Washington —The United States and Canada are continuing to deliver on key commitments under the Beyond the Border Action Plan for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness. Announced today and effective immediately, the Canada Border Services Agency lifted the three-year residency requirement for Canadian citizens to apply to NEXUS.

“This amendment is an important step in strengthening border security efforts between the U.S. and Canada as part of the Beyond the Border Action Plan,” said Acting CBP Commissioner David Aguilar. “The NEXUS program allows border officers in both the U.S. and Canada to focus on high risk travelers while expediting those that are enrolled in the program.”

By amending the three-year residency requirement, the CBSA is extending NEXUS membership eligibility to citizens of Canada currently residing abroad, or who have recently returned to Canada. The United States amended this requirement in 2009.

The CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection also recently announced that they have begun enrollment drives to assist with increasing application volumes. Three successful drives took place during May and June 2012 which enrolled more than 1,000 new members of the NEXUS program. Future drives will be considered based on application volumes.

As pre-approved travelers, NEXUS members can expedite their travel across the Canada-U.S. border at designated air, land and marine locations. The NEXUS program allows U.S. and Canadian officers to concentrate their efforts on unknown or higher-risk travelers and goods.

Enhancements to the NEXUS program are critical to facilitating the lawful flow of pre-approved, low-risk travelers while enabling a focus on people about whom we know the least. Increasing NEXUS membership is just one of a number of initiatives Canada and the United States are undertaking as part of the Beyond the Border Action Plan that will help facilitate lawful trade and travel while enhancing security.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.