Global Entry, Nexus, or Sentri?
- Thread starter IamNY
- Start date
FYI - NEXUS members no longer need to complete a paper CBSA Declaration Card (Form E311) when using a NEXUS self-serve kiosk at any Canadian airport where NEXUS is available.
Also there are now two 747 bus routes. One only does a loop between YUL and Lionel-Groulx. The other will stop at Lionel-Groulx and continue normal route to Berri-UQAM. Depending on your destination, it may be faster to take the YUL-Lionel-Groulx route and transfer to Metro.
Also there are now two 747 bus routes. One only does a loop between YUL and Lionel-Groulx. The other will stop at Lionel-Groulx and continue normal route to Berri-UQAM. Depending on your destination, it may be faster to take the YUL-Lionel-Groulx route and transfer to Metro.
Just say a half truth, I'm coming to see my girlfriend..(she goes to your town from time to time and vice versa ).
Hopefully they won't ask for her coordinates. If they do you're in more trouble than u believe, lol.
I would really recommend against that. They will immediately ask her name and location. I would say I come so often because I love the city. Start rambling off things that you can commit to memory that are public - art galleries, museums, the casino, restaurants. Any visit with a hockey game is a bulletproof reason. They can never accuse you of lying if there is nothing to actually verify.
Whenever they ask if I am going to meet someone j say no. If I was ever pressed, I would say that I am sure that I will run into people that I have met on past visits, but I have no plans to meet with anyone specifically. I come to montreal because it is a beautiful place and it relaxes me.
Whenever they ask if I am going to meet someone j say no. If I was ever pressed, I would say that I am sure that I will run into people that I have met on past visits, but I have no plans to meet with anyone specifically. I come to montreal because it is a beautiful place and it relaxes me.
Hockey schedule can be imported to phone calendar. Just make sure the Habs are at home game if you use the hockey game reason. 
I agree with luvdozer. Definitely don't say you are meeting someone. They can and sometimes will call contact to see if your story matches up with that of your contact.
I agree with luvdozer. Definitely don't say you are meeting someone. They can and sometimes will call contact to see if your story matches up with that of your contact.
Having the NEXUS card also works well in the regular travel lanes. Had a flight cancelled recently and crossed with a rented car after the NEXUS lanes had been closed. Officer asked me if I had ever been convicted of a crime, only to have her correct herself by saying that I wouldn’t have NEXUS card if I did. Breezed right on through. NEXUS/Global Entry rules!
Supposedly CBP runs Trusted Travelers profiles against various criminal databases daily/weekly. So even if you were convicted after gaining Trusted Traveler status, you would be revoked shortly thereafter.
Correct. I guess my point is that you get preferential treatment even in the regular lanes. Border agents will ask questions they already know the answer to. With a NEXUS card they cut out the “gotcha” questions.
Is the risk of getting hassled at the Vermont/Quebec border that great?
I have always been surprised by how may questions the Canadian border agents asked, but I thought they were just making sure your story corroborates to make sure your not transporting drugs, cigarettes or worse going to work in Canada in occupations that can be done by locals.
I just presumed if you had good answers you would be fine.
I have always been surprised by how may questions the Canadian border agents asked, but I thought they were just making sure your story corroborates to make sure your not transporting drugs, cigarettes or worse going to work in Canada in occupations that can be done by locals.
I just presumed if you had good answers you would be fine.
Yes and no. In the past I would use the Vermont/Quebec crossing to and from the states and would have no issues at all. Even though I live in NYC.
Then, coming home to the US it took forever for the border agents to look through my car and my personal belongings. That's when I decided to get my NEXUS/Global Entry card. I haven't been to that border crossing in a while, but I'm not sure they have a NEXUS lane or if they do its only open for a few short hours.
I guess if I lived in an area where it was logical for me to use that border crossing I wouldn't have any problems.
Yeah I am wondering the same things as well. I drive up from boston 3 or 4 times per year so I always cross in vermont. I have never been hassled, although they always ask why I am going and what I plan to do.
The thing I worry about is that every time I cross they ask me if I am "meeting" Anyone of if I know anyone in montreal. I always say no. But at some point, I wonder if a Canadian border guard will say "you have come up 12 times in 3 years and you still don't know anyone in montreal? "
I know I am probably worrying for nothing, but I would rather be unnecessarily cautious. I have considered applying for nexus, but haven't decided.
The thing I worry about is that every time I cross they ask me if I am "meeting" Anyone of if I know anyone in montreal. I always say no. But at some point, I wonder if a Canadian border guard will say "you have come up 12 times in 3 years and you still don't know anyone in montreal? "
I know I am probably worrying for nothing, but I would rather be unnecessarily cautious. I have considered applying for nexus, but haven't decided.
Similar situation with me. Drive up about 4 times per year and always cross in Vermont. I was, however, hassled a couple of times by Canadian border guards. It is unpleasant (and may last up to one hour or so), but so far they let me through both times. Last time they demanded (among other things) that I hand over my phone and messed around with it for a while (not in my presence), screwed up some of my settings as a result. And of course asked the same standard set of questions a few times over -- probably trying to catch you in some inconsistencies.
Same thing (also a couple of times) happened with Americans on my way home. A nuisance, but nothing really terrible.
I feel sometimes they are (both Canadians are Americans) just bored out of their wits and do that as some sort of entertainment. Or maybe they just have a daily quota of how many decent people they must piss off, who knows. Just stick to the same standard spiel (brief clear answers, ideally yes or no) and never lose your temper, that is my way of dealing with them.
Same thing (also a couple of times) happened with Americans on my way home. A nuisance, but nothing really terrible.
I feel sometimes they are (both Canadians are Americans) just bored out of their wits and do that as some sort of entertainment. Or maybe they just have a daily quota of how many decent people they must piss off, who knows. Just stick to the same standard spiel (brief clear answers, ideally yes or no) and never lose your temper, that is my way of dealing with them.
I get anxiety every time I go through customs now because of some of the reasons mentioned above. Once I was sent to secondary questioning, but that’s it so far. It does seem like they’re more strict at land border crossings than at the airport but I could be wrong.
I am hassled about 50% of the time I Drive across the border. I had never been hassled flying into YUL until last year. I got pulled out of line for secondary questioning when an officer walking among the crowd picked me out. He sent me to a special booth and a female officer made me go inside. I was dressed in a suit coat and carrying a briefcase and I said that I was here for pleasure. All three asked me where I was going and staying. I told them the hotel and I said I was going to the casino, going to dine out and hit a few clubs. I repeated that three times and they let me go through. I don't think you want to get into an elaborate discussion. They are looking for inconsistencies in your story. In 2017 Canada adopted a new law for foreigners working 90 days in Canada (I think it is 90). There are tax implications I guess. I think I looked too much like a business man going through the line. I may dress a little more casual on my way in next time.
If you don't have a relevant visa/work permit, do not say you are here for work; say you are here for business.
I think you are right. It's very different flying into Canada.
First, a vehicle is a much greater smuggling risk. Second, I can't imagine any city is going to be thrilled with customs hassling people at their airport. The city probably spent millions of dollars trying to attract North American tourists and convention business. Montreal also hosts several world class events.
Tell that to the customs officers at the Toronto airport :lol: Before my hobbying days when I visited Toronto for a friend’s wedding the customs officer asked me like a million questions and some of them were just plain dumb like “why isn’t your friend (the groom) picking you up from the airport?” I wanted to be smart and say “uh because maybe he’s too busy dealing with wedding stuff?” Also, about a year or so ago, a merb member posted about how the officers at the Billy Bishop airport went through his phone and laptop and ended up making him go back to the States after finding hobbying stuff on his computer.
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