Canada
Visiting a different country is always exciting. Regardless of whether your travels are associated with work or leisure, they’re bound to open your eyes to new experiences, a new culture, and be the reason for the creation of new memories. Whether you’re planning to organize a business trip or you’re taking your family to visit a close-by destination, you’ll probably want to get through the process with ease and zero stress.
Well, when it comes to traveling between the USA and Canada, this mission could be a bit of a challenge. Especially if you’re not well prepared and you haven’t taken advantage of the available opportunities to make your trip nice and sweet.
To help you save some time and effort, we’ve prepared an article that will share with you some of the things you can do to dramatically cut down the time necessary for background checks or inspections when traveling between the USA and Canada.
How to save time when traveling between Canada and the USA
Travels between the US and Canada are common. The two countries are in great proximity to one another. Because of this, the two governments have designed special programs to make travels easier and quicker for citizens. If you want to spend less time on your background checks, you’ll need to consider two main things – the NEXUS card and the FAST program.
Let’s look at what they are and how they can help you.
NEXUS Card
A NEXUS card allows citizens to travel between the United States of America and Canada more quickly and easily. The card is especially helpful for those who frequently cross the border, as it speeds up the process of getting checked and verified. A NEXUS card is a special identification card that allows those travelling between the USA and Canada to pass through customs more quickly. The process of getting through customs can often be lengthy when crossing borders.
In order to be eligible for a NEXUS card, applicants must meet certain criteria, such as being a frequent traveller between the two countries or holding citizenship in both the USA and Canada. NEXUS cards can be used by adults and children, and are valid for five years. To renew a NEXUS card, applicants must submit their old card, as well as payment for the renewal fee.
You can apply for a NEXUS card online or in-person at a designated enrollment centre. Applicants must provide biographic information, such as their name, date of birth and contact information, as well as proof of citizenship or permanent residency. There is a non-refundable application fee for a NEXUS card, which varies depending on the age of the applicant. Once an application is approved, applicants will need to attend an interview with a customs officer. At the interview, applicants will be required to provide fingerprints and have their photographs taken.
So how’s the FAST program different?
FAST Program
What is a FAST card? A FAST program is a free program that allows citizens of the United States and Canada to travel between the two countries more easily. The program is designed to help speed up the process of crossing the border for commercial truck drivers, making it easier and faster for businesses. To use the FAST program, travelers must first enrol in it. Enrollment can be done online or by phone. Once enrolled, travelers will need to show their FAST card when crossing the border. The card will indicate that they are a member of the FAST program and have been cleared to cross quickly.
The FAST program is especially helpful when traveling between the USA and Canada by truck. Crossing the border can often be a long process, but with a FAST card, businesses can avoid the long lines and go straight to the customs checkpoint. This can save travelers a lot of time when making a trip between the two countries.
Enrolling in the FAST program is easy and free. To enrol, visit the FAST website or call the enrollment hotline. We hope you’ll find this information useful. If you’re a frequent traveler between the USA and Canada, a NEXUS card or becoming part of the FAST program can certainly make a difference in your travel adventures for work or leisure.
