Canadian Border

[Sue_Jolly]

We are planning a trip to Alaska in our 40-foot RV, with a tow vehicle, driving from Washington through Canada. What can we expect at the Canadian border? Is it a hassle to cross? Would like to hear other's experiences, good and bad, to assist us with our trip. And any tips others found helpful.

Thank you

Sue

[CA_Traveler]

For a variety of reasons most everything in Canada is more expensive. This fuel log will allow you to estimate 2014 prices. Note that in northern Canada regular gasoline was about 20+cents/gal more than diesel.

Don't let $5/gal bother you as you can pay $6.50/gal.

I averaged $4.35/gal for diesel for the entire 9,400 mile trip.

[qtla9111]

Yikes! I think I'll have our two donkeys pull our travel trailer through the country. I'm afraid to ask, how much is hay? 🙂

[jspence1]

qtla9111 wrote:
We got through the online application process. It is a laundry list of attachments that are required, scans, pictures, and on and on. We received an email that the application was approved and now we had to send the passport via courier to the Embassy in Mexico City for final approval and visa application to the passport. Included was a pre-paid return waybill. We are hoping 10 working days. I will say, that although a hairy process, they are prompt on sending updates to your email box.

Still a little concerned about crossing with our Mexican plated vehicles as I am sure we might stand out, maybe not and there is nothing that we do that would put us at risk either.

We are making a list of on board food products, but we are leaving behind meats, veggies, fruits, etc. leaving the refrigerator bare but for condiments.

We are really looking forward to know your great country of Canada as all Canadian rvers in Mexico have been great people to meet. I will update once we get the passport back with the visa.

This has been a good thread and we are glad to know most incidents are minor and people are waved through with a smile.

Have a great trip! bring beer it's expensive here. and be prepared for fuel costs of over $5/gal

[Little_Kopit]

On the contrary, my shortest stop at the border re-entering Canada.

Customs: "How long were you over?"

Me: "51 hours"

Customs: "How much did you spend?"

Me: "$44.00"

Customs: "Have a good day."

:B
{one wonders if the computer comment re. my vehicle license gave a time of crossing, which equaled my answer}

[jamesu]

jamesu wrote:
For us going to Canada normally means travelling to Vancouver, BC for the day. Back in the day this was a fun outing.

Since 9/11 things have changed. Our usual experience now is that during the border crossing experience on I-5 at Sumas heading north the Canadian agents are generally professional and cordial, while heading south the American agents can be arrogant and even downright surly.

As stated previously have your passports ready, hand them to the agent, answer his questions correctly without imbellishments and hopefully you will be on your quickly, especially when heading back into the states. One time I did not hand our passports to the U.S. agent quickly enough and that did not make his day. He was not happy. I was relieved when he finally waved me "on" rather than waving me "over".

Update: Last week we camped at Birch Bay (4 miles from the Blaine border crossing). We were camped between 2 nice families from BC. Got into a conversation concerning the above subject. I was surprised that their experience was exactly reversed: whereas we experience professional Canadian customs agents and endure testy American agents, they experience professional American agents and testy Canadians ones. I guess it all depends upon where you call home and the "home" customs agents are just not thrilled to welcome you back.

Keep a smile in your heart and one on your face.

[dieharder]

06Fargo wrote:

dieharder wrote:
To do that kind of inspection ,they would have had to have some kind of specialist come in. It's hard to believe that a border officer would have the training to know how to properly inspect a towing system.

Would they call in the rv.net weight police?

Almost assuredly!

[AKsilvereagle]

Just a footnote on the carrying birth certificate topic :

Other than children under 16 years of age that are US or Canada citizens, possessing a birth certificate with the required sufficient document for an adult is really unnecessary for the fact of the matter is the required sufficient document in possession already determines both the satisfied "proof of citizenship" and "proof of identity".

Furthermore, when reading to see if any new changes in the WHTI have developed a few weeks ago, the one big recent change I noticed now was adult citizens of Canada are now required to carry a passport or equivalent document to enter the US, as before that mandate, only a adult citizen of Canada could enter the United States without possessing a passport or equivalent but still had to show proof of citizenship (birth certificate) and proof of identity (typical ID).

Only one time I carried my birth certificate to enter Canada (in 2006), as it was mandated in that era to provide proof of citizenship and proof of identity as they were calling for the 2008 deadline for land and sea crossings to obtain the now passport or equivalent documents to enter the US, however the US officials extended those requirements for June 1, 2009.

[K_Reeve]

I usually travel highway 97, that's Oroville / Osoyoos ( US / CA ) going south, usually Hi, why ya going, how long? over 10 grand? have a good day.

coming back home ( north ) I am often asked about gun/ammo purchases, fruits, vegetables, meats and Milk and Dairy products, do a lot of shopping just across the line, never had a problem with US cheese, but I also don't bring 10 packs at a time over same with butter, however I have been sitting in line and watched them haul gallon milk jugs ( and quarts) out of cars and RV's back to back.

it also seems to depend on who is on gate duty,once in line at the crossing, DONT change lanes, I watched one guy wave 20 cars thrue, the other lane full search open doors, full interview, watched a guy leave the lane and move to the fast moving one, and into Inspections he went.

as others have said, take off your hat, sunglasses answer questions with basic yes no direct answers, passports ready to hand over, then keep hands where they can see them, be yourself and usually no problems.

[super_camper]

v10superduty wrote:

super_camper wrote:



Lastly, while crossing at Queenston we were pulled aside and had our hitch system inspected (as did many others towing). This took about 30 minutes in total to wait and have the 1 minute inspection done. We were told several fatal accidents in NYS prompted the inspection.

super camper...
was this search going south or back into Canada?
Did they have highway transport types doing check or were the border agents doing their own inspection?
NEVER heard of this before, when did this happen?
I am not personally worried about it, just real curious.

The inspection was done while entering the US from Canada, I don't recall what year but it was definitely prior to 2007 when we got our MH. We went through the usual stuff with the border agent and at the end he asked us to pull to the side behind some other vehicles. We waited in line for a while before someone came up and inspected our setup, we were in a minivan towing a popup at the time.

The guy was wearing a uniform but I have no idea what agency he represented. He didn't ask any questions about weight or anything like that, he asked me to turn on the 4-way flashers, did a walk-around, checked out the hitch and sent us on our way.

[qtla9111]

We got through the online application process. It is a laundry list of attachments that are required, scans, pictures, and on and on. We received an email that the application was approved and now we had to send the passport via courier to the Embassy in Mexico City for final approval and visa application to the passport. Included was a pre-paid return waybill. We are hoping 10 working days. I will say, that although a hairy process, they are prompt on sending updates to your email box.

Still a little concerned about crossing with our Mexican plated vehicles as I am sure we might stand out, maybe not and there is nothing that we do that would put us at risk either.

We are making a list of on board food products, but we are leaving behind meats, veggies, fruits, etc. leaving the refrigerator bare but for condiments.

We are really looking forward to know your great country of Canada as all Canadian rvers in Mexico have been great people to meet. I will update once we get the passport back with the visa.

This has been a good thread and we are glad to know most incidents are minor and people are waved through with a smile.

[noteven]

dieharder wrote:
To do that kind of inspection ,they would have had to have some kind of specialist come in. It's hard to believe that a border officer would have the training to know how to properly inspect a towing system.

Would they call in the rv.net weight police?

[lakeside013104]

I think you will find that the border folks are trained to look for something that looks UNSAFE and then they will call the locals to do the enforcement end of the issue. UNSAFE meaning, oblivious overloading issues, parts unhooked or flopping, squat or bald tires, or other items that visual inspection might pick up on.

Lakeside

[dieharder]

To do that kind of inspection ,they would have had to have some kind of specialist come in. It's hard to believe that a border officer would have the training to know how to properly inspect a towing system.

[Community Alumni]

v10superduty wrote:

super_camper wrote:



Lastly, while crossing at Queenston we were pulled aside and had our hitch system inspected (as did many others towing). This took about 30 minutes in total to wait and have the 1 minute inspection done. We were told several fatal accidents in NYS prompted the inspection.

super camper...
was this search going south or back into Canada?
Did they have highway transport types doing check or were the border agents doing their own inspection?
NEVER heard of this before, when did this happen?
I am not personally worried about it, just real curious.

I also would be interested in who did the inspection. We essentially live on both sides of the border from early May through October and have done so for many years. We cross sometimes 2-3 times per week and I have towed both trailers (rv's & race hauler) and with our coach; I have never seen the border agents on either side do any checks on equipment. Apart from one major accident involving a transport semi at a state police highway blockade many years ago, I haven't heard of any fatal accidents in our up-state NY region involving trailers or motorhomes.

I know for a fact that the agents on the Canadian side do not perform roadworthy checks of any kind as they are federal employees and transportation safety is provincially regulated.

[v10superduty]

super_camper wrote:



Lastly, while crossing at Queenston we were pulled aside and had our hitch system inspected (as did many others towing). This took about 30 minutes in total to wait and have the 1 minute inspection done. We were told several fatal accidents in NYS prompted the inspection.

super camper...
was this search going south or back into Canada?
Did they have highway transport types doing check or were the border agents doing their own inspection?
NEVER heard of this before, when did this happen?
I am not personally worried about it, just real curious.