Info on U.S. Customs and Border Crossings

[OneFinger]

I recently returned from a trip that included a visit to Canada. Had absolutely no problems getting into our neighbor to the North. But, U.S. Customs on the return side was a hassle. I used to live in Michigan and routinely crossed the border with no problems. The way I was treated this time was NOT typical of how I was treated back in 2000 (my last Canadian crossing).

 

Don't know if their attitude was the result of post-9/11 issues or other reasons. But, they acted like they were ready to pull on the rubber gloves and do an in-depth exam.

 

They started out with the usual questions such as citizenship, state of residence, purpose of trip, etc. They asked why I flew into Detroit but stayed in Canada. Wanted to know why I went to Canada. I honestly answered "vacation" but they wanted details. Where did I stay? What did I buy? Who did I visit? Why didn't I stay in the United States rather than go into Canada? How much money did I take into Canada and how much was I bringing back? What did I do for a living? (I answered that I worked in the ___________ industry but they wanted details such as employer, job title, etc.)

 

Had a good time in Canada but coming back to the United States was an experience.

 

I know a lot of guys here travel to Montreal and other popular areas. Just wanted to warn people that you should be prepared for lots of questions.

[Chuck50]

I was up there this past summner 2004. I went over from Vermont into Montreal, I was driving and then when leaving from Montreal into NY State # Route 85. I didn't have any problems, but I have a buddy who is retired now who was a border guard and yes he told me since 9/11 they have cracked down(and I think as we would want them too) checking out all those coming back in to our country from other places as well as our country.I would guess you would get some guys who are more into it than others. The timing of day or night,are they bored or swamped? HUGS Chuck

[OneFinger]

Chuck,

 

I certainly agree we want good security at the border, But, as soon as someone veifies US citizenship, though, the grilling should stop.

 

Going into Canada they photographed the license plates on the car as well as took a picture of my face through the camera trained at the windshield. They KNEW who I was when I left.

 

On the way back into the USA they used the same camera system and license plate info to track me as when I left the country. I would be very surprised if they didn't use face recognition software to verify I was the same person that left the country.

 

I wasn't using just my drivers license or birth certificate for ID. I had a valid passport with all the holograming security stuff.

 

They knew damn well who I was before the car actually made it through the queue to the Customs Agent. The questions and iterrogation were, IMHO, nothing more than a means of intimidation.

 

I fully support keeping close tabs on the borders - especially the one to the South of us. But, once identity has been established and they've verified I'm not wanted or a criminal, DON'T BUST MY CHOPS.

[Chuck50]

I am not trying to or hope they aren't either. HUGS Chuck

[OneFinger]

Chuck,

 

My DON'T BUST MY CHOPS was an editorial comment for Customs. Certainly not intended for you and I apologize for the misunderstanding.

 

I'm all for safety and security. I'm just not be used to being treated like I'm a criminal or having to answer questions that are none of their business. x(

 

Thank goodness I didn't tell them I was hoping to find some "entertainment" for the evening. :+

[Chuck50]

thanks hugs

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

Don't worry, cross happy.

 

The level of scrutiny just depends. On what none of us really know -- the day, the time of day, the agent, the agent's wife nagging, the agent's sleep the night before? Was he bored? Was his boss on his case today? Did some heightened security notice come in over night? Were you a recipient of a random procedure designed to keep agents on their toes? Did your travel profile trip some flags? Who knows?

 

It could be anything. The point is that there is nothing to worry about or feel insecure over unless you are doing something or carrying something to make you worry or feel insecure. Just answer the questions asked and look them in the eye when talking to them. Answer questions directly but don't volunteer anything. Part of the routine if they get into it with you is to see how you react.

 

I travel across the border regularly. I have been hassled much more by U.S. Immigration than by Canadian. However, usually I have little delay in either direction. This last weekend I actuallly had the Canadian Agent chuckling under his breath. I drove up, responded "good day" to his "bon soir" and said in the same breath: "I'm a U.S. citizen visting friends in Montreal for the weekend and returning Monday. I have two bottles of wine and no tobacco." That took care of six usual questions. After the chuckle and a grin he asked if I had any goods or presents I was bringing in. I answered and he wished me a good day and waved me on. No identification was asked for.

 

I did the same thing on returning to the U.S. I was asked for ID and then waved through. Interestingly, this agent, my second crossing with him, never looks at me when addressing me or listening to me. He looks down the high way but seems to be intently concentrating on my voice. I get the strong impression of ex-military police. I could be wrong. However I still give him full eye contact for the benefit of his peripheral vision and I answer questions succinctly and clearly. No problem.

 

True, I and my auto are in the computer. My answers to standard questions are always the same or similar so I am a familiar crosser with a set pattern. Even so, I have had U.S. customs give me a close look on occasion. On occasion if they want to search my trunk, no problem. Who knows why? Maybe I was the one in ten that gets singled out for inspection? Maybe it is a slow day and the agent wants to stretch his legs or get some fresh air? I have nothing to hide and I act like it. It could be any of the above or something else. They do their search and wave me through. I am not offended in the least and happy that they are doing their job. Sometimes their job is to go through the drill even though there may be no apparent reason for it. Don't worry, cross happy.

[+ deej]

RE: Don't worry, cross happy.

 

Exactly right, TY. The only reason to worry is if you're doing something to be worried about.

 

I know a guy (str8 guy) who regularly goes to Montreal for almost the same reason everyone here does. As he explains it, "In NYC they're topless, in MTL they're bottomless". When asked why he's visiting Canada, he proudly answers "strip clubs".

 

He *claims* he's never been questioned beyond that. They smirk and wave him through.

[Guest]

If you feel you were treated rudely, you could file a complaint, and follow it up with a letter to your Congressman if you don't get a satisfactory answer. Maybe I'm lucky, but I never seem to get grilled ( I usually go in by air or sea, though).

[FourAces]

One finger if you want a hassle free return to the states from another country that is simple. Just come in from the San Diego -Mexico crossing :7

 

RT

[+ LIguy]

I've driven up to Montreal with friends at least 8 times since 9/11 and we were asked more questions to enter Canada than we were asked to get back into the US.Everytime we crossed back into the US I think we were asked about 5 questions.One question always asked was "Did you buy anything?" to which we replied no while sitting there in our car wearing new Montreal tshirts and the border agent then saying "Have a great day,guys!" LOL

[Muscle Lover]

With the several examples terrorists who have been caught in this country and came in thru Canada, thank God the border patrol

is paying more attention.

There was a story on CNN about a month ago about how easy it was for AArab terrorist to get into Canada.. From there it's only a short hop into the USA...

The tougher border checks the better...probably will save lives

[+ Lucky]

deej-"The only reason to worry is if you're doing something to be worried about."

 

This may be true for an individual, but as a country we need to be very concerned about all of this window dressing designed to make us feel that the governmet is doing its job. The simple fact is that US citizens are being harrassed while VIRTUALLY ANYTHING can come into the country through our unsecured ports. Thesee border agents know damn well that we are not a threat. Their efforts are designed to make us feel safe when in fact we are not.

[pierrot]

With the Mexican border as porous as a sieve, any terrorist who wants to come in can do so easily. Until we get serious about illegal immigration and really seal the southern border, the rest is just window dressing.

[OneFinger]

>One finger if you want a hassle free return to the states from another country that is simple. Just come in from the San Diego-Mexico crossing

 

You're absolutely right. Last year I did a border crossing in San Diego and it wasn't a problem at all.

 

I really need to get out more. Been staying in the USA too much and there is a whole world out there I'm missing.

[+ Lucky]

RE: Info on U.S. Customs

 

Proving my point, the US is junking almost all of the devices it uses now and spending 4.5 billion on new gadgets...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/national/08screen.html?

 

(It's a long article so I didn't cut it.)

[OneFinger]

RE: Info on U.S. Customs

 

>(It's a long article so I didn't cut it.)

 

And it's also a membership site so I couldn't read it.

:+

[+ Lucky]

RE: Info on U.S. Customs

 

You can borrow someone else's name and pw at bugmenot.com.

[OneFinger]

RE: Info on U.S. Customs

 

Guess I'm too stupid to understand how to use that info. Went to the website, tried a couple of IDs, and still couldn't get in.

 

But, since you said the article was long, I'll just "assume" it's more info than my attention deficit can process and won't try reading it.;-)

[shy]

it could have been as simple as this question you said they first asked: "They asked why I flew into Detroit but stayed in Canada. Wanted to know why I went to Canada", that piqued their interest. then, referencing tampa yankees' general comments, maybe irritation in your voice or your demeanor when you responded prompted more and more questions?

[OneFinger]

I think you and TY are probably correct that my vocal tone or body language made them more curious. I usually don't do a good job at hiding my frustration and I went to Canada fully expecting a hassle. Perhaps I created my own self-fulling prophecy.

 

On the good side, I didn't have to go through a vehicle or luggage search.

[Guest Ruben]

I have just returned from my 49th flight in the past sixteen months, and many of these flights have been out of the country. I have never had any trouble, either before or after 9/11, with US customs. I have never been harassed or treated rudely. I have encountered indifferent US customs officials, but never anyone who was hostile or nasty to me personally.

 

I did see one truly mean, loud and excessively rude customs official at the US-Canadian border, however. I was going from Seattle to Vancouver by bus, and at the border a Canadian official was incredibly harsh, not to me, but to a Japanese man ahead of me in the line. It seems that this man claimed to have been on the road for a week, but he had no luggage. The customs official wanted to know where his dirty laundry was. This was a legitimate question, but the official was loud--just short of shouting--rough and mean in making his demands. The rest of us in the line waiting our turn were quite rightly stunned. I had never seen a customs official in any country behave like this before, or since, for that matter.

[twinkboylover28]

I had absolutely zero trouble entering Canada or returning to the USA on my trip to Montreal from Detroit (May 7th - May 12th).

 

I had to fill out that silly customs form on my Northwest Airlines flight to Montreal. Canadian customs asked me a total of 3 questions when I arrived in Canada: How long are you staying? Who are you seeing? What is the purpose of your visit?

 

All I had was an expired passport with my childhood photo on it of when I was 8 years old, and my driverse license as forms of identification.

 

I didn't know that Montreal had 2 places at the airport where you have to clear customs. I thought I was free and clear after the initial screening, but you get screened AGAIN 5 minutes later after you pick up your luggage (if you don't forget to pick it up like I did!)

 

Returning to Detoit from Montreal, I had to clear customs at the Montreal airport BEFORE departing for the USA. This is very smart! This way when you get off the plane in the USA all you have to do is grab your luggage and your on your way.

 

I did have to fill out that silly customs form at the Montreal airport as well; however, this time I was asked a total of ZERO questions! The guy simply looked at my passport, entered some info into his computer, and waived me through.

 

Conclusion: In my expereince, customs is a breeze if you have the proper identification.

 

PS- I was so excited to be in Montreal for the first time that I had forgotten to pick up my luggage when I got off the plane. I was sitting on the shuttle bus and realized this fact just in time to get off the bus. I had to go back to the Arrivals section of the airport and call Northwest Airlines on the "black" phone.

 

I had to walk all the way back to customs again, where I was greeted by a rude agent who obviously was annoyed that I had disturbed whatever he was doing. I asked if this was the right place to get my luggage and he yelled "you're gonna have to wait" in his french accent, even though I was the only person there.

 

Then his partner started interrogating me: "what's in your luggage, etc, etc"

 

I informed them that I had already passed customs. By this time the Northwest guy arrived with my luggage and I was on my way.

 

This situation would have been avoided if I wouldnt have forgotten to pick up my luggage in the first place.

[Guest]

I think you may be a little confused about the difference between clearing customs and clearing immigration. Although when you enter a country by land, the procedures are often integrated into one step, they are actually two different procedures. When entering a country by air, one generally goes through immigration first. This process serves to ascertain the traveler's identity and his right to enter the country in question (which may involve visas or reciprocity fees, such as the $100 fee Chile and some other countries charge US citizens as reciprocity for the $100 the US charges their citizens to apply for a visa).

The second process involves clearing customs. In this process, the host country determines (through forms and traveler declarations), whether you are bringing in items that are either not allowed, or for which duty is required. This is the step in which luggage may be examined in order to confirm the veracity of the traveler's declaration. If you forgot your luggage before clearing customs, you did not clear customs, even if you did go through immigration.

When entering the U.S. (and some other countries) from countries other than Canada or Aruba, there are actually three steps: immigration, customs, and agricultural inspection. They are actually performed by three entirely different executive departments: (1) Homeland Security for immigration, (2) Treasury Dept. for customs, and (3) Agriculture for agricultural inspection. You can recognize who's who by the decals on their shoulders.

P.S. I think most Frenchmen (or Quebecois) would take you to task for suggesting than someone from Quebec has a French accent. A Quebecois sounds more like an American than a Frenchman.

[twinkboylover28]

Thanks for enlightening me on Customs and Immigration. I haven't flown in 8 years before my trip to Montreal. I meant no disrespect by my "french accent" comment. It was actually a compliment