Border Crossing Question

Mostly quick and painless. US customs will want to enter and will look in the fridge and possibly the cupboards.

I've had one brush with Canadian customs checking my hard drive and taking their time.

I've had one brush with US customs where they were considering removing the tires on my RV.

Turn your cell phone off. If you must use it for some reason, then ask permission before you do so.

pianotuna wrote:
Mostly quick and painless. US customs will want to enter and will look in the fridge and possibly the cupboards.

I've had one brush with Canadian customs checking my hard drive and taking their time.

I've had one brush with US customs where they were considering removing the tires on my RV.

Turn your cell phone off. If you must use it for some reason, then ask permission before you do so.

Don, they were probably looking to see if you had another undeclared piano hidden someplace.

Bill

I've never had an issue going either way. Have all your paper work ready and be attentive, polite.

Keep the curtains on the rig open for a peak inside and the cover off the back of the truck so they can see everything. Make sure you check both .gov websites regarding foods that can be transported across the border.

I've know some guys that have had their rigs boarded but if you pay attention to the food you're allowed to bring across and don't have any illegals hiding in a storage area and are not smuggling it should be easy peasy. Just remember, make their job as easy as you can!

shum02 wrote:
I've never had an issue going either way. Have all your paper work ready and be attentive, polite.

Keep the curtains on the rig open for a peak inside and the cover off the back of the truck so they can see everything. Make sure you check both .gov websites regarding foods that can be transported across the border.

I've know some guys that have had their rigs boarded but if you pay attention to the food you're allowed to bring across and don't have any illegals hiding in a storage area and are not smuggling it should be easy peasy. Just remember, make their job as easy as you can!

X2

Oldcow

I think that there is no standard answer. A few years ago, as a member iof a caravan, entering Canada at the Int. Peace gardens some of the caravan were searched and some not ( including us). Seems to be random when ever we cross. Have seen other RV's pulled over for more questioning/search but we have only been 'searched' once - pretty superficial).
Be prepared. answer all questions honestly and don't volunteer info. you have not been asked

We have crossed out (U.S. to Canada) and back several times in the last five years. Never really had a problem.

One time the US Agent seemed to feel that if he had to stand out in the rain, he had to do something. He asked for the keys; opened the door and stuck his head inside; closed up and locked it and sent us on the way.

Going into Canada last Summer the big question was why I had the 6" number 529 on the driver's front corner of the trailer. I had to explain about the owner's group.

Returning the agent wanted to know what I thought the Gator football team was going to be able to do in the 14 season (after he saw my Florida tags).

I always approach the checkpoint (staying as far right as possible) with both passports, my driver's license, the truck registration card, and the dog's shot record out and ready for inspection. Some want all; some just the passports.

Have fun.

We've crossed into Canada 20+ times over the years. We've had our motorhome searched 4 times going into Canada and had one agricultural search coming back into the US = confiscated our potatoes that we could not prove were not bought in Prince Edward Island.

Rarely have we been asked about our dogs going into Canada - One notable exception. At Armstrong, Canada, crossing from Jackman, ME, "Those are nice hunting dogs you have. You should show us your guns." They searched through everything, because you can't have golden retrievers and not have guns.

Coming back into the US, we are almost always asked for the dogs' shot records.

Tom

I just tell them that I saw the vehicle behind me throw something out right before we got to the border. They just pass me thru and stop the vehicle behind me. Ok, I'm just joking so don't get after me. Lol

I have crossed the border many, many times. Just last summer, I made 5 crossings. Been searched once by US Border Protection for agriculture inspection, and once by the Canadians (this past summer). The Canadian inspection was quite thorough, taking about 1 hour. Don't know what set off the alarms, but they were extra polite, beyond professional, and told me exactly what they were doing. I think they suspected I had guns, ammunition, or prohibited knives as they asked me about them prior to the search. Told me if I have anything the time was now to confess not after the search. Afterwards I could not even tell they had been inside. The search by the US, the officers were rude, were being a bully, and afterwards it looked like a tornado had been inside.

I was ashamed of how the US authorities treated me, and would be embarrassed if they treated our Canadian friends like that. I was proud of the way I was treated by the Canadians and told the Officer I appreciated his professionalism, thanked him for how he respected me and my property, and shook his hand. I wished I got his name and supervisor's contact information to write a letter.

My wife has family in Ontario. We cross the border both ways and in many places frequently. The only place that we expect even a delay is in Detroit and only at the Ambassador Bridge.

Enhanced driver's licences are supposed to work, but we have passports. The US Nexus program was reduced or cancelled along with the I-68, so I would check on that.

Leave as much as you can home. I find it incredibly annoying that I can't pull up a web site that lists what I can't bring back from Canada because it does change and frequently.

Matt