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Beauty Health & Home

Spring is Here! Get These Top Fashion Trends

The world of fashion is taking a turn in terms of trends and shifting lifestyles. However, this season is all set to unveil some fantastic designs.  According to fashion experts, this spring, bold blue bags or large blazers are not the only raging trends.

Sleek face masks will also dominate fashion weeks. Moreover, you will see some of the influential decades playing a huge role in the season’s looks.

Keep everything cool in swap sweatpants and oversized denim, and see what you will be wearing this spring!

·Oversized Shoulder pad Jacket

Create a long silhouette and get playful with some 80s-inspired oversized blazers.  Wear it with shoulder pads, so your outerwear appears dainty. Cinch it at the waist and elongate your legs for a sophisticated appeal.

Rock this attire with a pair of leather shorts or leg trousers for an ultra-modern and unique style. Colors that go with this trendy outfit include charcoal, powder blue, and neutrals. Dress it down for a casual appeal or up for something more formal.

·Head Scarves

This surprising spring fashion trend takes inspiration from the 60s and the 70 eras. With its effortless aesthetics, the sleek trend is raging in a major way.

Headscarves can protect your head and hair while adding a finishing touch and feel to your outfit. Choose a silky design with lots of floral motifs to keep it spring-themed.  You can also go for intricate patterns or simple designs with bold hues and block letters. 

·Black Face Masks

When it is about protecting you, there is always room to do things creatively and beautifully.

Sleek black masks can match any outfit or dress you wear. Besides looking beautiful, they offer maximum coverage for the mouth and nose. If you want to keep it classy yet secure, go for a light, silky fabric. It looks refreshing and makes breathing easier.

Choose a mask with embellishments for fancier masks. There is no doubt that the beauty behind these face-coverings is the numerous styling opportunities. Wear a red trench coat or color-blocking attire with the mask to look exceptionally stylish.

·Pastel Tones

Another fashion trend that will continue to dominate the season is pastel color tones. The sorbet-inspired hues are a great option for spring and suit a variety of styles and skin tones.  Opt for a boiler suit in mint green or a huge trench coat in sober lavender to keep it sophisticated. Or, you can wear both simultaneously.

Separates and suits in buttery and soft colors elevate your aesthetic and remain one of the coolest styles in the coming season.

Summing Up

In a nutshell, these top trends of the spring season will not only stay for a long time but signify a new beginning as well.  You can reinvigorate your fashion sense with these cool and chic spring fashion trends.  Thus, try them and revamp your wardrobe with stylish additions.

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Health & Home Media Recreation & Leisure Tech & Media

Kentucky Derby is Coming Up! How to Celebrate

The iconic and fun event, Kentucky Derby, launched in September last year but was celebrated with no attendees. The event, with its quirks and fun elements, is back this year and is all set to be celebrated on the first Saturday of this month. But only half of the total percentage of fans will attend the event in person.

But just because you can’t go outside, it’s no excuse to stop celebrating the grand event. That is to say, you can do plenty of things to celebrate the Kentucky Derby at home.

Still unsure how? Keep on reading to find out.

How to Celebrate Kentucky Derby

Decorate Your Home

Undeniably, the Kentucky Derby is an excuse to purchase a new hatfestive outfit, or seersucker suit.  You can easily brighten up the things in your dig by putting up some decorative items. Suppose you want to make it more exciting, set up a booth, and take some fun selfies. Use props to showcase your interesting   Kentucky Derby look.

Play Some Games

The Kentucky Derby is an opportunity to play a variety of unique games, such as wagering on a champion. Don’t hesitate to wager anything from candies, hats to money to keep the feel light.

Buy some fun and exciting Kentucky Derby-themed games, like a selfie scavenger hunt, scratch-off cards, or pin the tail on the horse from Amazon, along with the prize bags. 

Don’t Forget the Dress Code

If you don’t feel like celebrating alone, how about throwing a mini party? Play games with your guests to celebrate the grand event. 

But remember that your party will be incomplete without a Derby day dress code.  Set a theme as a host and let your guests follow the lead. You have a margin to go all out with a dramatic dress, major hat, or a full suit.  In short, you can wear anything that appeals to your eyes.

You can go for a bold cap or festive fascinator, with any printed ensemble or bright dress for the ladies. However, guys can stick to the seasonal essentials such as Derby-specific ornaments like a needlepoint belt or a pocket square.  Even a colorful suit can do the job.

After all, the Kentucky Derby is not the time to feel understated!

Prepare the Delicious Signature Derby Drink- a Mint Julep

 It goes without saying that a signature Derby drink- mint julep is what completes the Derby party.  The refreshing drink became official in 1938. Today, people serve more than 120,000 mint juleps during Derby season at Churchill Downs.

The julep recipe includes bourbon, water sugar, crushed ice, and fresh mint.  But it doesn’t mean that you can’t add your twist to this drink. You can search for some interesting additions to your Juleps and turn them into a cocktail.

Summing Up

All in all, if you can’t go out but don’t want to miss the Kentucky Derby, the following ideas are fantastic to make the most of your Derby celebrations.

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Health & Home Media Recreation & Leisure Tech & Media

The Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2021

As we spend most of our time indoors, we have more time to satisfy our literary thirst by diving into our favorite reading lists. The literary landscape of 2021 is packed with promises. Here is a list of some of the most anticipated books that will help you escape from the pandemic world to indulge in an exciting and comforting affair.

While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams has eight published romantic books under her belt. ‘While Justice Sleeps’ is a story of Avery Keene, a young and intelligent law clerk, juggling her career demands with family troubles. Her life takes a dramatic turn when the renowned justice for whom she works goes into a state of coma for God Knows how much time. She takes over and becomes his legal guardian and power of attorney. As she takes her boss’s position, there is a series of controversies, political conspiracy, and more that won’t let you divert your attention to anything else when you read through.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

This book focuses on the life of a black girl, Nella Rogers, who works at Wagner Books as an editorial assistant. Till now, she’s the only black woman working at Wagner when Hazel, another black editorial assistant, steps in. This makes Nella ecstatic, and the two of them start working together, sharing their thoughts, interests, and frustrations until Hazel starts to rise in ranks while Nella stays behind.

One day, Nella sees a note saying ‘LEAVE WAGNER’ on her desk, and from there, the story of this intriguing novel takes a real flight. It is filled with unexpected and unsettling twists that’ll keep you engrossed throughout.

The Push by Ashley Audrain

If you are a fan of psychological thriller, this book is for you, which focus on the relationship between mother and daughter. Before the birth of Blythe’s daughter, she wants to develop deep bonding with her girl, which she could never have with her mother. But after the arrival of Violet, all her expectations go in vain as there was something wrong with that little girl. Then there is a stream of tragic and tense events that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford

This is a debut memoir of Ashley C. Ford in which she retraces the memories of her childhood and tells the heartfelt story of the imprisonment of her father, which she has not shared with anyone for a reason. She has layered the story in the complexities of her transforming body, relationship with her mother, and an abusive boyfriend. All this makes a heart-wrenching mix that’ll make you cry at times while reading this book.

One Last Stop By Casey McQuiston

This book is a light-hearted and charming romantic comedy that’ll take you on a fanciful journey. A 23 years old pessimistic woman who recently moved to New York falls hard for another woman whom she sees in a subway. The twist in the story is that the woman she falls for does not actually belong to this time but from the 1970s. She sets a stage for a unique and dazzling, fun-filled romance with plenty of humor.

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Health & Home Media Recreation & Leisure Tech & Media

7 Netflix Features We Can’t Wait to Watch

Netflix is coming with tons of new series and movies this season. Whether you love fantasy dramas, crime, sci-fi thrillers, nature docs, or reality shows, Netflix has you covered. While there is a long list of arrivals, we are eagerly looking forward to these 7 series on this largest streaming service. Just make sure to be strategic with your queue and enjoy quality time.

1. Jupiter’s Legacy Season 1

This series is based on the popular novels of Frank Quietly and Mark Millar. It will have eight episodes that promise to give you a lot of action and drama. You can watch its first episode on May 7 to know how one generation of superheroes or Earth’s protectors will pass on their legacy to new warriors.

2. A Boy Called Christmas

As the name suggests, this is a Christmas film that tells the story of a young boy called Nikolas. What’s special about the boy is that he was born on Christmas Day. He sets out on a journey to find his father, who is a woodcutter. You can watch Nikolas’s extraordinary adventure in November 2021.

3. Oxygen

It is a sci-fi adventure that will keep you curious throughout the season. This survival thriller is the story of a woman who wakes up in a cryogenic chamber and does not remember how she got there. Will she be able to escape before suffocating? This Netflix series begins streaming on May 12.

4. The Woman in the Window

Your wait is over! The Woman in the Window is finally coming to your screens after many delays due to pandemic-related and other problems. But now you don’t have to wait at all. You can watch this series on May 14 that revolves around the story of an agoraphobic woman. She believes that she has seen the murder of her neighbor, but she will have a hard time proving it.

5. Tall Girl 2

This is one series that girls will love to watch. You might know that Tall Girl was first released in 2019 but faced a lot of criticism because of height discrimination. The directors have worked hard to eliminate the concerns of the viewers in the coming series, which will be on Netflix in September 2021.

6. Don’t Look Up

If you want to watch the best film in 2021, then you should go for Don’t Look Up. You can see many popular celebrities, like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, and others, in this movie. We must say, Leonardo DiCaprio’s presence is enough to force you to watch this movie.

7. Too Hot To Handle Season 2

This is a ridiculously amazing Netflix dating game series. The new episodes of Too Hot to Handle will begin streaming in June. It’s a Love Island-style experiment in romance.

Bottom Line

These are only a few of many new series, shows, and movies you can enjoy this Spring. If you can’t wait, you can binge-watch Outlander, Concrete Cowboy, and Thunder force on Netflix right now.

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Health & Home Media Recreation & Leisure Tech & Media

15 Books to Read if You Loved “Bridgerton”

If you loved Bridgerton, a story focusing on the romantic entanglements of eight close-knit siblings, and want to read more novels like it, you need to read the books we have listed below.

1. The Duke and I

This is an amazing series, and each book in this series is about one of the eight Bridgerton siblings. Not to mention, each book ends with the idea of happily ever after and covers their journey in an attempt to find love. 

2. The Countess Conspiracy

You can read more about Bridgerton brothers Benedict, Anthony, and Colin in this book. The best part of this book is that it reveals some shocking and mysterious actions of the Bridgerton family that you may not have heard before.

3. Bridgerton Collection Volume 3: The Last Two Books in the Bridgerton Series and the First Bridgerton Prequel

It is a collection of several books, including “In His Kiss” and “On the Way to the Wedding.” You can also read one of the most popular novels, “Because of Miss Bridgerton,” the primary reason for this series’ fame.

4. My Beautiful Enemy

As of its name, it brings the thrill, romance, and much more to the reader. You will also find about many scandals, the reunion of Catherine and a Chinese courtesan.

5. Hello Stranger: The Ravenels, Book 4

This book contains some amazing, descriptive, and mind-blowing phrases that will keep you captivated from start to the end of the novel. It is a combination of the historical and modern way of writing.

6. The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics: Feminine Pursuits

If you are looking for a book that is free of patriarchal ideology, then this is best for you. This is a different novel, like Bridgeton, that is the story of two incredibly intellectual women.

7. Rebel: Women Who Dare

Rebel is a novel set in the period after the Civil War in New Orleans. It revolves around a strong female character that is amazing and badass at the same time. She is determined to teach the children in the community despite facing resistance.

8. My Fake Rake

This novel tells the story of Lafe Grace Wyatt, who wants to grab the attention of a handsome gentleman. For this reason, she uses several tactics to make this naturalist fall for her.

9. A Gentleman Never Keeps Score

You can find everything in this book, including romance, thrill, drama, and much more. We must say this is a series that shows you the meaning of happily ever after.

10. The Luckiest Lady in London

It is a book of historical romance that shows both the negative and positive sides of society. This book reveals how society can make or break one’s perception. You will also read about a surprising wedding that helps a man to rise in his career.

11. Brazen and the Beast

The heroine of this novel decides to live her life to the fullest. She is ready to welcome all the pleasure and happiness in her life, which she was neglecting since she received spinster status.

12. While the Duke Was Sleeping

In this book, Poppy Fairchurch dreams of romancing the Duke of Auntenberry. This book is rich in fantasy, romance, and thrill, which makes it best for you to read.

13. The Marriage Game

As the name suggests, this novel revolves around marriages. If you love the character of Mrs. Bridgerton, then you will also love Layla Patel’s aunties. 

14. My Lady’s Choosing

If you are looking for the easiest way to love without dressing up, society drama, and encountering matchmaking mamas, then this book is ideal for you. This book contains great romance and adventure that will keep you curious till the end.

15. The Bromance Book Club

It is the story of the strapping alpha males who try to learn about the methods to attract women. They use tactics and strategies to make women fall for them.

Bottom Line

Bridgerton is a story that has all the elements, from interesting characters, romance, and thrill, you will find all in the same book. And if you are a fan of this series set in the Regency era in England, you will enjoy reading the books we have mentioned above.

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Financial Health & Home Savings Wellness

5 Simple Lifestyle Swaps That Can Save You Money

Trying to save money can be difficult, especially at the beginning. Most people aren’t exactly sure how much money they spend every month and therefore end up overspending.

Maybe you are saving up for a purchase or may you’re just wanting to be better with your finances, either way, these five simple steps will go a long way.

Make a budget

Having a budget using a simple tool like a spreadsheet can show you how much money you can afford to spend in each area of your life. Save receipts or go back through your bank transactions and see how much you really spend every month.

Looking at the numbers may surprise you. Keeping track of expenses is the start of knowing how much money comes in and how much comes out.

Consider taking out the money you can afford to spend out in cash. Then, once this money is gone, you wait until the next month to withdraw money again.

Eat at home

This one is a basic step, but that’s because it really does save hundreds a month. You don’t have to be a chef or a whiz in the kitchen. Just make simple meals that you enjoy eating so you are less likely to order takeout.

Have one day a week that you eat out or order food so that you have that day to look forward to. You can also meal prep so that the food is ready for you whenever you need it.

If you hate cooking, sign up for a meal delivery service that is in your budget to help you out. Consider only drinking water as well to save money you spend on soda or alcohol.

Ditch cable or some streaming services to save money

Spending a few dollars a month on several streaming services may not seem like too much, but things quickly add up. Take a look at what you really watch and what you can go without.

Cancel all the services you do not use often, especially cable, as this can be the most expensive. Most streaming services probably offer most of the shows you watch anyway.

Do more things yourself

Is there a service that you pay for that you could really be doing yourself?

Go through the services you use and find out. Sometimes this can be paying for pest control, lawn care, or car washing services. If you have time to do these things yourself, cut the services.

Start being a coupon clipper to save money

Actually, you don’t have to clip. Most coupons can be found online. Check online at the places you normally shop or go to. Chances are there are coupons online somewhere for all the businesses you frequent.

Even just using a few coupons a month can save you tons of dollars throughout the course of the year.

Sometimes buying in bulk with coupons can save you more money later. Having more supplies in your home can keep you from constantly buying the same items every few days or weeks.

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Health & Home Recreation & Leisure Wellness

15 Ways to Celebrate Yourself That Cost No Money

Taking care of yourself and celebrating yourself is crucial to optimizing your mental and physical health. Some people don’t practice self-care because they think it has to be expensive.

Try these 15 ways of taking care of yourself that are absolutely free.

1. Write down your achievements

At the end of each week, write down everything you accomplished. These can be personal achievements or professional ones. This a perfect way to celebrate yourself and all that you have accomplished!

2. Organize your home

Cleaning out an old closet or room in your house can make you feel like you unburdened yourself. Take a few hours to organize and clean.

3. Get outside and celebrate

Being outside can make you feel like a new person. Spend a few hours reading, hiking, or just being in the sun.

4. Make a playlist

Create a playlist of songs that make you feel good and motivated. Listen to it every time you get something done.

5. Make a fancy meal for yourself

Use food you already have in your house to treat yourself to a fancy meal. If you don’t like to cook, make yourself a fancy coffee drink.

6. Journal about yourself

Write down things you have done lately that you are proud of. Look to the future and list some things you want to accomplish within the next few weeks or months.

7. Celebrate your brain

Celebrate your intelligence by learning a new skill. This can be done by downloading a language learning app or by listening to podcasts or Ted talks to get inspired.

8. Learn a new hobby

Many hobbies can be done at home and online for free. Try to think of something simple you have always wanted to do. Maybe it’s yoga and you can watch and practice free yoga videos.

9. Celebrate someone else

What better way to celebrate yourself than by celebrating a friend or family member? Send flowers to someone you know who just achieved something. Invite them over for a movie or walk to spend time talking with them.

10. Read a book

Taking time to finish that book you’ve had sitting around can make you feel like you did something productive. Ask to borrow a book from a friend if you want to, this way you’re not spending money.

11. Get up for the sunrise

Rising early can make you feel accomplished and productive. Spending some time outdoors at the beginning of the day also makes the rest of your day peaceful.

12. Make a routine

People who follow routines often get more done. This will give you more time to celebrate yourself.

13. Do an at-home spa day

Use cosmetic items you already have around the house and make a spa day for yourself.  You could take a warm bath or do a face mask. This is a perfect self-care day.

14. Get away from the phone

You don’t have to be on someone’s radar all the time. Set the phone down and think about yourself. You deserve to celebrate you!

15. Take a nap

Celebrate your day or morning by resting and spending some time alone.

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Financial Health & Home Savings Wellness

5 Things To Do For Your Future Without Spending

So many people have a good idea of where they want to be in the future. We envision ourselves working until a certain age in a career that we love, often living in a particular area in our dream home, while not worrying about money, and being able to live a life that we enjoy.

While this is something that many people can admit that they do, often advice on how to get there can seem sparse. But luckily there is some good information out there, and we’ve compiled 5 of the best things you can do today to put yourself on a better path for the future, for free.

1.   Start the habits that you want to see your future self practicing.

This goes for just about anything, from quitting smoking, exercise more consistently, painting, reading more, spending money more sensibly, literally anything. If you take small steps to incorporate this new activity or habit into your life, it will be easier to carry that small step into additional actions. If you are wanting to start a new hobby or learn a new skill, try to set aside 30 minutes a day to work on that activity. It will pay dividends.

2.   Keep your credit in the back of your mind.

It is used to score you for so many things, it just makes sense to keep your credit in as good of shape as you can. This means monitoring your credit and credit score, paying down old debt if you have any, and improving your credit where possible.

3.   Automate your saving and investing.

With apps like Stash, Acorns, Robinhood, and even Cashapp, you can automate saving and investing your money. Make sure you aren’t letting all your money sit and die of inflation in a savings account, though. Keep a liquid emergency fund, and invest the rest in stocks, bonds, and crypto to generate passive and retirement income with almost zero effort over time.

4.   Learn the difference in various retirement accounts before you need one.

The best time to start investing is whenever you can start. Employer-offered funds like a 401(k) are perfect starting points, particularly with many companies offering matching up to a certain point. Not only is it smart to invest early and often, but you can invest from pre-tax money to reduce your tax liability, and an employer match is basically free money.

5.   Test yourself monthly by cutting out one paid “extra” each month.

This can be almost anything that you pay for as an extra. One of the many streaming services, eating at a particular fast-food restaurant, a subscription box, and so on would be a perfect example. You cancel or cut one out for a month, and see if you can live without it. Many times we forget that we have grown attached to many “needs” that are actually well-disguised “wants”. Skipping a month here and there can save big bucks and build big discipline.

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Financial Health & Home Home Improvement Tax Services

Are Home Improvements Tax Deductible?

Tax code is a complex web of rules and regulations. Things you would never expect to be tax deductible are, while others that you might be certain are tax deductible are not. So, are home improvements tax deductible?

No, they are not ordinarily tax deductible. But that is not the full story.

What Home Improvements Are Not Deductible?

Home improvements will not count as tax credits on a home that you are currently using yourself. Whether it is a home you live in year-round, or a beach house you live in during the summer, these are the kinds of homes that you get no tax credit for improving.

However, you can get tax credit for the improvements you make to a home (or part of a home) that you use as part of a business.

If you sell a home, for instance, or if you rent it out during certain parts of the year, then the improvements you make to it become business expenses.

What kind of improvements count as the kind that will give you tax deductions?

Well, so long as the improvements extend the life of the home, or adapt it to new situations, the improvement will count as a tax deduction. Sadly, this means that luxuries like entertainment systems and saunas do not count as tax credits.

Interestingly, the definition of “improvements” in the context of taxes is rather specific. If you repair your roof or prepare it for harsh weather, that counts as an improvement that can be tax deductible if you sell or rent out the home.

If you call an exterminator to clear the house of bed bugs, rats, or termites, that can also count.

But what if you do not have a second home to rent out?

What if you do not plan to sell your current home before the end of the year? Is there anything you can do?

Well, yes. Odd as it is, if you register your home office as a part of your business, then money that you spend on that office is tax deductible. Sadly, this does not come with as many loopholes as you might think it does.

You cannot just install a new entertainment system, call it your office’s break room, then expect to be able to write that off as tax deductible.

A good example of how the office deductions work is thinking of replacing your roof or windows. If you replace five windows, but only one window for your office, then 20% of the cost of those window replacements is deductible.

One very important note: Improvements can only be deductible if they exist at the time taxes are incurred. So, if you install weathering on your home, but that weathering is gone by the time you sell your home, then you cannot use that weathering as a tax deduction.

Taxes are a truly dizzying maze of rules and regulations. While home improvements are not meant to be deductible, doing so is still possible.

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Health & Home Recreation & Leisure

TSA Pre-Check & Global Entry: What To Know

Veteran travelers leverage Global Entry and TSA Pre-Check programs to make sure they speed through security checks, get stuck for fewer screenings, and overall enjoy a less personally intrusive pre-boarding experience. Many people who do not fly much aren’t clear on the differences, or what each program entails. That’s what we’re going to break down and look at. Is one better for your personal travel style? Let’s find out.

What Is TSA Pre-Check

At its core, TSA Pre-Check is a membership program with dedicated lines in security checkpoints. Membership in the program allows approved travelers to use expedited services and deal with less personally intrusive screening methods than non-member travelers.

At security points, member travelers will go through metal detectors instead of the full-body scans that people often find uncomfortable. They get to keep their shoes and light coats on. They do not have to remove their computers or liquids from their storage area.

TSA PreCheck uses more than 200 airports across the US, with a total of 73 airlines accepting passengers with TSA PreCheck clearance. The drawback is that it is only used for domestic flights, so if you’re traveling abroad, TSA PreCheck is not going to do you any good.

What Is Global Entry

Global Entry is a membership program designed for international travelers. Not only does it grant member travelers all of the same domestic benefits of TSA PreCheck, but it also provides speedier entry to the US upon return through customs and immigration. This can make the return home from travel abroad smoother for travelers since re-entry to the US can be tedious.

Global Entry member travelers can use their benefits at 75 US and international airports. Some international airports even allow Global Entry members to get their customs clearance prior to their initial departure, instead of once they arrive back in the States.

What You Need To Know

Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are just two of the US Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler programs. There are also the Canadian NEXUS program, as well as the Sentri and FAST programs of both Canada and Mexico. All of these all the prescreening of travelers in order to get expedited admission to the country of destination.

Who Is Eligible To Get TSA PreCheck Or Global Entry?

Any US citizen or permanent resident can obtain applications for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, as well as citizens of:

  • The UK
  • Taiwan
  • Switzerland
  • South Korea
  • Singapore
  • Panama
  • India
  • Germany
  • Colombia
  • Argentina

Canadian and Mexican citizens as well as residents can also apply for Global Entry benefits when applying for NEXUS.

There are some disqualifying factors that will prevent some people from being able to gain membership to the Trusted Traveler programs. These include:

  • Conviction of a criminal offense, have pending or outstanding warrants
  • Ineligible for immigration
  • Providing incorrect or inaccurate application information
  • Cannot prove low-risk status to Customs & Border Patrol
  • Previous violation of customs or immigration law