nettlebed

You're not wrong. The DL is not and never was proof of citizenship.

nettlebed

EDL is only available in border states, IIRC, and is a state document, not a federal document, like NEXUS.

celticgrid

The NEXUS is available to non-US citizens, so here's a question for those that have used NEXUS and are not US citizens....

When entering the US from Canada using NEXUS do you still need to separately prove citizenship? Is there any difference between the NEXUS document for a US citizen as opposed to a LPR?

I'll soon qualify for NEXUS but wonder if it is worthwhile...?

Jerseygirl

We've wondered the same...we often cross the border at Lewiston or Niagara. It looks like you still have to wait in line until you get very near to the kiosks...then you branch off to a separate one for NEXUS holders.

Bill_S

NEXUS is great. It saves us a lot of time on our crossings.

JG, there's a little-known NEXUS-only bridge at the Niagara Whirlpool.

Jerseygirl

Really? That would be great...a couple of weeks ago we took the Niagara crossing into the US because the others had a longer delay. It took 3 hrs to cross into the US.

celticgrid

I have yet to figure out a reliable indicator as to any relative delays, other than just turning up.

A couple of weeks ago, returning from Canada, the signs and radio warned of delays of up to 60 minutes at Lewiston and suggested diverting to Fort Erie. We ignored it and got to Lewiston to find a short queue and it took about 10 minutes to get through. If you have found a really reliable source for what the crossing states really are, please tell!

Bill_S

Access from the Canadian side is directly off the Niagara Parkway. I'm not familiar with the American side, we always cross at Buffalo. I only noticed the NEXUS bridge at the whirlpool because we drove right past it last week.

Jerseygirl

Thanks...I've just found this hope it helps.

Location
The Whirlpool Bridge connects the commercial zones and downtown districts of Niagara Falls, N.Y., with Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Primary U.S. highway feeder is Interstate 190 to Ontario Avenue.
Primary Canadian highway feeder is the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) to Highway 420 to Bridge Street.
Highway and roadway directional signs on both sides of the border direct you to the bridge you want.

CelticRover

http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/

celticgrid

Thanks. Next trip I'll compare the web forecast with the roadside signs to see how they compare. It would be lovely to have something more frequent than hourly as the situation can change dramatically in that time, but my policy so far has been head to the most convenient crossing and trust to luck unless the roadside signs' news is drastic.

Rete

No, JG. NYS issues alternate driver's license which is called an Enhanced DL. You need to apply for it in person and you need to bring proof of your US Citizenship and your NYS residency. The card is good in place of a US Passport for Mexico and Canada for land travel only.