New program speeds up border crossing for Canadians

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By Bryan Tait

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Think of it as border crossing made easy, or at least a way to eliminate the hour plus wait times at many crossings.

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PHOTO BY JEFFREY BENTO-CARRIER

A NEXUS station has been in operation at the Woodstock-Houlton border crossing for nearly one year, but recently a lane was identified for NEXUS members.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) teamed up with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to create a system allowing travellers to clear the border faster.

The program, called NEXUS, is in operation at selected land crossings and airports in Canada and the U.S., including the Woodstock-Houlton crossing in Belleville.

Since December 2007, Canadians going to Houlton and beyond have had the option of applying for a special card allowing them to avoid some of the wait at the crossing, or any other crossing with NEXUS stations installed. A lane was recently established for NEXUS members in Belleville.

The cards use a radio frequency identification chip, which is aimed at an antenna at the dedicated NEXUS lane. A unique electronic file number is transmitted to the border services officer so they can review the member's data.

From there, members proceed to the inspection booth for a visual inspection and officers will indicate if they're free to continue, or if further inspection is required.

As long as every passenger in the vehicle is a NEXUS member, vehicles are free to proceed through a NEXUS lane.

The system is also available in select airports in Canada and the United States.

At airports, members use a self-serve kiosk, and can skip the primary inspection lines.

The airport kiosks use photographs of a member's irises to confirm the identity of the cardholder. Once CBSA has confirmed the photo taken matches the one on file, member's use a touch screen to answer standard customs and immigration questions.

The kiosks can also be used by Canadian citizens to declare goods.

Karen Shewbridge, regional communications manager for CBSA in the Atlantic region, said the decision to put a NEXUS station at a given site takes several factors into consideration. "Volume is an important criterion to satisfy when considering a border crossing because of the expedited travel associated with the program," Shewbridge said. "Decisions to open at a new location are made jointly."

In order to qualify for the program, individuals go through a screening process involving the border agencies of both Canada and the United States. Following the application, an interview is conducted at an enrolment centre.

At press time, CBSA was unable to provide the Bugle-Observer with numbers of how much use the Woodstock-Houlton crossing gets, as well as how many New Brunswickers have already joined the program.