“It was a big disappointment, because it takes so long,” said Toronto resident Margaret Cassidy, who applied for a 2019 Nexus card.
Raichelle Hum, also from Toronto, applied for a Nexus card more than two years ago and has no idea when she can get the necessary personal interview to complete the process.
“I travel to the US periodically for work and my husband already has a Nexus card, so it would make travel a lot easier for us,” Hum said.
Nexus is a Canada – US program designed to help accelerate cross – border travel for low – risk Canadians by land, air and sea.
Nexus registration centers in Canada have been closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and health restrictions.
A Canadian Border Service Officer speaks with a traveler at the Nexus office at Ottawa Airport, Tuesday, May 8, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Adrian Wyld
However, in the US, registration centers opened in April this year, which means that if Canadians want to complete their Nexus application they will have to travel to the US to do so.
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“Right now, registration centers in Canada will be closed,” the Department of Homeland Security told CTV News Toronto.
The Canadian Border Service told CTV News, “Canadian citizens and residents can book their registration interviews at any US Nexus registration center.”
Until recently, if you want to complete your Nexus card application, you will need to travel to a US border town for the interview process.
This is what Cassidy plans to do as an interview has finally been arranged in mid-July at Niagara Falls in New York to complete her application.
“There have been so many delays along the way and everyone has been in the dark. I still do not know why the Canadian side is not open,” Cassidy said.
Hum, meanwhile, said it still has no idea when it might be able to approve its Nexus application.
“I’m not sure when I will be able to get an interview.  “It is very difficult to find one,” he said.
It is not clear why Nexus offices in Canada remain closed when they are open in the US from April.
Canadians who can not use the faster Nexus lines are also increasing delays and security delays at border crossings and airports.
Officials say they are in talks with the US on when registration centers can reopen in Canada, but anyone applying for a Nexus card will have to wait a long time.