Psychephylax
Purveyor of common sense
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2000-10-29
Smithtown, NY
clubs:
| Recent US to CAN and back crossings by car?
Anyone make the crossing by car within the last couple of weeks? Are they requiring passports now? I left mine at home and I want to cross over to Canada to have dinner with a friend. Can I get by with my not so good looks and a drivers license?
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Stupidity, like hydrogen, is one of the basic building blocks of the Universe.
Misc |
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CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
 ·Speakeasy
edit:
October 14th, @10:49PM
| »www.gonorthwest.com/Visitor/plan···rder.htm
»www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacat···xber.xml |
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moseby
Ool For Me
Premium
join:2002-11-18
Somers, NY
clubs: 
 ·Optimum Online
| reply to Psychephylax
USA Citizens Traveling to Canada
Citizens of the United States do not need a passport or visa to enter Canada, unless they are arriving in Canada from somewhere other than the USA. They do need to have on them proof of citizenship plus photo identification, although this is not often asked for.
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davidcb13
join:2004-02-06
Branchville, NJ
| said by moseby  :USA Citizens Traveling to Canada Citizens of the United States do not need a passport or visa to enter Canada, unless they are arriving in Canada from somewhere other than the USA. They do need to have on them proof of citizenship plus photo identification, although this is not often asked for. It was asked for of me....I had a passport, but the one friend who didnt have it had to give them his birth certificate and drivers license. |
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Psychephylax
Purveyor of common sense
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2000-10-29
Smithtown, NY
clubs:
| reply to Psychephylax
my naturalization papers (I'm a foreign born national) are right next to my passport at home.
I'm getting my naturalization papers faxed to me today and I will try to get them notarized.
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Stupidity, like hydrogen, is one of the basic building blocks of the Universe.
Misc |
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PCInTech
A warm gooshy feeling
Premium
join:2004-06-07
Massena, NY
clubs:
 ·VoicePulse
·RoadRunner Cable
| Living in a border town, I can tell you that enforcement is very arbitrary. Canadian Customs will almost never as for anything from a US Citizen, however on your return, expect the possibility of the third degree to RE-ENTER the US, including PROOF of citizenship.
Canadians cross into the US and back with absolutely no hassle whatsoever. Go figure. |
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davidcb13
join:2004-02-06
Branchville, NJ
| reply to Psychephylax
said by Psychephylax : try to get them notarized. Yeah I would defiantly try to do that, you dont want any hassles comeing home. |
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Fluke
join:2008-06-24
Plainfield, CT
·Vonage
| reply to PCInTech
said by PCInTech :Living in a border town, I can tell you that enforcement is very arbitrary. Canadian Customs will almost never as for anything from a US Citizen, however on your return, expect the possibility of the third degree to RE-ENTER the US, including PROOF of citizenship. Canadians cross into the US and back with absolutely no hassle whatsoever. Go figure. Exactly!
I was waved int Canada. No one came to my car, a guy just wove us through. Coming back into the US they TOTALLY searched every nook and cranny in my car our clothes and backpacks 500 questions then with our licenses only let us go back into the US
They were rude and obnoxious but we just smiled and did everything they asked. I think its just hit or miss. As I have traveled to Canada several times before and never once had a problem, the US usually glances in the car asks us questions then let us go after showing ID
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Get cape... wear cape... fly! |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON | reply to Psychephylax
I called Canada Border Agency - they don't accept copies unless notarized.
Re-entering the US: well, be prepared for an anal probe.  |
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r81984
Tough to beat.
Premium
join:2001-11-14
Morgan City, LA
·Cox HSI
·Insight Communicat..
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to Psychephylax
I do not see why they care. They have completely unmanned roads to canada.
»www.panoramio.com/photo/1578514
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RangerTX
Premium
join:2006-05-17
Los Angeles, CA
| reply to Fluke
said by Fluke :said by PCInTech :Living in a border town, I can tell you that enforcement is very arbitrary. Canadian Customs will almost never as for anything from a US Citizen, however on your return, expect the possibility of the third degree to RE-ENTER the US, including PROOF of citizenship. Canadians cross into the US and back with absolutely no hassle whatsoever. Go figure. Exactly! I was waved int Canada. No one came to my car, a guy just wove us through. Coming back into the US they TOTALLY searched every nook and cranny in my car our clothes and backpacks 500 questions then with our licenses only let us go back into the US They were rude and obnoxious but we just smiled and did everything they asked. I think its just hit or miss. As I have traveled to Canada several times before and never once had a problem, the US usually glances in the car asks us questions then let us go after showing ID I recently went to Mexico and back. To any question other than are you carrying any fruits back,i answer it's not any of your business. Yes that is rude but they got message quickly and i got no hassle ones they understood i will not be answering any of their questions.
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i am not a lawyer but I do play one on the internet |
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Bobcat
1.20.09 - The End of an Error
Premium
join:2001-02-04
Bedminster, NJ | reply to Psychephylax
If you have time, have someone FedEx your passport to you.
And a slightly-related suggestion: Keep your naturalization papers in a safe deposit box. They are very difficult to replace if lost. |
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CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
·Speakeasy
| reply to PCInTech
said by PCInTech : Canadian Customs will almost never as for anything from a US Citizen, however on your return, expect the possibility of the third degree to RE-ENTER the US, including PROOF of citizenship. This is what happened when my wife and I did an unplanned stop at Niagra on the way home from New Hampshire. Got a royal 3rd degree (after trying to find the freaking Rainbow Bridge entrance for over 1.5 hours) from the US border ass - I don't plan on going back. Between the bridge and the asses at the border - I don't need the added frustration. |
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davidcb13
join:2004-02-06
Branchville, NJ
| reply to RangerTX
said by RangerTX :said by Fluke :said by PCInTech :Living in a border town, I can tell you that enforcement is very arbitrary. Canadian Customs will almost never as for anything from a US Citizen, however on your return, expect the possibility of the third degree to RE-ENTER the US, including PROOF of citizenship. Canadians cross into the US and back with absolutely no hassle whatsoever. Go figure. Exactly! I was waved int Canada. No one came to my car, a guy just wove us through. Coming back into the US they TOTALLY searched every nook and cranny in my car our clothes and backpacks 500 questions then with our licenses only let us go back into the US They were rude and obnoxious but we just smiled and did everything they asked. I think its just hit or miss. As I have traveled to Canada several times before and never once had a problem, the US usually glances in the car asks us questions then let us go after showing ID I recently went to Mexico and back. To any question other than are you carrying any fruits back,i answer it's not any of your business. Yes that is rude but they got message quickly and i got no hassle ones they understood i will not be answering any of their questions. I would not reccomend saying that to someone has the abilitiy to give you an extremly hard time getting back into your home country. |
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pp03
join:2002-06-13
Minneapolis, MN
edit:
October 16th, @01:24PM
| reply to Psychephylax
I go into Canada every day, so they know me now and I just get flagged.
But, drivers license/birth certificate is what I used for a while.
Also, DO NOT, do what the guy above suggested -- not answering their questions. Sure, it can be funny if you live close by and have a day to kill. But, they WILL, keep you there for hours and they will rip your car apart...and believe me, if they find one ounce of anything you didn't claim they will take you to hell and back.
PS, if you want to risk taking extra things across it is a bad time of the year :P The only time I see them rarely bringing cars aside is mid summer when the lines can go on for miles.
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The History Channel rocks! ... you know it! |
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RangerTX
Premium
join:2006-05-17
Los Angeles, CA
| said by pp03 :I go into Canada every day, so they know me now and I just get flagged. But, drivers license/birth certificate is what I used for a while. Also, DO NOT, do what the guy above suggested -- not answering their questions. Sure, it can be funny if you live close by and have a day to kill. But, they WILL, keep you there for hours and they will rip your car apart...and believe me, if they find one ounce of anything you didn't claim they will take you to hell and back. As us citizen i have my constitutional rights, so they better have the evidence i am bringing something illegal in to this country or they will be finding them self being sued for millions. |
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pp03
join:2002-06-13
Minneapolis, MN
| said by RangerTX :said by pp03 :I go into Canada every day, so they know me now and I just get flagged. But, drivers license/birth certificate is what I used for a while. Also, DO NOT, do what the guy above suggested -- not answering their questions. Sure, it can be funny if you live close by and have a day to kill. But, they WILL, keep you there for hours and they will rip your car apart...and believe me, if they find one ounce of anything you didn't claim they will take you to hell and back. As us citizen i have my constitutional rights, so they better have the evidence i am bringing something illegal in to this country or they will be finding them self being sued for millions. Good luck with that. Oh, by the way they have all the right in the world to search your car when you are crossing the border. It will just take a little extra time in your case because they will consider you a prick. Also, suing the feds is soooo easy :P
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The History Channel rocks! ... you know it! |
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RangerTX
Premium
join:2006-05-17
Los Angeles, CA
| said by pp03 :said by RangerTX :said by pp03 :I go into Canada every day, so they know me now and I just get flagged. But, drivers license/birth certificate is what I used for a while. Also, DO NOT, do what the guy above suggested -- not answering their questions. Sure, it can be funny if you live close by and have a day to kill. But, they WILL, keep you there for hours and they will rip your car apart...and believe me, if they find one ounce of anything you didn't claim they will take you to hell and back. As us citizen i have my constitutional rights, so they better have the evidence i am bringing something illegal in to this country or they will be finding them self being sued for millions. Good luck with that. Oh, by the way they have all the right in the world to search your car when you are crossing the border. It will just take a little extra time in your case because they will consider you a prick. Also, suing the feds is soooo easy :P ACLU and other organization love this type of cases. |
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pp03
join:2002-06-13
Minneapolis, MN
| In the aftermath of 9/11, car searches were standard operating procedure. Its a little more relaxed now, but one should never assume they would never be searched. Most of the crossings I've been through on the Vermont/Quebec line have enclosed garages that you pull into. This not only deters gawkers, but also provides a warm shelter while the car search is performed. US Customs will be just as thorough as the Canadians in searching your car, if not moreso. Figure about 30 to 60 minutes additional time for this in your travel plans [time will vary depending on the crossing, and the time of day].
Customs officers are NOT required to have a search warrant or probable cause to search your vehicle or person. Courts have routinely upheld this search, seizure and arrest.
If, however, you still feel you were treated unfairly or inappropriately, ask to speak with the suervisor or a Passenger Service Representative [if one is present]. If you have left the facility, you can still contact the US Customs Service.
»www.necromantic.net/deadparrot/border01.html
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The History Channel rocks! ... you know it! |
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RangerTX
Premium
join:2006-05-17
Los Angeles, CA
| If they attempt to search me and i feel they totally got no evidence of me violating the law the head in Washington D.C will be hearing about. I am SOB when i want to be and I know how to raise hell when i need to, so yes supervisors would be called and their supervisors would be called. If that don't get it resolved quickly, i would be on the phone with Washington d.c, i was lucky to get plenty of high connection during my high school/university years.
Basically, its not any business of border agents on why i was in mexico/canada etc. Unless they got evidence or me violating the law or my papers are not in order, i should be let through with no question asked.
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i am not a lawyer but I do play one on the internet |
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