Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) — Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) was in Buffalo on Monday to introduce a new piece of legislation called the “Make NEXUS Work Act” to allow remote interviews toward the goal of getting people their NEXUS passes, be it a new application or renewal.
"Right now, an individual has to show up in-person and go to two different locations, one in Canada and one in the United States, to conduct an interview as part of the application process for NEXUS. We think that through information technology that these could be done remotely, virtually, and we could reduce the amount of time it takes to apply for, get interviewed and ultimately receive a NEXUS card," said Congressman Higgins during a press conference on Monday at the Peace Bride. "A lot of people in Buffalo and Western New York, through work, through enjoyment, through travel, through tourism, go over to Canada from the United States, and Canada to the United States. So we want to make that experience better."
Under Higgins’ bill, the Secretary of Homeland Security is directed to make video conferencing available for NEXUS enrollment and renewal applicants within 45 days of the bill’s enactment. Applicants will be able to connect through a smartphone, tablet, or computer from their home on the Zoom platform for a virtual interview.
"The pandemic, there were a lot of trends already in place, but they were accelerated during the pandemic, because we couldn't meet in-person. So I think the technology has gotten better, it will continue to get better relative to security, and I think it's a convenient way to utilize technology to reduce the time it takes to apply, go through the interview and ultimately receive a NEXUS card," Higgins said. "A 16-month wait is unacceptable, a 12-to-14 month wait, we can certainly improve on that by using the technology to do that interview and to get those NEXUS passes approved."
Higgins firmly believes the greatest inducement to travel is ease of travel, but especially with the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down travel between the two countries, the relationship between the U.S. and Canada took a bit of a hit. The Congressman says this would be a chance for that relationship between both countries to get back on the right foot.
"We want to get this back on track so that we can both - United States citizens and Canadian citizens - enjoy the benefits of living in a border community," he said. "It's not only the economics that are important, it's also the life quality. So 'Making NEXUS Work Act' will allow the virtual interviews to take place, which should reduce the amount of wait times people are currently experiencing, as it relates to making application, doing their interview, and ultimately receiving a NEXUS card."
In the fall of 2022, a separate pilot program intended to break the logjam launched at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo and at the Thousand Islands border crossing at Alexandria Bay allowing for NEXUS applicants to meet with CBSA agents in Canada first, followed by an interview with CBP agents in the United States.
While the process is a bit of a workaround to help address the logjam in the NEXUS process, it is labor intensive and time consuming having to go through the same in-person process with both sides. This virtual process would be something to make a major impact relative to expediting the process going forward.
"Ideally, this would replace the situation as it currently stands," Higgins said. "However, individuals may still have the option to do two interviews, but if you have an opportunity to do your interview with Customs and Border Protection from both the United States and Canada in a virtual situation, that would expedite the application process and approval process."
Higgins believes there is precedent for this bill under the Trusted Traveler Program, and that the virtual interviews have been proven to work. He's confident there will be a lot of bipartisan support for this bill in Congress, and it ultimately get approved to see even more significant reduction in wait times.
Hear more from Monday's press conference available in the player below:
