Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

Once again I am speechless. :p

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

There is an agreement between the US and Canada...it is recognised by both countries. NEXUS card has been approved as an alternative to the passport for air, land, and sea travel into the United States for US and Canadian citizens.


http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/tr...prog/nexus.xml

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

Nexus card .. perhaps not a good idea


http://www.idforum.ischool.utoronto.ca/node/82

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

We've crossed several times, always, where you going, how long for, when we were in the RV it was also have you any citrus fruit/beef. The inside for the visa/fingerprint stuff and then on our way - never ever made to feel like a criminal, these people are just doing their jobs.

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

It is a joint program between Canada and the US. Mine was issued by the US CBP. It is issued to people who are a low security risk. If you apply, both Canada and US authorities do a background check on you and you will be refused if you have any criminal convictions or immigration violations.

Despite that, it is worth it if you cross the border frequently. You do occasionally get checked, but most of the time you are just waived through, or asked a few cursory questions. When the border is busy it can be a two or three hour wait for most travelers, but rarely more than 5 minutes for a Nexus card holder. You also get the added bonus of driving down the dedicated Nexus lane passed all the people inching forward, bumper to bumper, in the regular lines.

I try my best not to wave smugly at them. I don't always succeed.

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

The tyre removal trick, that and the rubber gloves are reserved for people who really piss them off.

They can remove your wheels and take off your tires, inspect them, and then just leave you to it, to either put it back together yourself, or call out a service truck at your expense. They are under no obligation to put it back together for you. If they wanted to they could completely dismantle your vehicle.

Do not piss off customs people. They have more power over you than any other branch of government.

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

You are absolutely correct. I know of someone it happened to in the mid-sixties. I am sure most guards, like cops, are fine but a few can really get nasty.

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

Nexus card For Teh Win. A bit of a hassle to get it, but it's great to have. They've barely asked me anything when traveling in either direction.

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

No, worse is when you get grilled and yelled at for 5 minutes, then surrounded by burly, sweating, hoarse-voiced guards, guns drawn, who 'escort you from United States sovereign territory' (to use their quaint phrasing) - as happened to me last year at the Mexico/Texas border.

In my experience, the worst ones are the ones who think they have something to prove by throwing their weight around, but lack the intelligence to deal with the consequences.

On another occasion at the Texas border, I roll to a stop, bid the guard good morning and handed him my passport, he ignored it and asked me, "Where have you come from?".
"Mexico", I respond - pretty obvious answer.
"NO!", booms the guard, "Where have YOU come from?"
"Tampico, Tamaulipas", I reply, realizing he wants to know my nationality, not my place of origin.
"YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM!", bellows the guard, causing two of his colleagues to begin walking toward us, "I DEMAND to know WHERE YOU have COME FROM!"
His colleague, who looks to be a superior officer, says quietly to the guard, "John, where's his passport from?"...

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

har, adrian.

I hate going into the US by land for this reason. Airports aren't so bad - flew into JFK a few weeks ago and the border guard barely paid attention to me.

Last time I was going to a pimple off Canada that is part of the US called Point Roberts. The place is tiny. It's not even connected to the US by land, but is surrounded by sea. maybe they're afraid I'll swim over to Seattle?

Pulled out of car, asked how I knew OH and Oh's friends...what was the purpose of my visit to said pimple (stay in friend's holiday home), fingerprint, forms, pay $6, then they were questioned separately as to how they knew me.

So sick of it as it happens every. single. time. I go across the border. I can kind of get it going to Seattle, but to Point frigging Roberts? With one gas station and a few stores? gimme a break.

newsflash, I don't want to live in the US. I just want to come and spend some money in your country and have a good time with my friends then go home:rolleyes:

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

When I'm in Arizona I go back and forth into Mexico maybe once a week or so. The border at Los Algodonis is only 15 minutes from my house. I have never had a bad experience in seven years. I park on the US side and walk over the border and back. I have on occasion had to wait in a line up at US Customs & Immigration for up to 2.5 hours which isn't much fun but the guards have always been OK. A couple of weeks ago I crossed at the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit and the guard took my car keys and wanted to look in the trunk. He didn't look in our luggage so I couldn't see the point. It made him feel good maybe. He didn't even look in the cooler which was in the back seat and clearly visible. Who knows !

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

I crossed at Cornwall to Massena about 10 days ago and they asked me if I had over $10 K in currency (the guy felt pretty sheepish about that question) and would I mind pulling over and popping the trunk/boot. I did that (there was nothing in it), I don't think he even felt around to see if anything was hidden, I told him I was in transit to SW quebec and I was on my way.

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

The first time I crossed the US border was also the first time I drove long distance in North America. I was 22, and driving from college in Ontario to see my friend who lived just outside of Detroit, crossed at Sarnia.

When the border guard asked me where I was going, I said it was to visit my mate. Had I met him before? He's a she, and no, this was the first time. Where did we meet? On the internet! Did I have anything to declare? Only this bottle of gin, officer! And that was when they searched my car...

Besides which, there were no other problems and they let me go on my merry way. Just over the border in Michigan must be a prison, because there are signs everywhere saying not to pick up hitchhikers as they could be escaped convicts. I got lost going through Detroit, took a misturning and ended up on 8 Mile Road at night, which was...fun. It was an eventful trip.

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

I went across just last Saturday, the customs lady asked all the usual questions, Where are you going?, What are you doing?, When was the last time you were here I was open and honest of course never tried to joke with her just let her ask me what was needed she then pointed me to the building where i needed to get the visa and pay my $6 as well as taking my fingerprints.

All uneventful stuff! The way I look at it is imagine trying to be a customs official where virtually everyone you see that day tries to joke around with you must really annoy you after a while. All they are there for is to process you and make sure that you are not a threat they're not there for a laugh.

Re: Crossing The USA Border - Experiences?
 

Neither is the checkout girl at my local supermarket, but she doesn't try to bite my head off when I "joke" with her.

A simple question and answer is all that is required. The ego maniac attitude is what gets me. It's not my fault they failed high school:rofl: