The backlog of Nexus applications in Canada has increased by hundreds of thousands, despite a sharp drop in applicants during the pandemic.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says 295,133 Nexus applications have yet to be processed due to ongoing office closures caused by COVID-19.
Potential cardholders in the program, which allows pre-approved Canadians to go through separate and fast lines when traveling to the United States, must be evaluated by both the CBSA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The U.S. agency reopened its Nexus Enrollment Centers for interviewing applicants on April 19, but Canada’s centers remain closed after closing in March 2020.
The resulting delay means that some Nexus members are struggling to book sessions before their cards expire, as Canadian residents hoping to renew their status can only schedule interviews at less than a dozen border community offices. where there are few places.
The CBSA said in an email that Canada and the US are discussing when to reopen Canadian enrollment centers.
“While the extent of the delay in 2019 is unknown, I can tell you that the delay has increased significantly from pre-pandemic levels due to the closure of enrollment centers in March 2020 due to public health, “said spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy.
Meanwhile, the Fast program for cross-border commercial truck drivers now has a lag of 11,018, the CBSA said.
Jacques Roy, a professor of transportation management at HEC Montreal Business School, says the delay is affecting business and leisure travelers. It also adds pressure to airports that are already struggling with security shortages and endless queues.
“I really have a hard time understanding why nothing was done or processed during this period,” Roy said of the ongoing office closures.
The CBSA says it continues to conduct risk assessments remotely within its standard 30-day period for new applicants or those looking to renew an expiring card soon.
However, once both countries have previously approved the application, “the responsibility lies with the applicant to schedule an interview in a Nexus / Fast EC (registration center) through the online portal,” he said. agency.
He has not set a date for when Canadian registration centers will open.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on May 30, 2022.