| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 25, 2017 |
| For further information contact: Kelsey Hanks, Martin Davison PR |
| Telephone: (401) 714-5981 |
| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Calling All Border Crossers, Airport Travelers & Hockey Fans:
BUFFALO, NY/NIAGARA FALLS, ON – Today the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (Peace Bridge Authority) and Niagara Falls Bridge Commission reminded local motorists and travelers that individuals who apply for NEXUS before Oct. 13, 2017 will receive expedited vetting, interviews and enrollment in the program.
This enrollment initiative was announced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in anticipation of increased traffic levels on both sides of the border during the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship tournament, which will be held in Buffalo from Dec. 26, 2017 through Jan. 5, 2018. NEXUS usage helps to eliminate border wait times and vehicle congestion at area bridges.
NEXUS enrollment costs individuals $50 for five years and children under 18 can enroll for free. NEXUS users are automatically enrolled – at no additional charge – in TSA Precheck and Global Entry in the U.S. and the expedited CATSA lines at Canadian airports.
To apply for NEXUS:
1. Visit nexusniagara.com and the “Click Here to Begin the NEXUS Enrollment Process” link/button
2. Once you have applied through the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES), email your First Name, Last Name and PASS ID to the NEXUS Niagara inbox: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All prospective enrollees are encouraged to sign up by Oct. 13, 2017 in order to potentially meet related membership vetting procedures and timing for the enrollment initiative, although no guarantees are available.
NEXUS usage at the Peace Bridge, Lewiston-Queenston, Rainbow and Whirlpool Bridges continues to increase steadily each year:
- There are 1.4 million trusted traveler enrollees throughout North America, with Western New York and Southern Ontario accounting for more than 15 percent of total enrollments
- Overall NEXUS trips/conveyances in the region rose to nearly 1.6 million in 2016, a significant increase from the previous year
- NEXUS users account for roughly 17 percent of overall border crossings in the region
NEXUS is a bi-national program jointly administered by CBSA and CBP for low-risk, pre-approved travelers into Canada and the United States. For more information about NEXUS, visit nexusniagara.com.
About the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority:
The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, a binational bridge authority, has owned and operated the Peace Bridge since 1933. The bridge, which was opened to traffic in 1927, spans the Niagara River between Fort Erie, Ontario, and Buffalo, New York, and is a key international border crossing.
About the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission:
A Joint Resolution of the 1938 U.S. Congressional Third Session created the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission The Extra Provincial Corporations Act of the Province of Ontario, Canada licenses the NFBC. Canada and the U.S. are equally represented on the NFBC by an eight-member Board of Commissioners. Initially established to finance, construct and operate the Rainbow Bridge, the Commission proved sufficiently efficient and effective to assume responsibilities for the Whirlpool Rapids (Lower) and Lewiston-Queenston Bridges. The NFBC builds and maintains all facilities for Customs and Immigration functions on both sides of the international border. The NFBC is self-supportive, largely through user fees (tolls) and private-sector tenant leases. NFBC is federally chartered to conduct international commercial financial transactions and issue federal (U.S.) tax-exempt bonds.
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