# Crossing the Canadian border from the U.S. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 22, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835 "2005-09-22T04:04:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/21 "2005-09-22T17:30:02Z")
As a Canadian going into and out of the US, I’ve never had much trouble. I can say that the US boarder guards are way scarier than the Canadian guards. The US folks all look like Kojak and wear mirrored sunglasses. The Canadian folks all look like Red Green and wear UPS uniforms - I trust you can see the difference. FWIW, A friend of mine is cavity searched everytime he goes into the US (which has been multiple times). As the old joke goes, we’re beginning to wonder if he’s really going for the cheap smokes. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kakkerlak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@Kakkerlak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kakkerlak)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/22 "2005-09-22T18:13:27Z")
It’s really not too difficult; Proof of identity, Proof of citizenship, No felony convictions. Ta-daa. Your driver’s license is proof of identity (your picture), your birth certificate is proof of citizenship, and the whole felony thing is mostly to make a lifetime of hurt for people with DUI’s. Yes, we’re going to a passport-only system in a couple of years (beginning 2007), mostly because that’s a convenient identity/citizenship combo document, but also because Big Brother loves you. The questions are to sorta sample various restrictions, including agricultural and finance ones (bringing over $10,000 in cash ? Plus a pear ?) and also to make you say a couple of things to gauge how nervous you are. It was these simple questions (plus a nice malarial fever) that kept Ahmed Ressam from getting through to blow up LAX, remember. The agent who caught him is a pleasant middle-aged gal named Margaret, not a badass with mirrored sunglasses. I got detained once going up to work on a sawmill. Since then, I always say I’m going fishing, which makes my customers wonder why I show up at the factory with a fishing rod. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/23 "2005-09-22T18:26:07Z")
> [@Eva Luna](#): > > 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. Aww, crap. I’m going to Toronto tomorrow night to visit a friend - driving for the first time. Minus the immigration paralegal, I suspect this might be repeated word-for-word. _makes note to self to remove food processor and hand blender from the trunk_ E. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/24 "2005-09-22T19:01:58Z")
Passport? Driver’s License? Pshaw! I don’t know how it is for Canadians crossing the border, but an American crossing from Massena, NY to Cornwall, ONT needs absolutely nothing, in my experience. In fact, crossing back into the US is just as easy as **cantera** said: US Border: Citizenship? Me: US US Border: Have a good one. Sometimes we’ll get asked where we were, but not always. I’ve only been pulled over twice on my way to Canada. Once when I was 17 and another when I was 22 and both times there were 6 other people my age in the car. It was only when they asked us to come inside that we were asked for ID. One time at a “border” stop on I-87 about 2 hours _south_ of the Canadian border (don’t ask), I was asked if there was anyone _in the trunk_. I’m not kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/25 "2005-09-22T20:37:18Z")
When crossing back into the US in Niagara Falls (on foot), I answered the “Country of citizenship?” question with “Massachusetts.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/26 "2005-09-22T22:49:39Z")
The border both ways is getting harsher and harsher. I always have to remind myself that when I go down to the States, I am heading to a country that is “at war”… at war with many things. Also, our border guards have been leaned on to become more vigilant. I seem to remember a year or so ago we got some grief because we let a terrorist suspect into Canada who was then let into the States. It is my belief that the border guards on both sides are mandated to hassle random vehicles every once in a while because you never know if that carload of grey haired grannies might actually have a trunk full of pot. With an eye to future visits to the States, my wife and I bought a generic car that we put no decorations on whatsoever (bumper stickers and the like). When we cross the border we wear “straight drag”… button up shirt and dockers or new jeans for me and a nice dress or skirt/sweater combo for her. When asked what plan to do… we’re going shopping. Now, we’re not going to do anything illegal, but the border guards seem to flag anything that’s “not usual” for an extra inspection… and who wants that? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/27 "2005-09-22T23:36:29Z")
> [@Eva Luna](#): > > 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. I’ve been once, but I experienced a similar exchanged. We we’re essentially grilled Joe Friday style with rabip fire questions. Luckly my girlfriend was the one driving so she did the answering. I’m not as quick on my feet and would have told him to slow the hell down, or repeat himself. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/28 "2005-09-23T00:20:28Z")
A few weeks back, I rented a fuckin’ ROCKIN’ houseboat on Lake Koocanusa (Montana/BC Border). Going _to_ Canada, the Canadian guy was actually kinda cool. Asked me the standard questions: Citizenship? Purpose of visit? How long? What ID do you have? etc. (and he even gave me two "eh!"s!) On the way back in though, I ran into trouble. The border guards (one of which I swear, could have doubled for the guy that got hit by a drunk driver in _Office Space_ [sub]can’t think of his name right now[/sub] gave me a rash of shit because I was “living in Montana”, yet my truck’s plates are from “North Dakota”. After I explained, they let me go. . . but not yet. The one dude said, “Hey, you’re cooler’s open! HEY! Where’d you get this steak?!?” I calmly said that we bought it in Great Falls, and just hadn’t eaten it on the trip up there. We’re bringing it home. He didn’t buy it. . . up until he saw the “USDA” Stamp. Then, life was good again. The birds chirped and sang. The sun shone, and all life was again at peace. :rolleyes: Tripler I almost got jacked up over a $1.96/lb chuck steak. :slap: ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/29 "2005-09-23T02:08:21Z")
> [@Nutty Bunny](#): > > Passport? Driver’s License? Pshaw! > > I don’t know how it is for Canadians crossing the border, but an American crossing from Massena, NY to Cornwall, ONT needs absolutely nothing, in my experience. I had the same experience when I (21 yr old male) would cross into the US from Cornwall with my neighbors (husband and wife in their late seventies). “Where do you live?” “_Long Sault_” “Who’s this?” \* gestures at me in back seat of Cadillac \* “_A friend_” - waves us into the country \* This was in the winter of 2004. We crossed every couple of weeks or so because my neighbors had taken a liking to the bread sold at the supermarket on the highway outside of Massena. Coming back into Canada was generally even easier. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/30 "2005-09-23T02:09:38Z")
> [@Kakkerlak](#): > > It’s really not too difficult; Proof of identity, Proof of citizenship, No felony convictions. > > [snip] the whole felony thing is mostly to make a lifetime of hurt for people with DUI’s. Actually, back in the day, I was an interpreter at Immigration Court here in Chicago. At that time the Chicago court also covered Detroit, which meant we got lots of cases of Canadians stopped at the border, mostly for criminal records. My favorite was the guy stopped because he had a conviction for soliciting prostitution. Technically, when you show up at the border and ask to come in for purposes of tourism, you are “applying for admission as a visitor for pleasure.” Of course, that’s what got him into trouble in the first place. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/31 "2005-09-23T02:12:28Z")
I had no problems over labour day weekend when I drove across the border with my American baby in a rental car with US plates, and Canadians _aren’t allowed to do that_\*. [sub]\*with a couple exceptions, one of which includes being me ;)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835/32 "2005-09-23T03:45:51Z")
> [@vl\_mungo](#): > > \ When asked what plan to do… we’re going shopping. Now, we’re not going to do anything illegal, but the border guards seem to flag anything that’s “not usual” for an extra inspection… and who wants that? We went from the US to BC to visit some of my family. We told the border guards coming back we were just up on holiday because we didn’t want the hassle of it all (IE: Who is your aunt? Where does she live? What is her shoe size? etc) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-canadian-border-from-the-u-s/322835.md?page=1)