Canada/US Border Developments

[Sox.at.six]

It seems that the Canadians are now following the US lead and tightening up the border.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070113/ap_on_re_ca/canada_border_security

I applaud this, but at the same time I also admit it probably won't do much good for either country. I have been questioned a few times myself in great detail already traveling between the two. I'm a young single white guy with a good job, not necessarily your sterotypical terrorist. However somehow I an the guy who gets interogated. But, I've got nothing to hide and I always answer the questions as politely as possible. I have a slight record, but honestly it is nothing that prohibits me from traveling (like a DUI can strangely enough) so I should be good to go.

With the passport thing in effect now, I just hope we don't start seeing big backups at the border. I think that would really discourage casaul travel in both directions.

Oh well, I hope to be up in Montreal next month. I guess we will all have to make do. It is the times we live in now unfortunately.

SOX

 

[stripclubguy]

With the passport thing in effect now

What? I thought a drivers license with enough to get you in and out of canada when driving, at least until 1/1/08.

Are you saying canada won't admit me if I drive up with only a license, credit card, etc., but no passport?

 

[regnad]

What? I thought a drivers license with enough to get you in and out of canada when driving, at least until 1/1/08.

Are you saying canada won't admit me if I drive up with only a license, credit card, etc., but no passport?

Effective January 23, you will be required to carry a passport if you are re-entering the USA by AIR. No passport necessary to drive through a border crossing or wading the Rio Grande.

 

[hornyanglo66]

The US will face a severe shortage of taxi drivers soon.

 

[bond_james_bond]

In this day and age, ya gotta have a passport. Just get one to be safe.

Before I got the frequent crosser cards, I got the 3rd degree, AND I was using a passport.

I can only imagine what it would have been like with no passport. One time, the guy next to me crossed with only a military ID.

BTW, the article says that most of the money will be for technology to scan the army of 18-wheelers constantly crossing the border. That makes logical sense, since there is simply no way to scan all those cargo containers with the same amount of scrutiny that they give to personal belongings.

 

[gamelessdork]

It seems that the Canadians are now following the US lead and tightening up the border.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070113/ap_on_re_ca/canada_border_security

I applaud this, but at the same time I also admit it probably won't do much good for either country. I have been questioned a few times myself in great detail already traveling between the two. I'm a young single white guy with a good job, not necessarily your sterotypical terrorist. However somehow I an the guy who gets interogated. But, I've got nothing to hide and I always answer the questions as politely as possible. I have a slight record, but honestly it is nothing that prohibits me from traveling (like a DUI can strangely enough) so I should be good to go.

With the passport thing in effect now, I just hope we don't start seeing big backups at the border. I think that would really discourage casaul travel in both directions.

Oh well, I hope to be up in Montreal next month. I guess we will all have to make do. It is the times we live in now unfortunately.

SOX

I say 50% of the times I get a hard time at canadian customs, despite me having a professional job, never have even been arrested. I just come off as nervous in front of people that carry firearms. Apparently saying I'm there on holiday is not a good enough reason, so I only go when I can also have something specific to do, like see a sporting event, or a concert, or something like that.. I don't think I'll ever go again just having nothing to say other than "holiday", even saying "I want to see the wonderful jazzfest" got me put into immigration, then everything searched. When I show them my ticket to an event they tell me to enjoy the show and let me go in.

 

[voyageur11]

gamelessdork very few Canadian custom officer carry firearms

 

[Mike Mercury]

I say 50% of the times I get a hard time at canadian customs, despite me having a professional job...

You will always be subjected to a few more questions when travelling on business than when travelling for pleasure.

As it was, as it is as it will be on that.

 

[NJDude]

The dozen times I have flown into Montreal, I have always been asked a few questions before Immigration Officer allowed me in after stamping my passport. I am a Green Card holder and I do not have a problem answering their questions. But last month when I drove twice to Toronto via the Buffalo border, they did not even ask me any identification. I just told them I have a GC and they let me in. I was not even asked to show my passport, no stamping nothing. It seems strange they have 2 different procedures for letting people in when you are flying or driving. It just don't make any sense.

 

[HarmonyNYC]

"frequent crosser card"

Before I got the frequent crosser cards

What is a "frequent crosser card" and what are the requirements and limitation to getting it?

 

[voyageur11]

What is a "frequent crosser card" and what are the requirements and limitation to getting it?

search for nexus on google

 

[LoungeLizard]

By the way there is another issue.

An obscure section of the Citizenship Act requires some Canadians to renew their citizenship by age 28 or lose it (you were born outside of Canada after February 14, 1977; and you had a parent who was Canadian at the time of your birth.)

There are thousands who haven't renewed and automatically have lost their Canadian citizenship. Simply because they didn’t know and their parents never told them! Some will end up at a passport office line to apply for a Canadian passport to travel to the US they may find out that they are no longer citizens.

I know, strange but true. Not sure what was the rational behind that section of the Act, but feel free to use your imagination...

 

[stripclubguy]

HarmonyNYC, do you take your name from the old Harmony theater on Broadway (or even the later incarnation downtown)? I was a kid when I went there for the 1st time and have yet to find a place like it (although I probably wouldn't be able to enjoy it now like I did then).

 

[IamNY]

It is all about timing when crossing the border. I just returned from my trip to Montreal and I went on this website to see if I should leave or stick around and get a lap dance. No point in waiting at the border for 2 hours when you can have strippers help you pass the time:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html

Also, with regards to the original post, they are tightening up the border to inspect the trucks that cross. They are spending a lot of $$ to increase the time it takes for these trucks to cross the border, so this is a good thing.


If you time your trip right (cross very early in the am or late in the pm) you should have a minimal wait, it took me all of 5 minutes yesterday.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Also, with regards to the original post, they are tightening up the border to inspect the trucks that cross. They are spending a lot of $$ to increase the time it takes for these trucks to cross the border, so this is a good thing.

The last two times I crossed the border (by car at the Highgate Springs crossing in Vermont) in late November and again a few weeks ago, I saw very long lines for trucks at the border. The line I saw a few weeks ago is the longest line for trucks I can ever remember seeing.

 

[trailrunner66]

Off I87 there are two small custom crossings which I use in case there's traffic.
Buy a detail map of were you cross and it will show you were the small border crossings are.

 

[gamelessdork]

gamelessdork very few Canadian custom officer carry firearms

Whomwever I speak with when I fly into Canada carries firearms, every time. The Americans in the canadian airports do not and I'll even joke around with them. I used to somewhat date some chick that lived in montreal, I guess dating is too strong of a word, a bond only formed between us after we were finished ironically, but the US guy asked me what I was doing, and I said I was visiting some chick. He said "Canadian chicks are pretty hot" and I replied "yes they are".

 

[gamelessdork]

The dozen times I have flown into Montreal, I have always been asked a few questions before Immigration Officer allowed me in after stamping my passport. I am a Green Card holder and I do not have a problem answering their questions. But last month when I drove twice to Toronto via the Buffalo border, they did not even ask me any identification. I just told them I have a GC and they let me in. I was not even asked to show my passport, no stamping nothing. It seems strange they have 2 different procedures for letting people in when you are flying or driving. It just don't make any sense.

I went to Niagara Falls last year, in a rental car. THe canadians let me right in, the American held me for almost 2 hours and didn't want to let me leave, and only did because they had to.

 

[Wombat2]

What is a "frequent crosser card" and what are the requirements and limitation to getting it?

A NEXUS card is a nice privilege to have. However, it is a privilege only extended to those who can pass the background checks and it requires an in-person interview (for most of those on this board probably in Montreal) with both U.S. and Canadian border protection agencies - but its a nice time saver and good for 5 years. I should add that there is a no tolerance policy for holders of NEXUS cards. You are expected to know the rules and if you violate them, BOTH govenments have a policy of prosecution on all charges.

Also I should add that only a certain number of border crossings and airports
have NEXUS lanes but among these are several of the Québec - New York/Vermont border crossings.

If the activities here are your only "vice" fine. But if you have true vices, don't even think about NEXUS.

 

[IamNY]

Today they are requiring passports for air travel, they expect the requirement for land travel in 2008:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-mpassports2207jan22,0,7817138.story?coll=orl-news-headlines