What are the Dos' and Don'ts when driving across the Canadian Border?
Replies: 33 - Last Post: Jan 26, 2013 7:12 AM Last Post By: stufried
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carracar: Very interesting, well that is a great tip and will make sure we will bring that information with us just in case.nrclibn: Great point! I will make sure I have that and if it does cost oh well better be safe then sorry right?
ref_traveller: So true, I am sure some are more relaxed then others. I just want it to be a smooth travel for having to travel with a infant and a 5 year old. It will not be fun if for any reason we had to wait and have issues.
Thank you to everyone!
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Literally, they will ask: passports, purpose of trip, how long you you plan on staying, any fruits and veggies, past convictions....bada bing bada boom, your done. Anything thing else asked is just the customs guy being annoyingly thorough...but you never know.Ive only ever been asked once out of 100's of times to prove funds and that was crossing the border on a bus with other "shaddy" passangers.
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SuzanneSchuelke : How about packaged veggies such as a bag of snack carrots for the kids? or how should we pack for snacks/drinksI am not worried about the driving under the influence issues neither one of us has those issues. I was just wondering so thank goodness or it seems it would be a huge hassle. Nor will we have to worry about weapons or drugs/alcohol.
But just in case we will bring some kind of proof of income would hate for that to be the reason why we have issues. And it is always good to have bank information anyways. we once traveled 8 hours away from our home town and our card company froze our card thinking it was stolen even though we called two days prior and they asked for bank statements, proof of address, and s.s card so we had to have someone go into our home and get those documents and to fax them to us for us to fax with our driver license it was a huge hassle and stranded us in a random ghost town with one store where it was also gas station and restaurant. So would hate for it to happen at the border.
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In #9, LunahMariahD88 wrote: "With the impaired driving, I am just wondering (neither of us have one) but if someone does have one and they are only the passenger are they still not allowed through the border? "Yes, it's considered a serious criminal conviction and they can deny the passenger entry because of it. DUI is an offence under Canada's Criminal Code. It's not viewed as lightly here as it seems to be under US law.
I have heard that border services officers do have the ability to admit you, even with a conviction, but I wouldn't want to take a chance on an official exercising his/her discretion.
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Re the issue of the yellow card, I do not believe this is a current requirement, as my insurance company told me last year that a reciprocal agreement now exists between the US and Canada on insurance, and only a current US insurance card is required. If there are any insurance agents here, a clarification would be helpful.On the issue of funds, I was asked this last year. Just tell them what cash you have on hand and the number of credit cards you are carrying. Be friendly, direct, and truthful.
About the sharing of information, there is complete sharing including criminal records. This information goes back at least a decade. When I entered Canada, the Canadian immigration people had my entire travel history for at least a decade. They weren't very friendly, but that isn't their job. It is a shame how a once friendly border crossing experience has been turned into mistrust. Cheers.
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As a Canadian during hundreds of US/Canada border crossings I have found the US officers to be friendly 99% of the time, the Canadian ones the exact opposite!23
I often cross the other way (Canada to the States) to go climbing around Lake Placid, and we often bring trailmix (nuts and raisins) and small fruit bowls (the pre-packaged Dole ones) and we've never had a problem bringing those across as snacks. They make a good alternative to fresh fruits and vegetables until you can get to a store to buy some.A.
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During an entry last year, I was accused of gaming the immigration system, then of dropping off contraband, my smart phone was confiscated, personal emails read through and I was quizzed on content found on my phone!Didn't think they were allowed to do that, but yeah, apparently they can do pretty much whatever they want. So if you have anything you'd like to keep private, hide or remove it from your phone/computer.
Trail mix, energy bars and juice boxes should be fine. I always report these and have never had any issues with them taken away. I don't know what happens if you turn up at the border chewing on a carrot though.
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Just by the way it is absolutely no different driving into the USA. No meats, vegetables, plants etc allowed.As for the US side being friendlier? They wrecked a duffel bag on me, wrecked a pair of glasses, spilled a bottle of prescription drugs into my trunk and some other damage.
How friendly were they?????
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I think a direct call to the Canada Border Services port of entry that you want to use will help you more than questions asked here. Grumpiest border guards Canadians face is when they enter the USA - not return to Canada - I suspect for Americians entering Canada it might seem a similar experience. Food limitations always seem more extreme for entry to the USA - but ask CBS directly.29
#28 I can't recall the last time I encountered a "grumpy" US border officer however returning to Canada, Canadians are met with surly indifference at land crossings & treated like criminals at Pearson airport!ADVERTISEMENT
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