Canadian airports are warning travellers heading to the United States to plan for extra time after NEXUS and Global Entry pre-clearance programs were suspended.
Airports in Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto asked passengers using U.S. Customs pre-clearance to expect slower processing on Sunday. The pause affects expedited lanes used by trusted travellers.
NEXUS is a program for pre-screened travellers that speeds up entry into the U.S. and Canada through dedicated kiosks and lanes. Global Entry is a similar U.S. program designed to reduce wait times for approved travellers.
Airports urge passengers to arrive earlier
The airports said U.S.-bound travellers should allow additional time to get through security and pre-clearance checks.
Most airports did not provide a reason for the suspension. Calgary International Airport told The Canadian Press by email that NEXUS is managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and that the airport had no further details.
NEXUS suspended notice tied to partial shutdown in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport pointed to a cause. On its website, the airport said the programs were suspended until further notice “due to the partial U.S. Government shutdown.”
That notice linked the disruption directly to federal operations south of the border, even as other airports avoided attributing the change.
What U.S. Customs says NEXUS does
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection website describes NEXUS as a trusted traveller program that allows expedited processing for approved travellers when entering the U.S. and Canada. It also notes the use of dedicated kiosks at airports.
As a result, the suspension removes one of the main time-saving options for frequent cross-border travellers.
Shutdown pressure hits Homeland Security services
A partial U.S. government shutdown began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach an agreement on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond on Sunday to a request from The Canadian Press for an explanation.
However, The Associated Press reported that the Department of Homeland Security said Sunday that the Global Entry program would be shut down as long as the partial government shutdown remains in effect.
The Department of Homeland Security website also noted that a lapse in federal funding meant the site would not be actively managed. It warned that information posted there might be out of date.
Canadian agency points questions to U.S. officials
A spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency referred questions about the pre-clearance closures to American authorities.
For travellers, the message from airports is simple. If you are flying to the U.S. through pre-clearance, expect longer lines and build in extra time until the programs resume.
