Nexus application slowed our timeline down?

[NovaSprings 89]

I have been a long time Nexus holder and would highly recommend it. I have found it very useful for going back and forth across the border not to mention being able to skip the security lines at Canadian airports. My husband did not have a card and we knew as soon as we started to live in the same household that I would not be able to use mine if we traveled together unless he also had one. I will fast forward our visa journey to Aug 26th, 2015. This is date that we received our letter from the NVC saying that they had received our documents but there would be a 30 day delay. (standard letter) Since we knew there was going to be a delay we thought this would be a good opportunity for my husband (USC) to apply for his Nexus card. However we have since discovered doing this slowed our timeline down.

Very late in Sept I noticed that we received the magic 3 n/a's and waited for the notice to arrive with my interview date....we waited and waited. We contacted the NVC twice in Oct. and received the same, very cryptic answer each time we called. They would not tell me that I was approved for an interview but that my file was waiting for a "couple of last checks" We asked if they were waiting for information from us, No. We asked are we in AP they said No. However the same day that my husband received his notice for an interview for his card, I we received the notice for my visa interview in MTL. Hum kinda a strange, but we were over the moon that we finally had a visa interview date.

My interview was Dec 15th in MTL and I was approved. My husbands interview for his Nexus was not until Dec 28th (as that is when he was going to be in Halifax for Christmas and it just made sense to do it then) Every day after Dec 16th I logged into the embassy web site, my file showed "Ready" and the date changed everyday (except for a few days around Christmas), we never went into AP. My husband had his interview on Dec 28th and was approved (he received his approval via email that day) and my visa was issued on the 29th (happy dance!)

In hindsight we now believe that the Nexus process slowed our timeline down and we wanted to share just in case others are thinking of doing the same. In the case of visa's and Nexus cards....timing is everything.

Cheers

[NikLR 13,220]

Didn't slow down my process at all. In fact I had my NEXUS interview the week before the visa interview in Montréal. Right after I had my medical exam.

[NikLR 13,220]

I think you just were caught up in the December slow down.

[NovaSprings 89]

That could also be the case, one will never really know for sure.... The other interesting fact was that the at the Nexus interview the CO knew that we had an active visa application (not info my husband offered up) and advised us to make sure that we let the CO know about the card during our POE so they can update my status on the card at the same time.

BTW do you know if I can apply for TSA pre while I am on my 2 yr condition? (approved for CR1)

[NikLR 13,220]

Yes you get it automatically if you enter your number when booking flights with airlines that do precheck. I dont know if it works for clear though... haven't tried yet.

[hikergirl 277]

It works. I used it when I flew home in May.

[NikLR 13,220]

For clear?! Yeesh ive been wasting my life in security lines

[hikergirl 277]

Savannah had 3 lines. One for regular, one for pre-check, global and Nexus and one for staff. I hate waiting in lines - I’ve been known to use my Nexus and make hubby wait in the regular line.

I think he somehow got pre-check on the way up last time.

[NikLR 13,220]

Yeah i know it works for precheck but after some searching it doesnt work for Clear.

If you travel a lot Clear would be handy.

https://www.clearme.com

Oh make sure to add the green card to the NEXUS account! I havent yet added my 10 year card because I haven't travelled to Canada in a couple years.

Edited February 10, 2016 by NLR