MONTREAL, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner W. Ralph Basham announced today that the enrollment center at Montreal's Pierre Trudeau International Airport is open for travelers interested in applying for the NEXUS program. Passage kiosks will be operational in the coming weeks.
An enrollment center in Toronto opened earlier this month where a NEXUS kiosk is also operational. Expansion to the Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Halifax airports is expected by the end of 2007.
"This expansion is a perfect example of the cross-border coordination at work to facilitate legitimate travel for residents of North America by providing trusted travel lanes at airports, waterways and land crossings," said Commissioner Basham. "This program is a common-sense and modern way to strike the right balance between enhanced security and faster, more efficient travel between our countries."
NEXUS is a joint initiative of the Canada Border Services Agency and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that facilitates quick and secure entry into Canada and the United States for pre-approved, low-risk travelers.
The NEXUS Air pilot project, which was launched at the Vancouver International Airport more than two years ago, was very successful and resulted in nearly 7,000 travelers signing up for the program. The NEXUS air mode uses non-invasive iris recognition technology to identify the traveler and verify his or her membership in the program.
In December 2006, the NEXUS Air, Highway and Marine programs were harmonized into a single program. Over 116,000 NEXUS members are now "in for one, in for all" and can cross the border using any of the three modes at participating locations. The projected enrollment due to expansion to the above-mentioned cities is anticipated to exceed 155,000 members in the next year.
NEXUS in the air mode meets the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative air rules. A NEXUS card can serve as an alternative to a passport when traveling to the United States by air at designated airports. The travel initiative is a U.S. law that came into effect on January 23, 2007, for air travel and requires all travelers, including Canadian and U.S. citizens, to carry a valid passport or other appropriate secure document when traveling or returning to the United States.
For more information on any of CBP's trusted traveler programs NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST, please click the "Travel" tab on cbp.gov. A complete list of NEXUS enrollment center locations, phone numbers and hours of operation is also available at cbp.gov or by calling 1-866-NEXUS 26.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our Nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CONTACT: CBP Public Affairs, +1-202-344-1780
