Ottawa (Ontario), July 10, 2012 — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that Canada and the United States are continuing to deliver on key commitments under the Beyond the Border Action Plan for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness. Effective June 30, 2012, the CBSA lifted the three-year residency requirement for Canadian and United States citizens to apply to NEXUS.
"Taking steps to expand NEXUS membership and enhance its benefits will help ensure more pre-screened travellers enjoy expedited processing at the border," said the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety. "Amending the three-year residency requirement will attract new members who would have previously not been eligible to apply to NEXUS. Increased NEXUS membership will encourage cross border travel and create economic benefits for both countries."
By amending the three-year residency requirement, the CBSA is extending NEXUS membership eligibility to citizens of Canada or the United States currently residing abroad, or who have recently returned to Canada or the United States.
The CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection also recently announced that they have begun enrolment blitzes to assist with increasing application volumes. Three successful blitzes took place over May and June 2012 which enrolled over 1,000 new members of the NEXUS program. Future blitzes will be considered based on application volumes.
As pre-approved travellers, NEXUS members can expedite their travel across the Canada-U.S. border at designated air, land and marine locations. The NEXUS program allows border services officers to concentrate their efforts on unknown or higher-risk travellers and goods.
Enhancements to the NEXUS program are critical to facilitating the lawful flow of pre-approved, low-risk travellers while enabling a focus on people about whom we know the least.
Increasing NEXUS membership is just one of a number of initiatives Canada and the United States are undertaking as part of the Beyond the Border Action Plan that will help facilitate lawful trade and travel while enhancing security.
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For more information, refer to Customs Notice 12-020
For more information on the Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness, please visit the Web site www.borderactionplan.gc.ca.
For more information on NEXUS, go to www.nexus.gc.ca.
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For further information:
Media Relations
Canada Border Services Agency
613-957-6500
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
