US Border Crossing - Article
Interesting article about crossing the border (between US and Canada / US and Mexico)...
Had thoughts about traveling to Alaska. We know that we're going to be crossing the border. I suspect many of you have done this. Many probably have done this several times without incident.
But it's good to know what to expect. I had no idea that there was this "no-man's-land" within 100 miles of the border where "laws" are more like guidelines. We've been to the Mexico border on several accounts. It's interesting to go there to watch what goes on. Some of the Border Agents are nice enough to make conversation about the issues. Some just treat you like cattle. I haven't been through a Border check in the area of Canada yet. We have flown to Canada and have gone thru the normal Customs things.
Anyway, what have been your experiences? (for those that have gone between borders)
Since we are less than 2 hrs from the Canadian border, we have gone across many times and recent years always with our rv. Produce is confiscated but we have only had our rv gone thru once by an officer and that was last year coming back into the US. They didn't ask for our sliders to go out so the bathroom was the only thing accessible. IF you shop in Canada like we did years ago for furniture and other large items with the good exchange rate, prepare to have some hassles coming back to the states. Otherwise, it is no big deal.
We have crossed the US/Canada border probably hundreds of times over the years, used to go at least once per week for gas.
Heading down to the US, about 75% of the time they take a quick look inside the coach, but we print the latest fruit/veg restrictions and ensure compliance before crossing. I usually have a list written of everything in the fridge to present to the agent.
Coming back to Canada, they have never looked inside.
If US citizens are coming to Canada leave guns and ammo at home, even if coming through Canada to Alaska.
No invasion of privacy copying all your data from your phones or computers? That's stepping over the line if you ask me. Where is the probable cause? I don't really have a problem showing anything. Copying? That's too much. I haven't had that yet crossing into Mexico. Just wasn't sure about Canada after reading the article.
Our experiences crossing the border has been generally good. It seems to me that if you have a record of crossings (that I'm sure are stored in their computers) future crossings seem easier, I noted that our first crossing with a new passport took longer than subsequent crossings.
I dealt with customs folks monthly in my job for over 30 years, I learned that yes-no answers with no small talk goes a long way to making the process easier. Border folks have a wide discretion, giving them a hard time will almost guarantee that you won't be able to cross.
Many years ago the last time I returned to the States from Canada (2003) on my Harley. It was when you had to have a certified birth certificate, well needless to say when they told me for the 4th time to go ahead I said well I wish you would do me a favor. They said what would that be? Please take a look at my Birth Certificate since I spent 25 bucks getting it sent so I could cross back and forth. It was not busy no line at all and after it was all said and done the border officer grew up only 20 miles from where I grew up and we knew some mutual people, sat there and talked for 30 minutes until the next person came up behind me.
I can't address the issue of crossing the US/Canada border with an RV, but in 2014 I crossed the border into Canada via my pickup on a hunting trip with two high powered rifles, ammunition, hunting knives, etc. On the return trip into the US, I had all the above plus two very large coolers with about 300+ pounds of Moose, mountain goat, and caribou meat. I researched rules/regs of both countries relative to my hunting issues, had all my paperwork in order, and couldn't have had a more pleasant experience with customs, border patrol, immigration, RCMP, etc. I return for another hunt via United and Canada Air on September 1st, which is a different set of issues relative to firearms on airlines, and anticipate no problems. United and Canada Air have both been outstanding in assisting me. I'll let you know if my experience crossing the border for this hunt is different than my 2014 trip.
