Can I get NEXUS with a pardon?
There is nothing people are looking forward to more, after what feels like endless ‘stay at home’ orders and a long winter, than travel.
To experience new places and a general need for a change of scenery, the desire to jump on a plane is high for many. From palm trees and sand between your toes to family reunions and trips with friends, we all need a break after the past 12 months.
If you are searching how to get a Nexus card, your desire to travel again is likely heightened right now. Traveling with a Nexus card is typically of interest to those avid pleasure travelers, as well as frequent business travelers but is available for many North Americans.
To avoid the taxing aspects of travel including long line ups through customs that we know all too well, becoming a Nexus member can ease these strains.
You may be questioning whether your past criminal record may prohibit you from being approved for a NEXUS card.
Here’s what you need to know:
NEXUS is a joint program implemented by the Canadian and the U.S. Governments to expedite processing through customs to pre-screened travelers who are considered low risk entering Canada and the U.S. and is coveted for several reasons. It is designed to improve the speed and efficiency of border crossings.
Membership in the NEXUS program allows you to reduce your wait times at designated ports of entry by:
- using dedicated processing lanes at land border crossings,
- using NEXUS kiosks when entering Canada,
- using Global Entry kiosk when entering the United States, and
- calling a marine telephone reporting center to report your arrival into the The United States and Canada
If you have a criminal record on file your NEXUS application will be denied.
When you apply for NEXUS, both the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will conduct a criminal history check as part of the application process.
Unfortunately, a criminal record will deprive you of the privilege of being approved of a NEXUS card.
In this case, you must get a pardon first before applying.
Apply for a pardon first to get a NEXUS card.
While a criminal record can hinder your ability to travel freely, you may be eligible for a Pardon; also known as a Record Suspension that once approved will allow for a successful NEXUS application.
Eligibility for your Pardon is calculated based on when your conviction took place and which province or territory it took place in.
If you are interested in getting a NEXUS card, it is important to understand that your Pardon application will take time to be approved; processing times can range from 12 to 24 months.
Therefore, it is recommended that you begin the process as soon as possible.
The faster you receive your pardon, the sooner you can apply for your NEXUS card.
Once your pardon is approved, your criminal record will be sealed at all three levels of government.
This will ensure that when the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conduct your criminal history check, any record of a conviction or of the pardon itself will no longer be accessible and your chances of a successful NEXUS application will be improved significantly.
While you cannot erase your past mistakes, you can erase your criminal record to ensure your past no longer follows you forward in life.
Your criminal record has been hanging over your head for far too long already.
send us a message and let’s get started TODAY!
