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The NEXUS program |
The U.S. Customs Service has partnered with Canada in a post-September 11 drive to keep millions of dollars in trade moving smoothly and securely across the northern border. For both U.S. Customs and Canadian Customs, success depends on the ability to gather more and better intelligence and to effectively manage this information intelligently, letting low-risk travelers and cargo move across the border quickly and with minimum intervention.For the U.S. and Canada, the answer rests in an agreement named the Smart Border Accord and a plan generated by the agreement called NEXUS. | | Photo Credit:Â Gerald L. Nino |
| NEXUS allows low-risk travelers to cross borders more quickly.
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The NEXUS program benefits people who frequently cross the land border between the United States and Canada: travelers must apply to participate in the program - they pay a non-refundable fee collected once every five years of $50 US or $80 CDN and undergo a security screening by the agencies. Next they're required to provide specific information and two fingerprints that are checked in the Immigration and Naturalization Service's IDENT System by Customs officials, who run this data against crime and terrorist indices of both countries. If accepted into the program, travelers deemed low-risk receive a proximity card, or SMART card. When the individual approaches the border, he or she simply waves a SMART card and the traveler's photo and other information shows up at the entry booth. NEXUS harmonizes the entry of pre-approved low-risk American and Canadian travelers and allows them to pass through once verified by Customs or INS. This initiative allows Customs to enhance security significantly by using technology, dedicated lanes, and reduced reporting requirements to lessen wait time. The NEXUS program started at Blaine, Wash., in June, and will be expanded to Detroit and Buffalo this fall. |
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