Your customs experiences re-entering the US from Canada?
Have they confiscated or assessed duties on stuff you've brought back?
Forum Discussion
We've now crossed into Canada twice and once back into the USA on our 70 day summer trip.
Entering Canada is super easy. They ask rote questions about food, alcohol and tobacco products.
Coming back into the USA in the Okanagan region, we crossed a small checkpoint. We were asked the usual "how long have you been in Canada" and then do you have any alcohol, tobacco, produce, forearms questions.
Agent did note and ask why I had no license plate for our trailer. I explained that California DMV lost our plate in the mail. I showed her our temp registration. No big deal.
She then handed our passports and asked us to pull over so they could look around the trailer. I thought they were going to give us a hard time.
I pulled the trailer over to where she directed. I opened the door for another agent. She went inside to look at the refrigerator (which was off because it had broken). It took her all of less than a minute. She said thank you and that was it.
IMO the best approach is to just answer their wuestions, be polite and cooperative. They have a zillion people to deal with on a daily basis. It's not personal if they ask what seems like insulting questions. They are doing a difficult job. Make their life difficult and they will make yours hell.
Just roll down the front and back windows as you roll up. Take your hat off you have one off. Make sure your sun glasses are off. Answer their questions directly and honestly. And you'll be on your way.
Entering Canada is super easy. They ask rote questions about food, alcohol and tobacco products.
Coming back into the USA in the Okanagan region, we crossed a small checkpoint. We were asked the usual "how long have you been in Canada" and then do you have any alcohol, tobacco, produce, forearms questions.
Agent did note and ask why I had no license plate for our trailer. I explained that California DMV lost our plate in the mail. I showed her our temp registration. No big deal.
She then handed our passports and asked us to pull over so they could look around the trailer. I thought they were going to give us a hard time.
I pulled the trailer over to where she directed. I opened the door for another agent. She went inside to look at the refrigerator (which was off because it had broken). It took her all of less than a minute. She said thank you and that was it.
IMO the best approach is to just answer their wuestions, be polite and cooperative. They have a zillion people to deal with on a daily basis. It's not personal if they ask what seems like insulting questions. They are doing a difficult job. Make their life difficult and they will make yours hell.
Just roll down the front and back windows as you roll up. Take your hat off you have one off. Make sure your sun glasses are off. Answer their questions directly and honestly. And you'll be on your way.
