CALGARY- NEXUS cards have proven popular for frequent travellers looking to save time by bypassing immigration lines at the airport. However, those applying for the program are being warned about the application process.
Canada Border Services charges $50 for each application, but some people have inadvertently ended up paying more by going through a third party.
George and Michele Matyus didn’t know how much a NEXUS card cost, and when they searched in online they came across a website they thought was connected to the government.
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The couple downloaded the forms, at a cost of $150 each. They discovered later that the website belongs to a private immigration company, and want to warn others from making the same costly mistake.
“It was fairly simple. We have our passports, everything was straight-forward and we should have only paid $50,” says Michele Matyus. “We got the same service from this other group as we would have from the government site.”
Canada Border Services says it’s aware of the problem.
“There are third party service providers out there that are charging additional fees,” says Kayla Wenzel, a CBS officer. “All of those additional fees are not customs required. They’re not from Canada Border Services and we do not receive those monetary instruments.”
Only certified immigration consultants or lawyers can charge service fees, but they cannot help get documents faster. While the form may be filled out sooner, applicants still have to wait for an interview to get their NEXUS card on a first come, first served basis.
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