FAST Card for Commercial Drivers

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The FAST card (Free and Secure Trade) is an identification card which allows truck drivers to cross the US-Canada or US-Mexico border in their commercial vehicle more quickly and with less hassle. This is because all FAST card holders are first pre-screened with thorough background checks and are then interviewed to make sure they are low-risk. Over 78,000 drivers are FAST card holders.

The US-Canada and US-Mexico FAST card programs are separate from each other. You cannot use your US-Canada FAST card at the US-Mexico border or use your US-Mexico FAST card at the US-Canada border. You can apply for both cards at the same time, but you have to file two separate applications and attend two separate interviews.

INDEX

Who can get a FAST card?

US-Canada FAST program eligibility requirements – The driver must:

• Be either a citizen or Permanent Resident of either the United States or Canada,
• Be 18 or older,
• Possess a valid commercial driver’s license,
• Be admissible to the United States and Canada (must not have any criminal convictions or immigration violations).
• Have a visa to enter the United States or Canada if necessary (permanent residents may need a visa depending on which country they are citizens of)

For naturalized citizens of the US or Canada, it is recommended that you have been a citizen for at least 3 years.

US-Mexico FAST program eligibility requirements – The driver must:

• Be either a citizen or Permanent Resident of either the United States, Canada, or Mexico,
• Be 18 or older,
• Possess a valid commercial driver’s license,
• Be admissible to the United States (must not have any criminal convictions or immigration violations).
• Have a visa to enter the United States or Mexico if necessary (permanent residents may need a visa depending on which country they are citizens of)

The US-Canada and US-Mexico FAST programs have almost identical requirements, except that citizens and permanent residents of Mexico are NOT eligible for the US-Canada FAST program.

Documents Needed to apply for a FAST card

To apply for a FAST card, you have to have documents showing proof of your citizenship, proof that you can legally live in the United States or Canada, and proof of your address.

• valid passport;
• birth certificate and photo ID;
• U.S. citizenship certificate;
• certificate of naturalization; or
• border crossing card.
• Certificate of Indian Blood

• valid passport;
• birth certificate and photo ID;
• Canadian citizenship certificate (with photo) or card; or
• Certificate of Indian Status.
• Certificate of Retention of Canadian Citizenship

• valid passport from your home country

• US birth certificate
• valid Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)

• Canadian birth certificate
• valid Permanent Resident Card
• IMM1000 Record of Landing document

• valid US or Canadian permanent resident card (Green Card)
• IMM1000 Record of Landing Document (Canada)
• US, Canadian, or Mexican visa (if applicable)

• valid driver’s licence;
• other state or provincial identification card;
• other federal identification card; or
• any document with a current address (e.g. current bill, invoice, bank statement).

Benefits of a FAST card

When you have a FAST card, you can enjoy

• Access to dedicated FAST lanes at the border for shorter lines and wait times
• Faster and easier security checks at the border
• Less hassle from border guards
• Priority (front of the line) processing for Customs and Border Patrol inspections
• Using your FAST card as proof of citizenship and identity

How the FAST card works

As a FAST card holder, when you arrive at the US-Canada or US-Mexico border, you scan the barcode on your FAST card at the dedicated terminal. If there is no automated barcode scanner, you present your fast card to the border officer along with your passport, bill of lading, inbound cargo manifest, and customs declaration form. The officer will scan the barcodes on the documents and the verifications of the information on the documents will be done at a later time, after you have already left the border.

This more efficient processing of low-risk loads allows shorter wait times for drivers.

FAST card application process overview

When you apply for a FAST card with Border Cards, here is what happens:

First, you fill out the application as much as you can. You can do this online, or by printing the application and completing it by hand and sending it to us by fax, email, mail, or dropping it off in person.

Next, we review your application and fix any mistakes that could cause your application to be rejected or delayed. We will also let you know if it looks like you may not be eligible to apply, or if there is something that could cause you to be refused.

Then, we submit your FAST card application to the government for you.

When the government receives your application, they will do background checks on you in both the United States and Canada or Mexico depending on which program you are enrolling in. Primarily they are checking for criminal history and immigration violations. You must pass the background checks in both countries to be issued a FAST card. This process takes about 8 weeks for most applicants, and we will monitor the progress of your application during this time.

After the background checks are completed, you are either “conditionally approved” or rejected for a FAST card. If you are conditionally approved, we will contact you for your preferred time and location and then schedule the interview on your behalf with the government.

At the end of your interview, you will be told whether you have been approved for your FAST card or not. If you are approved, you will receive your FAST card by mail in around 7 business days. If you are rejected, sometimes you will be given a reason such as criminal convictions, but sometimes you will just be told that you don’t meet the requirements.

Please click here for more information if you were rejected for a FAST card.

FAST interview locations

US-Canada FAST card enrollment centres:

900 International Bridge Plaza
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783

Tuesday – Wednesday
Noon – 8:00 PMThursday – Saturday
8:00 AM – 4:00 PMClosed Sundays and Mondays

US-Mexico FAST card enrollment centres:

Reasons your FAST card application may be refused

If you don’t meet the background check standards for both the United States and Canada or Mexico, your application for a FAST card will not be approved. Your application can be refused at the time of your interview, or before at the pre-approval stage. Please see the list below of common reasons that an application may not be approved.

• Submitting false, incorrect, or incomplete info on your application
• Having been convicted of any criminal offense
• Having violated the customs or immigration laws of any country
• (for Canadians) Having failed to get a US Waiver before entering the US if you need one
• Not meeting any other requirements of the program

Criminal History

If you are an American citizen and a criminal history is holding you back from getting a FAST card, applying for Criminal Rehabilitation through the Canadian government may help you meet Canada’s background check requirements for the FAST card.

Or, if you are a Canadian citizen with a criminal history, applying for a US Waiver may help you pass the FAST card background checks.

But, please note that if you have criminal convictions in your background, it will be the personal decision of the officer reviewing your application whether or not you will be approved. Being approved for Criminal Rehabilitation in Canada or a Waiver in the US does not guarantee that you will be approved for a FAST card. In most cases, applicants with criminal history are refused.

Next Steps after your FAST card application was refused

If your application for a FAST card has been denied, there are steps you can take to appeal this decision. But, there are seperate appeal processes depending on whether you are an American or a Canadian citizen. If you need help appealing a FAST card application refusal, contact us.

Americans

If your application was refused, the first step is to schedule an appointment to speak with a supervisor and explain why you think you should have been approved.

If the supervisor does not reverse the decision and approve your FAST card application, you can email or write to the Customs and Border Patrol Ombudsman and explain why it should be approved. You should cite evidence of why you think you should have been approved when speaking with the supervisor or the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman can be contacted at this address:

US Customs and Border Protection

Attn: CBP Ombudsman

Canadians

If your FAST card application was refused, the first thing you can do is send a letter to the Processing Centre where your application was processed. Your letter must be sent within 30 days of the time your application was rejected or your FAST card was suspended. You will get the result of the appeal in writing.

If the decision was not reversed and your application was not approved, you can write to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and present your situation and evidence again. You can write to CBSA at:

Canada Border Services Agency
Recourse Directorate
1686 Woodward Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0L8
Fax: 613-960-5129

Finally, you have the option to take your case to Federal Court.

Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME)

If your job involves transporting materials classed as “hazardous”, you may need a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) on your commercial Driver’s License, which will show that you have passed the required security checks.