canada has serious issues. I wanted to go for a conference there + meet a few startups. Turns out you need 2 months to get a tourist/business visa!
I've been to Vancouver many times as a tourist, a few times for conferences / standards meetings, no problem, no visa required.
This doesn't sound right.
A former employer of mine had U.S. based employees that were subject experts / trainers on proprietary systems - Written internally, used internally. We had to do training sessions via teleconference after the border services turned our trainer back. Our Legal followed up with border services and was given the requirement that we advertise nationally for someone to fill the training role for a period of i-can't-recall how many weeks then re-apply if not able to fill the role from a hardworking but unemployed fellow Canadian.
It was utter crap. Time we didn't have to look for a person who didn't ( couldn't ) exist seeing as it was a new system, written outside Canada. Trainers had crossed previously to fill similar roles without issue. go figure. We ended up doing it over the phone..
As a Canadian travelling to the US for business, we have the same process. But if you're going to a conference, you're fine, I used to do it all the time (from Canada to the US).
Who told you it was going to take two months?
My favorite Nexus benefit is avoiding hours of waiting in line at major US/Canada border crossings, especially on holiday weekends.
One potential drawback for some people is that applicants to Trusted Traveler programs receive a criminal background check.
US government Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Info: http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/eng_map.html