Border Crossing

I have had good luck at smaller crossings, as they always seem to appreciate someone to talk to. One agent spent ten minutes just petting and admiring our Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Of course, she might have just been stalling while her associate checked us out on the computer.

Speaking of borders, has anyone had an electronics inspection or social media inspection while crossing either way?

would never let them search your RV unless you are present.

Indeed, good luck with that. You have no such "right" at the border, in either direction.

I would never let them search your RV unless you are present. You are asking for trouble if you do that.

I'd like to see someone try that with the US Border Service!

We have not been back since.

Of course, there is often an upside!

One question the guards had for me the first time (when they did the big search), is why do I have a security clearance on record with the FBI. I told them I work with the police and I'm authorized to work on sensitive computer systems. Not sure why the Canadian border authority could even see those credentials, it's not a big deal here in the states, I don't even get a laminate or anything.

I would never let them search your RV unless you are present. You are asking for trouble if you do that.

Canada tried to do that the last time I crossed. I said no way. The "lady " and I had a few words and then her boss stepped in and told me to get in the rig and go. I was with my wife and 2 small kids. She was very rude about everything, her boss not so much. We have not been back since.

Fall of 2015 US Border Guard for the Skagway entrance to AK treated me rudely for the first time ever in my 70+ years.

I definitely felt he was instructed to be picky, that his manner had little to do with my background. My impression that US border guards are being instructed to be picky has increased since then.

:C

It won't matter which crossing is used if a person has stuff they shouldn't outta have. Or have a Criminal Record. They ain't goin no-where. On the other hand..if you have the paperwork for all guns, all the needed documents, no non-permitted food stuffs and the pet docs...you could still get the big search..or not.


Gary Haupt

I think the border crossing is irrelevant.

Sweetgrass is larger but will have more agents working. The road there is also divided.

Del Bonita is quite a bit smaller but the road getting there isn't very good.

Babb is a bit bigger than Del Bonita and has better roads.

At the smaller crossings you have a bigger chance of being held up if there are only one or two agents and they are doing a full-scale search of a person or vehicle.

We crossed at Sweetgrass in 15. We overnighted in one of the last RV parks before the border so we hit the crossing early in the morning. Had one coach ahead of us, we were asked the usual questions and were on our way in 5 minutes. We had checked on what fruits,veggies,meat and other foodstuffs were prohibited so no problems at any of the crossings back and forth up north or returning to the lower 48. Eight crossings total. We had passport books not the auto cards and it was nice that they stamped them when entering at the top of the world border crossing at Poker flats.