It may cost more to get a NEXUS card.
The Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are proposing the application fee for the alternate form of ID to cross the border increase from $50 U.S. to $120 U.S. on October 1st.
The current fee was set over 20 years ago when the alternate form of ID to cross the border came into being.
Officials say it is no longer covering the cost of administering the program.
“The new fee would reflect more accurately the cost of administrating the program and the investment required for future program improvements, including technology and infrastructure enhancements,” a release states.
Officials say the increase will also help the border agencies keep up with the high demand.
Since last April, more than 510,000 applications have been received, with almost 10,000 interviews conducted as part of the application process completed every two weeks.
The border agencies are anticipating an increase in applications in advance of the proposed fee increase.
They say residents who apply and make payment for a NEXUS card prior to October 1st will not be subject to the hike if they have not completed the interview portion of the application process by then.
More than 1.8 million people now hold NEXUS cards. Most are Canadians.
NEXUS cards allow travellers to use self-serve NEXUS kiosks, or eGates, when entering Canada at nine major international airports, use dedicated vehicle lanes at certain land border crossings and clear boaters crossing international waters when using Telephone Reporting Centres.
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