I am currently residing in Nova Scotia.

When my passports (with shiny new visas) arrive back here in 4 weeks or so, I would like to cross the border into the US and come straight back into Canada to Land!

My concerns are with the US Border. Am I likely to run into any problems if I intend to just enter the US and then come straight back into Canada?

I could stay overnight in US.

I am considering either, taking ferry from Yarmouth to Maine or driving into New Brunswick and crossing there by car.

Any Comments anyone?

Relax,

Technically you dont have to enter the us, you just go drive round the flagpole in no-mans land and come back to canada.

Taking the ferry might be more complicated, but entering the US and returning to Canada to land shouldnt be a problem either. People do it all the time. If you do stay overnight or for a day or two at least you qualify for some duty free allowance

I think I read here that some people were required to be refused admission to the US before returning to Canada, not sure what that was about, but it didnt happen to me when I landed.

Doing a quick jig around the flagpole sounds a great idea!! No real point in me entering US if I dont need to... Thanks Iaink.

I did the dance round the flagpole earlier this year to renew my WP. No dramas at all except it took me an hour for the US guy to file his paperwork and then took me 5 minutes to get back through Canadian customs..... I still had to fill in the Green card thing and he then attached a letter explainng the short visit for his files.

Cheers

Dobbie

Oh, so you still have to go to the US border control? You cant go out of the canadian "exit" and straight back through the Canadian "in gate"? Thats how I interpreted Iaink's comment.

Hi

You interpreted right.

Correct....if you can afford both the cost and days off I would use it as an excuse for a holiday. Spend a week over the border and get your renewal on the way back. I have heard that some people doing the flagpole run have not been given the best treatment by US customs when they explain that they have no intention of spending any time in their country...... Although I was OK....

Cheers

Dobbie

Ok Im being thick, or my questions are ambiguous..

PMM, when you say I interpreted correct, do you mean You CAN go out of the canadian "exit" and straight back through the Canadian "in gate" (without talking to US Border control)?

Only Dobbie's comments all mention dealings with US customs (including I think the visa waiver form) which sounds like going through US control.

Can you exit Canada border control and re-enter Canada without talking to US border control? or do you have to go through US control and (at that point choose whether to stay or go straight back into Canada.
Sorry to labour the point but I am still unsure.

Not sure about all border crossings, but I would imagine them to be similar - At Coutts (spelling?) crossing on the Montana/ Alberta border I had to enter US and then drive literally around the flagpole (end of the car park and turn left following signs saying return to Canada) and cross back into Canada.
So yes I went round the flagpole and yes I entered the US. Total distance into US was about 200 yards. I had to fill in the visa waiver only for them to write a letter for the files explaining why I was only there 60 minutes..

Trust this helps....

Cheers

Dobbie

Hi

You have to report to US Immigration, where you are admitted as a visitor if that is your wish or tell them you are landing in Canada, and they will give you a rejection letter to show to Canadian Immigration to prove that you have attempted to leave or have left Canada.

PMM

Right.... By jove I think I've got it. (who's Jove?)

We are awaiting the return of our passports and are probably going to cross into USA to validate our PR. We are probably going to head to Bangor, Maine for a night or two.

Flights to Hamilton/Toronto too expensive for a family of 4 for a weekend trip to cross at Niagara. Driving there would take around 19 hours one-way - doesn't look that far on the map either ....... boom boom!!!

At the Peace Arch crossing south of Vancouver there is an "international park" - a sort of no man's land you can enter from either side without going through customs or immigration control. You are on scout's honour that you will exit back into the country you entered from.

The highway cuts right through the middle of the park with Canadian customs at the north end and US customs to the south. You can physically cross the border then turn back to Canada without reaching US customs. I have no idea what Canadian and US Customs think of the maneuver for landing purposes.

That's what we did. Went out via St Stephen and back via Woodstock. The guy who processed out PR was lovely (we got the proper handshake and 'Welcome to Canada' bit). They even let us off with bringing in booze, as we hadn't been out for the required 48 hours

I recommend going to Olive Garden in Bangor. I love the food there, but do make a reservation, it gets packed.

This place http://www.maineguide.com/bangor/countryinn/ is good to stay at too. It's modern, clean, and pretty reasonable cost.

Thanks for that Tuppence. I've saved it to 'My Favourites'