# Can the uber-wealthy get into the U.S. undocumented via private-property helipads/airstrips? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872 "2011-06-17T18:58:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872/41 "2011-06-20T19:59:59Z")
The answer, certainly is YES practically, but NO legally. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872/42 "2011-06-21T06:59:30Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > - I think the two real problems for the jumper are being seen visually by someone on the ground, and leaving the landing zone unobtrusively. This suggests a rural landing area, but that’s also more dangerous. While a general area could be guessed, it would be difficult to pre-select a particular spot with any assurance of the plane being routed over it. So the landing area would be a matter of luck and quick decision by the jumper. > > This stuff is fun to think about, but it’s a good thing I’m one of the good guys who is not trying to get away with anything shady! There is probably something I am not seeing, but my thought would be to jump out over Canada and do a HAHO, er so you accidently land on the American side, could happen to anyone. Declan ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872/43 "2011-06-21T11:04:32Z")
You can leave the US from anywhere, but upon return, your first landing in the US has to be at an official Airport of Entry (with on-site Customs service), or an official Landing Rights Airport (no Customs but you have to get their permission before you land there so they can come meet you), or else the jackboots will be on your neck. But in this case, they’d probably let it go with a polite request not to do it again. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872/44 "2011-06-21T15:43:23Z")
Along the Vermont border with Canada there are, or were, a number of small side roads that crossed the border. At least one of them didn’t have a customs station, just a sign that you should turn left and proceed to the customs station on another road a mile or two away. On at least one occasion we came down that road from Canada, and didn’t bother turning left. Apparently no one took any note of it. This has probably changed in the thirty years since. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872/45 "2011-06-21T15:54:14Z")
Rumour has it that a lot of the common “sneak” approaches to the USA from Canada are wired with footstep sensors etc. As for parachuting, etc. - well, anyone can try to sneak into the USA, and might even succeed depending on planning, unexpectedness, and dumb luck. I assume border patrol in some areas of the southern border are overloaded, but I suspect the ones watching Canada and the air approaches have time to look for funny business. However, the answer to the OP is “no”. No matter how rich, you must stop at customs one way or another, and everyone coming in better have the right papers. You mess with the border patrol at your peril. IIRC, if they don’t like what you’ve pulled and they want to be dicks, they can seize your aircraft and auction it off. Even for Bll Gates, that’s not that trivial a cost. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872/46 "2011-06-21T16:16:16Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > However, the answer to the OP is “no”. No matter how rich, you must stop at customs one way or another … Post #5 mentions that a Customs exemptions can be requested and may or may not be given. Is that good information? Would Customs concievably ever “wave someone through”? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872/47 "2011-06-24T21:24:32Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Definitely unofficial, it’s not recognized by the Appalachian Trail Council. There’s no connection from the top of Baxter Peak to where the IAT starts outside of Baxter State Park so it’s not continuous. It covers some very nice terrain but it’s not really part of the AT at this point and likely never will be. According to this is does start at Katahdin > [@](#): > > The IAT extends northeast from the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Katahdin, Maine to Mars Hill, Maine, before following the U.S.-Canada border north to Fort Fairfield, Maine, where it crosses the border into Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. It continues up the Tobique River valley to Mount Carleton before crossing the Miramichi Highlands to the Restigouche River valley in Quebec and along the Chic-Choc Mountains of the Gaspé Peninsula, ending at the peninsula’s easternmost point, Cap Gaspé in Forillon National Park. > End of the trail in Quebec at Cap Gaspé. > > From Cap Gaspé, the IAT skips to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and over the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Newfoundland, where the trail picks up again at Channel-Port aux Basques and follows the west coast of the island up the Great Northern Peninsula before terminating at the island’s northernmost tip, Cape Bauld. From there the IAT skips over the Strait of Belle Isle to the northern terminus of the Appalachian Mountain chain at Belle Isle From [International Appalachian Trail - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Appalachian_Trail) ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872/48 "2011-06-25T14:15:31Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Post #5 mentions that a Customs exemptions can be requested and may or may not be given. Is that good information? Would Customs concievably ever “wave someone through”? I’m more inclined to believe if Bill’s personal assistant forwards (faxes?) to the customs people the names and passpot numbers of all on board, their itinerary out of the country, a list of all good purchased and what import categories they fall under, etc. and has not been a problem in the past - maybe they will simply say “OK, head to your private strip without stopping”. But if he shows up with some foreigner who needs a visa, on an impulse, they will likely be less tolerant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-uber-wealthy-get-into-the-u-s-undocumented-via-private-property-helipads-airstrips/585872.md?page=2)