a background check by both countries. The final step in the application process is a face-to-face interview with CBP/CBSA officers at the Enrollment Center.

The NEXUS EC, located at the Port of Sweetgrass/Coutts, is open for scheduled interviews on Tuesday and Thursdays from 8 am to 4 pm. Please call (406) 335-9556 to schedule an interview at the NEXUS Enrollment Center in Sweetgrass following receipt of an approved on-line application. Applications can also be scheduled on-line using the Global On-Line Enrollment system on the Apply Online for NEXUS, SENTRI and Global Entry page of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.