well, we landed!
Dec 2nd 2007 | 10:33 am
#1
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,234
well, we landed!
We landed today at the Thousand Islands Bridge crossing.
Cos of the weather(snow) we set off at 7am for whats supposed to be a 3 1/2 hour drive. It took 5 hours most of that at this end, with snow stuff and more snow related stuff.
Anyway we drove to USA and saw some very very helpful polite American customs officers. We explained that normally we would love to visit their wonderful country but as the weather was bad and we had spent 5 hours on the road we would rather just be able to turn round and "land". "OK," said the nice lady, "I understand". She gave us the choice of paying $6 US and doing the visa waiver thing, or waiting for 90 minutes and then going straight back. We coughed up the money, had fingerprints and photos, passports visa'd and left waving happily. We went back to Canada, where we waited for 10 minutes in a freezing cold hall, (no line up, no one in front of us, just wait) then we saw a taciturn, muscle bound, canadian immigration officer.
He did all the forms with the minimum of words, a few questions, and no smiles. No welcome to Canada handshake
. Then we went to Customs who just stamped a form the immigration man had gaven us, didnt want to see any documents, and that was it.
So noone welcomed us to Canada, the Americans were super polite and helpful, the Canadians minimalist in customer service. All the Canadians wore body armour, the Americans didnt. Surprisingly.
So now we are home. worn out, here to stay for better or worse. Lets hope it gets better.
Cos of the weather(snow) we set off at 7am for whats supposed to be a 3 1/2 hour drive. It took 5 hours most of that at this end, with snow stuff and more snow related stuff.
Anyway we drove to USA and saw some very very helpful polite American customs officers. We explained that normally we would love to visit their wonderful country but as the weather was bad and we had spent 5 hours on the road we would rather just be able to turn round and "land". "OK," said the nice lady, "I understand". She gave us the choice of paying $6 US and doing the visa waiver thing, or waiting for 90 minutes and then going straight back. We coughed up the money, had fingerprints and photos, passports visa'd and left waving happily. We went back to Canada, where we waited for 10 minutes in a freezing cold hall, (no line up, no one in front of us, just wait) then we saw a taciturn, muscle bound, canadian immigration officer.
He did all the forms with the minimum of words, a few questions, and no smiles. No welcome to Canada handshake
. Then we went to Customs who just stamped a form the immigration man had gaven us, didnt want to see any documents, and that was it.So noone welcomed us to Canada, the Americans were super polite and helpful, the Canadians minimalist in customer service. All the Canadians wore body armour, the Americans didnt. Surprisingly.
So now we are home. worn out, here to stay for better or worse. Lets hope it gets better.
Last edited by daft batty; Dec 2nd 2007 at 10:35 am.
Dec 2nd 2007 | 10:35 am
#2
Professional Cat herder
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,709
From: TORONTO- yay!!!
Re: well, we landed!
welcome to Canada!
we got 4 of the above welcomes so have one of our Spares
we got 4 of the above welcomes so have one of our Spares
Dec 2nd 2007 | 10:43 am
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,361
From: BC
Re: well, we landed!
Welcome to Canada Batty 
Wishing you and OH happiness with valuable life
adventures in Canada.
Yoong
Wishing you and OH happiness with valuable life
adventures in Canada.
Yoong
Dec 2nd 2007 | 10:46 am
#5
Canadian Wet Coaster
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 758
Re: well, we landed!
a real handshake would be a bit difficult, but:
Welcome to Canada, PRs Batty and OH!
Welcome to Canada, PRs Batty and OH!
Dec 2nd 2007 | 10:53 am
#6
Now on Vancouver Island
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,935
From: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Re: well, we landed!
Jeez, sorry to hear about the dour Canadian officials, but ...
Welcome to Canada!
Welcome to Canada!
Dec 2nd 2007 | 11:02 am
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,377
From: Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, BC
Re: well, we landed!
Welcome to Canada Batty
Here's to a very happy future
Here's to a very happy future
Dec 2nd 2007 | 11:31 am
#8
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: well, we landed!
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!
Dec 2nd 2007 | 11:34 am
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,866
From: Cochrane, Alberta
Re: well, we landed!
Big welcome from me too
Dec 2nd 2007 | 12:20 pm
#11
Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,885
From: Regina Beach, Saskatchewan
Re: well, we landed!
Glad you made it in one piece and are now sitting with your feet up in the warm hopefully drinking your WELCOME TO CANADA drink.
Dec 2nd 2007 | 12:24 pm
#13
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,713
From: Windsor, ON; Chicago, IL
Re: well, we landed!
Congrats Batty! 
We only ever get a nice reception from an Aussie Canadian who works the bridge here, the rest are as miserable as at your crossing.
Did they at least take your US visa waiver out, or are you planning a trip back before then?
We only ever get a nice reception from an Aussie Canadian who works the bridge here, the rest are as miserable as at your crossing.
Did they at least take your US visa waiver out, or are you planning a trip back before then?
Dec 2nd 2007 | 12:28 pm
#14
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,234
Re: well, we landed!
I am indeed sitting in the warm with my feet up. And as for drink, am on my third stonking 2 fingered gin and tonic, yeee hah
HWP, its good to know your beaver sends greetings. It means a lot to us
Biiiiiink, The americans told us what to do with the visa ticket, and so we asked the nice young man ( hah) to take the tickets out.
Yeeee hahhh, one more gin before bedtime
HWP, its good to know your beaver sends greetings. It means a lot to us
Biiiiiink, The americans told us what to do with the visa ticket, and so we asked the nice young man ( hah) to take the tickets out.
Yeeee hahhh, one more gin before bedtime
Dec 2nd 2007 | 12:30 pm
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 591
From: Stony Plain, AB
Re: well, we landed!
Congrats on the landing We had a miserable Quebecian woman landing us in Edmonton - she did mumble something about "welcome" I think - it was hard to tell - she was too busy looking at her computer screen and avoiding eye contact
We had a miserable Quebecian woman landing us in Edmonton - she did mumble something about "welcome" I think - it was hard to tell - she was too busy looking at her computer screen and avoiding eye contact
