Border Crossing Questions!

[My 2 princesses]

First time crossing the border to fly anywhere, so just wondering a few things.

I'm assuming you have to tell them that you are going to WDW? Do they need to know if you are flying out or driving? Or do they even care?

Do you need to declare the electronics you are taking so you won't have trouble on your return?

Anything else that is important for me to know? Please do tell.

TIA.

 

[cslittle999]

Crossing the border is straight forward. Make sure you have the appropriate ID and answer whatever questions they ask. I wouldn't worry about the electronics. You would have to be behaving quite suspiciously for them to worry about your electronics on the way back.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

First time crossing the border to fly anywhere, so just wondering a few things.

I'm assuming you have to tell them that you are going to WDW? Do they need to know if you are flying out or driving? Or do they even care?

Do you need to declare the electronics you are taking so you won't have trouble on your return?

Anything else that is important for me to know? Please do tell.

TIA.

Unfortunately you don't say where you are flying out of.

First, the airline will give you a blue/white card to fill out and give to the US customs people (one per family). On it you will need to indicate passport numbers, who is traveling, how long you are staying and where you are staying (if you know the address that's better).

You don't need to declare any electronics, however, there are rules for what you can and can't take in your luggage and carry-on items. This website will give you more information.

When you return to Canada, you will need to fill out another form for Canadian customs with similar information as above, except you will need to declare any purchases you made in the US. This website will also give you more information.

 

[CanadianPaco]

cslittle999 said it best - answer their questions. Simple.
If they say how long will you be in the States - say 7 days. Don't go on and on about one night here, 8 nights there.

 

[My 2 princesses]

Unfortunately you don't say where you are flying out of.

First, the airline will give you a blue/white card to fill out and give to the US customs people (one per family). On it you will need to indicate passport numbers, who is traveling, how long you are staying and where you are staying (if you know the address that's better).

You don't need to declare any electronics, however, there are rules for what you can and can't take in your luggage and carry-on items. This website will give you more information.

When you return to Canada, you will need to fill out another form for Canadian customs with similar information as above, except you will need to declare any purchases you made in the US. This website will also give you more information.

Sorry, we'll be flying out of BUF, so crossing the border by car. Even though we are flying within the US, we will have to fill out the forms?

 

[cslittle999]

Sorry, we'll be flying out of BUF, so crossing the border by car. Even though we are flying within the US, we will have to fill out the forms?

There are no forms for domestic US flights. The forms Cdn Friends of Pooh mentioned are only if you fly from Canada to the US or US to Canada.

Really the border staff are used to Canadians going to the Buffalo airport for travel. I imagine more Canadian fly out of there than Americans. I doubt you will be at the border more than five minutes. The return crossing likely won't be any longer unless you under declare or are on a massive shopping trip.

 

[WDWcanuck]

I've flown out of Buffalo about 10 times now. Haven't had any issues at the border. Most of the time they just ask your destination and I say that I'm heading to the Buffalo airport enroute to Orlando, or whichever city I'm headed to. They'll most likely ask for how long and if you're bringing anything into the US that will remain there. I make sure to have my itineraries/confirmations printed out and available JUST in case they ask. Which they haven't yet.

Like everyone else has said, just provide the appropriate ID, answer their questions honestly, and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

Ditto to WDWcanuck's post.

You have nothing to worry about and you'll be surprised at how easy it is. If you have kids in your car, you may even get a border guard (if you get one that is playful) who will ask them if they're excited or who their favourite character is. No guarantee though!

We have nothing to hide, especially the huge perma-grins we will all be wearing as we answer their questions in just over a week ourselves!

 

[My 2 princesses]

thanks again! Can you tell I am scared of authority, lol.

 

[mom22belles]

Hi My 2 Princesses

We are just back yesterday from flying out of Buffalo. On the way into the US we were asked where we where going, ( As in what hotel and not just WDW) how long we would be there. There where 6 of us traveling with Canadian passports. They did ask us to open the sliding door of the Mini Van to see us all.

On the way home we where asked how long we where away and the value of the goods we where bring home and if it included alchol and ciggerettes.

Nancy

P.S. Just an FYI we got held up on the QEW with costruntion delays and had a 45 min delay at the Peace Bridge ( which had the shortest delay) this was on a Sat. afternoon. Also the price of food at Buffalo airport is outrageous ( almost 20$ for 2 sandwichs and 2 bottles of water)

 

[OatsZoo]

I agree, last time we flew out of Buffalo we were just asked for ID, don't have passports but just drivers license and birth certificate was okay. We told them where we were going and he even gave us short cut directions to the airport. No forms are needed to be filled out as you are flying nationally from US to US. No problems with the electronics in the car, DH had his laptop too. Just check what can go on the flight and what can't. DH brought his laptop on the flight and you just couldn't have it on during take off and landings. No biggie. Don't worry the customs people are so good and so use to people going through to Buffalo airport. No worries. Enjoy you flight and trip.

 

[Reese]

We have DH's and my licenses ready along with all the kids birth certificates. Usually when we hand them the stack they do a double take at our van and ask if they're all ours? We answer yes and they tell us to have a great time.

 

[Beechnut]

Depending on how many electronic devices you take, it is always better to register them before you go.
If they are picky they can assume you bought them in the US and charge you duty.

We travel with at least 1 sometimes 2 laptops, mp3, portable dvd player, assorted nintendo devices, and my everyday camera, and expensive camera.

It doesn' t cost anything and the paper may save you a pain coming back. We just take the devices into a local office and they record the model/serial number and stamp the form. I stick it in the computer bag, so it is always with us when we go.

I also find that if you are prepared they dont give you such a hard time.

 

[My 2 princesses]

We have DH's and my licenses ready along with all the kids birth certificates. Usually when we hand them the stack they do a double take at our van and ask if they're all ours? We answer yes and they tell us to have a great time.

LOL, I had to count how many kids you have and still wondering if I am counting right or not One more and you'll have to buy a school bus, eh?? Do you drive all the way?

 

[Reese]

LOL, I had to count how many kids you have and still wondering if I am counting right or not One more and you'll have to buy a school bus, eh?? Do you drive all the way?

I almost had DH convinced to drive for the first time this Sept but we ended up getting our air for $950 so we couldn't pass it up.

 

[fuzzy164]

We regularly travel to Buffalo (at least twice a month) and have never had a difficult time at either of the border crossings. The best advice be honest and answer the questions they ask. We went to WDW last Sept. and the HomeLand security at the border was sooooo nice and wished us a great trip. When we came back over we had close to $1,000.00 worth of stuff from WDW and a quick shopping trip, no hassels only items they were interested in were alcohol and tobacco and how much of it you had.
We went over two weeks ago and bought the DD a laptop for $575.00 U.S.that retails here for $1200.00 Can.(Best Buy) decalred it and good thing we did if we had to return it at anytime for repairs we could have been charged import taxes both ways The customs at the Canadian side gave us a card with the duty paid/declared so we would not have any difficulties.
Hope you have a Magical Time I know we did!

Fuzzy164

 

[Melmac]

As WDWcanuck stated, make sure that you have all of your hotel/airline confirmations handy for the border guards to look at. All though we have never crossed at Buffalo, we have always been asked for the confirmation forms for our trips (crossing at Detroit). They are most interested in the airline confirmations - probably as proof to when we are returning to Detroit. However, when we went last year, they wanted to know about the hotel and wanted to see our park tickets (needed to explain that that were issued at check-in). Keep all this handy in a folder so if they ask, you can just pass it over and it should be no problem!

Have a great trip!

 

[networktek]

i love flying from the buffalo air port it is a nice airport when you get to the boarder just tell them you are flying to disney world and how many days you are there for on the buffalo international airport website there is a cupon for 10% prefered longterm parking that is were we park when we go also if you go a day earlyier you can shop at the out let malls in buffalo