The build-up of Nexus applications in Canada has risen to hundreds of thousands, despite a sharp drop in applicants during the pandemic, sparking frustration among passengers as congested airports continue to overflow.
The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) says 295,133 Nexus applications have not yet been processed due to the ongoing closure of offices caused by COVID-19.
Future cardholders in the program, which allows pre-approved Canadians to cross separate, fast lines when traveling to and from the United States, must be evaluated by both the CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Services.
The US agency reopened its Nexus registration centers for interviews with candidates on April 19, but the centers in Canada remain closed after they closed in March 2020.
The resulting backlog means some Nexus members are struggling to book sit-ins before their cards expire, as Canadians hoping to renew their status can schedule interviews at less than a dozen border community offices. where there are few places.
Drivers are waiting to enter Canada at the Douglas-Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey, British Columbia. The United States reopened its Nexus enrollment centers in April, but Canadian centers remain closed. (Ben Nelms / CBC)
“Chaotic” and disappointing
Traveling retirees are among those irritated by the stagnation.
“Many snowbirds often go to the United States. They often go back and forth, and a lot of them would own Nexus cards, including me, ”said Jill Wicks, editor of Snowbird Advisor, an online resource for snowbirds.
Weeks questioned why enrollment centers remained closed when many other government offices had been open for months.
“Airports are chaotic, and if you have a Nexus, you can get around much faster by coming and going, whether it’s at the border or at the airport,” she said.
“The whole situation is very disappointing that the government did not anticipate this delayed demand, which has been expected for two years.
The CBSA said in an email that Canada and the United States are discussing when to reopen Canadian enrollment centers.
“Although the backlog in 2019 is not known, I can tell you that the backlog has increased significantly from pre-pandemic levels due to the closure of enrollment centers in March 2020 for reasons of public health,” said spokeswoman Rebecca. Fart.
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Meanwhile, the Fast program for cross-border commercial truck drivers is now lagging behind 11,018, CBSA said.
“This problem has created challenges for many cross-border fleets in Canada. Although companies have learned to adapt their operations and manage their existing drivers to mitigate these concerns as much as possible, reopening the centers is becoming increasingly critical, “Alliance spokesman Marco Beghetto told Canadian Trucking in an email.
Jacques Roy, a professor of transportation management at HEC Montreal Business School, says the Nexus lag affects business and leisure travelers. It is also increasing pressure on airports, which are already struggling with a shortage of security staff and endless queues.
“It’s really hard for me to understand why nothing has been done or processed during this period,” Roy said of the ongoing closure of offices.
The CBSA said it continues to conduct distance risk assessments within its standard 30-day schedule for new applicants or those wishing to renew a card with a recent expiration date.
However, after both parties had approved the application in advance, “then it is up to the applicant to schedule an interview at Nexus / Fast EC [enrolment centre] using the online portal, “the agency said.
She has not set a date for Canadian recording centers to unlock their doors.
Nexus membership is usually valid for five years, after which it must be renewed. The process includes a risk assessment and screening interview – for both first-time applicants and long-time cardholders, CBSA said.
Nexus membership fell 170,814, or nine percent, to 1.73 million between 2020 and 2021, according to the agency.
Between 2018 and 2019, the number of new applications increased by nearly a third to 262,125. They then fell to 172,125 in 2020 and 29,705 in 2021. However, with closed enrollment centers, the pile partially Processed applications continued to increase.
Long queues of passengers at Vancouver International Airport. “Airports are chaotic, and if you have a Nexus, you can get around much faster,” said Jill Wicks, editor of Snowbird Advisor. (Gian Paolo Mendoza / CBC)
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