Customs & Border Protection (CBP) announced July 11, 2012, that three years residence in Canada would no longer be required to qualify for the Nexus frequent traveler program.

Under Nexus, Canadians who are pre-screened may enter the United States more easily and quickly at air, land and marine ports.

Previously, a Canadian citizens must have resided in Canada for three years prior to registering under Nexus. Now this residence period will no longer be required. 

Nexus can be very helpful in certain situations and alleviate long delays at ports of entry. However, Canadians and businesses that employ them should remember that Nexus entries are visitor entries and as such are not authorized for employment.

Other statuses, such as TN under NAFTA, L-1 or H-1B (and others) can be used to facilitate cross-border work, depending on the situation.  It is important to have the right status for entry from Canada because border adjudication is notoriously unpredictable and a denial at entry can be frustrating, expensive and potentially a problem for future entries.