Worst US/Canadian border crossing

p220sigman wrote:
In my experience, simply answer the questions asked as directly, respectfully, and succinctly as possible. Don't offer any commentary or smart comments and you will be fine. We cautioned our kids to not utter a word unless asked a direct question by the border agent (they tend to offer up little "nuggets of wisdom" sometimes).

Exactly. Also roll down the windows before stopping at the gate, ensure the radio is off, sunglasses off, even hats off, and simply pay attention to what is being asked. Be prepared to hand over your passports / ID, even vehicle / trailer registration if asked, along with any receipts for items that may have been purchased, or to unlock the trailer for a quick inspection or to pull over for secondary if instructed to do so. In most cases you'll be on your way shortly, if not don't make the mistake of taking it personally ... it's not, at most the constantly changing questions are to put you off guard, just as has been illustrated by the comments in this thread. Keep in mind these border agents are only doing their job, one that's hardly the most glamorous, sometimes arriving at work after having a fight that morning with their spouse. Assuming you really do have nothing to hide crossing the US / Canadian border is a non-issue. For anyone for whom this is still a stressful experience apply for a NEXUS pass which will allow you to pass through without delay.

2chiefsRus wrote:
Can't really call it the worst but it was puzzling. It was crossing at Sarnia from the US crossing to Canada. We were asked to pull to the side and they searched everywhere inside the coach and the toad. They even opened all the zippers on our golf bags in the trunk of our car. All the cabinets in the motorhome, under the cushions, literally everywhere they could think of. The puzzling part was they never once opened the outside storage bays......

You likely won the random deep search lottery, the outside storage bays were likely never used as a hiding space for drugs.

Just crossed into Canada last week at Niagara Falls. Handed the agent our passports and he asked where we were from and where we were headed and why across Canada. Told the agent it was a shorter trip from Niagara Falls to Chicago if we went across and through Michigan. We were waved through and on our way. Years ago I used to fly into Canada for work and the customs agents in the airport were much worse. I sat there once for three hours while they did something in the office. Never figured out why I was held for that time but they eventually let me into Canada.

rhagfo wrote:

2chiefsRus wrote:
The puzzling part was they never once opened the outside storage bays......

You likely won the random deep search lottery, the outside storage bays were likely never used as a hiding space for drugs.

X2, they have a method to their madness and experience tells them where to look/not look.

The longest (time wise) crossing we've had was at Sweetgrass, Montana. The US side was visually searching every vehicle. We were told that they were looking for a terrorist.

We have been searched a number of times, both going into Canada and reentering the US. Our first ever crossing was at Jackman, Maine (Armstrong, Quebec). We were searched on the Canadian side, apparently because we had two golden retrievers with us. "Those are nice hunting dogs. Are you don't have any guns?" The young agents went through everything inside the RV, but never looked in an outside bay. When they were through, they had golden retriever hair all over their nice crisp blue uniforms.

We've been searched twice entering the US; both were agricultural searches - we had potatoes confiscated Houlton, Maine.

At every crossing, whether searched or not, we have found the border agents to be polite and professional.

Tom

rhagfo wrote:

2chiefsRus wrote:
Can't really call it the worst but it was puzzling. It was crossing at Sarnia from the US crossing to Canada. We were asked to pull to the side and they searched everywhere inside the coach and the toad. They even opened all the zippers on our golf bags in the trunk of our car. All the cabinets in the motorhome, under the cushions, literally everywhere they could think of. The puzzling part was they never once opened the outside storage bays......

You likely won the random deep search lottery, the outside storage bays were likely never used as a hiding space for drugs.

I got that we won the random search award. We have 56 years of military service between the two of us with 8 years at Andrews Air Force Base where the President's plane is maintained. If they were going to do a deep search, then the search should have included the storage bays. It was just surprising to me but nothing to be concerned about.

My wife has family in Canada. Between that and going back and forth to northern New York we have crossed the border lots of times.
Far and away the worst crossings have been returning to the states through the Ambassador Bridge. The tunnel has never been that bad, but if we don't want to go through downtown Detroit, the bridge is a better route and the duty free store is better.

Matt

I've had trouble both us to can and can to us.

Don't volunteer information.

Wasn't the worst crossing for me, but for three others it was a bad day crossing into Canada at Blaine, Washington. I drove up, and they had me pull into the long search RV area, exit the RV, and wait in the main reception section.

During the first 30 minutes I was waiting, my guards were pulled off my RV inspection to 1) arrest Asian woman (well dressed - seemingly didn't speak anything by Vietnamese) trying to cross in the trunk of a car; 2) arrest a young punk being a wise ass trying to cross over on a bicycle and wasn't patient enough to wait, tried to scamper across; 3) arrest a dumbass with a trunk with several kilos of pot inside. You should have seen his face, looked like he was a newbie and had no idea how many years he was going to spend in prison.

After 50 odd minutes of watching most of the guards interviewing the perps in tiny interview rooms with glass walls (like in police shows), 3 guards per perp, the guards finally got around to my RV. Ten minutes later I was done and on my way. Pretty efficient actually.

Very exciting time there at the crossing. Got to see 3 arrests. But the delay before the border and at the border is why I only cross at remote locations now days. Less traffic, less likely to be delays.

Like at Oroville, Washington. They haven't even bothered to come into the RV the several times I've crossed there. Just ask where I'm going, how long I'll be staying and wave me through.

The first time I crossed at Oroville, I handed them a sheet listing the liquor I was carrying. The puzzled look on the face of the guard induced me to tell them that I was suppose to do that according to the Canadian government's web site. They laid it down on the desk never referred to it again, asked their questions, and waved me through. I haven't made a list since, speak only when spoken too, don't volunteer anything, and soon I'm done and driving off.

Returning from Canada with an aircraft on a trailer, tried to enter at the I-5 Peace Arch, was told to pull into the inspection area, and to enter the building to see the officer. after a 45 minute wait we were told we could not import aircraft at that station, and that we would have to renter Canada and go to Blaine and enter the commercial entry point, So back to Canada and then tried to enter at the commercial check point.
Border agents took our pass ports, told us to park in the impound area for inspection, A different agent came and told us to follow him into the building.
After a 6.5 hour wait we were told that there was no duty on the aircraft and we were free to go.
During the 6 and a half hour wait, we noted no less than 12 agents playing solitaire on their computers.