Crossing the Canadian border from the U.S.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

So, after 6 years of living within a few hours travel of the border, I’ve finally decided to take a trip into Canada.

I’ve never been outside of the U.S., and do not have a passport.

I’ve talked to a few people and checked out the border patrol websites on both sides and think I will be okay provided I bring with me: my drivers license, my birth certificate, my car’s registration, and my insurance card.

I’ve heard a 101 horror stories about crossing, particularly it seems, on the way back into the U.S., and I want to be sure I have all of my bases covered.

I do not intend on purchasing anything or carrying anything other than basic toiletries in either direction, so, is there anything else you’d recommend I bring with me?

Also, out of pure ignorance and naivete, should I bring cash/travelers cheques, or are debit cards issued in the States accepted there?

Or maybe just share a horror story so I can really start to worry…

2

Yeah, you should be able to go through the border without a passport, but the agents will probably hassle you about it.

Yes, you can use your debit card.

Depending on where and when you cross the border, you could potentially be in for a long wait. (Horror story: It once took me six hours to cross the border returning from a visit over Thanksgiving.) I make sure to keep a book or magazine in my car, along with a bottle of water or whatever. And keep an eye out for places to use the restroom. (Horror story: That crossing was like one endless Kegel exercise before I reached the exit lane for the bathrooms.)

3

Don’t exchange cash before you go. You get better exchange rates in Canada.

To help getting back to the US (the US border guards are not so nice anymore) it might help to also bring a stack of bills that show you live where you say you do.

4

Hey the let serial killers cross the border all the time? Why worry?

5

I live in Vermont, and cross the border with relative frequency for random pleasure and Dopefests. I have never been asked for anything beyond my drivers license either crossing into or out of Canada. I’ve probably made the trip 20 or 30 times.

I pretty much always pay with everything I can with my debit card. I like to have 30 bucks with me in Canadian so I can pya for parking and non-credit-accepting establishments.

6

Just carry a gun and act violent. The canadian border guards are unarmed and have been instructed to allow violent criminals through.

Of course, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will pick you up shortly thereafter but think of the stories you’ll have if/when you get back to the US.

7

My friend and I decided to drive my pickup from California to Vancouver, BC, for a little unplanned vacation. We trade off driving, and she is behind the wheel when we arrive at the border.

Guard: Do you have any fruits or vegetables?

My friend: No.

Guard: Do you have any plants or animals?

My friend: No.

Guard: Do you have any guns or ammunition?

My friend: Why, do you want to buy some?
Isn’t she a hoot? :rolleyes: The guard asked us to park in stall No. 3, where they took my truck completely apart over the next three hours.

Moral of the story: Never tell jokes to guards at the border unless you have several hours to kill.

–or–

Never drive to Canada with a smart-eleck friend.

8

My friend went to Ottowa once. He used a public toilet there, and, well… to make a long story short - they had to cut off his leg.

Oh wait. That was New Delhi!
This isn’t where I parked my car!

9

Really? I am now going to have to refrain from ever driving across that border again, because I might just be tempted…

10

Yup, true story. We watched them from the window in the little scary beige office as I gave my friend a ration of shit. They took out the bench seat, pulled out things from under the dash, took some stuff out from the engine (covers and whatnot; they put them back) and had TWO guys crawl around on the ground looking underneath.

I was only 24 at the time, and it scared the crap outa me. It didn’t ruin our trip, though. I LOVE Canadians. :wink:

11

The one time I’ve ever crossed back into the U.S. from Canada, it was a mior PITA (in Detroit; if I do it again by car, I’ll try Port Huron instead). Conversation with Homeland Security dude (who looked about 12 years old) went something like this:

HS: Citizenship? (as I hand him my handy-dandy blue U.S. passport, showing boringly non-ethnic name and birthplace which was the original capital of the U.S., but also showing somewhat ethnic-looking photo)

Me: U.S.

HS: What were you doing in Canada? How long were you there?

Me: Crossed over Thursday morning, just came for a bit of vacation to see some friends in Toronto.

HS: Friends? Where do you know them from?

Me: ::sigh::: Long story - basically, the Internet.

HS: Please hand me your car keys and pop open your trunk.

::rummages around in trunk for a few seconds, finding nothing more interesting than some kitchen equipment and random Canadian souvenir-type stuff::

HS: How often do you go to Canada?

Me: Actually, this was my first time.

HS: What do you do for a living?

Me: Actually, this is kind of random - I’m an immigration paralegal.

HS: Why do you have a food processor in your trunk?

Me: (do I explain that I’m a huge cooking geek? Nah, that’s a longer conversation than I feel like having at the moment - need to get home)

Well, we were going to do some cooking, and my hosts didn’t have one, so I brought mine.

::exchange remaining pleasantries and drive off::

Now how was any of that interchange useful for anything? I have no bloody idea. Perhaps he was trying to protect the U.S. from my evil commie borsch-making equipment.

12

I’ve experienced both extremes. The nasty extreme tends to be crossing to the U.S. When I was about 23 (1989?) and looking scruffy, I went to visit a friend at University in Indiana with a scruffy looking friend. We crossed at the Detroit tunnel. We were only delayed by 2 hours while they searched the car and strip-searched us.

I avoided the Detroit border for a good 10 years until my wifes parents moved to Indiana, and we now make regular trips through there. In the fall of 2001, there were very long lines and many people checking the car and talking to us at the same time. The questions were very thorough. Since then I have found that the trips and questions have become less ‘stringent’.

The worst experience at the Canadian customs was probably as bad as the best experience at the U.S. customs. The best was “Citizenship?” “How long have you been gone?” “Have a good day.” My father-in-law routinely has the customs guy ask “Citizenship?” while looking at the newspaper and a quick “Have a good day.”

13

I crossed in August from NYS into Ontario. Into CA I showed my driver’s license, they asked where I was going (Toronto) and why (see a friend). Asked my friend’s name. The agent asked me to remove my sunglasses (actually, photosensitive eyeglasses) and then waved me thru.

Coming back, they asked me where I went, how long I was there, why did I go up, my friend’s name, how I knew her, how I knew she was in Toronto (uh, she told me? If she wasn’t, would I have been gone 5 days?).

I think they just try to see if you have reasonable answers to questions. I do not fit the profile of Al-Queda (I’m a blue eyed man in his 40s).

14

I live near Buffalo and go into Canada a lot. I’ve been to Toronto a few times this summer. I’ve never had a problem, even years when we were a carload of young guys going to see the ‘ballet.’ (The drinking age in Ontario is 19 and there are a number of establishments in Fort Erie Ontario that have live entertainment of young ladies in various mode of undress.)

With valid ID and if you are a US citizen, they must let you back in the country. Maybe detain you, but they have to let you in. The Canadians are pretty easygoing and never given me a hard time as a tourist. The other magic phrase these days is to say you are going to the casino. They let anybody in.

Friday nights and Sunday nights are notorious for heavy traffic and long lines. Plan for this and enjoy the Great White North. Don’t forget your long johns and Parka. :smiley:

15

Last time I crossed was a year ago Labour Day. My husband and I and some friends were going down to visit some friends in Pennsylvania. We crossed at Kingston. We got very pointed questions about where all of us lived and worked, but no strip searching. The border crossing home was relaxed.

I’m amazed they didn’t search us the time that we drove down to Arkansas with a carful of scruffy looking people. I did pick up that they thought we were nuts to be driving from nice, cool Ontario down to Arkansas. In August.

I think your trip should be fine.

16

The only time I’ve ever been given a hard time returning to Canada is when we came back, with a young lady, who had not been with us originally, who was going to come and talk at our university about her experiences vacationing in Europe for free using Esperanto, and who had no fixed return date, and whom they therefore suspected of coming to Canada to work.

17

How many other countries can you cross the Canadian border from?

18

Well, if you’re talking water borders, France (in the form of St-Pierre et Miquelon) and the Danish realm (in the form of Greenland).

19

I’m a Canadian living in the US with my Canadian kid and my Canadian-American kid and my American husband. We’ve never, ever had border issues of any kind.

A driver’s license and birth certificate should be good enough for the border guards. Just be polite and you’ll be fine.

20

I don’t know how much longer this will last. At some point you will need a passport to come into the US from Canada (2008 I think).