The drive back into Canada was the same as the drive into the United States

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Last month I had posted that when driving into the United States the border agent had only asked my family where we would be going & nothing else, plus he did not look at our Passports. Well we had a great & similar situation going back into Windsor this past Monday. When we got up to the border for questioning the Canadian border guard said how are you doing, then he said how much value of $ do you have in the car? My Dad told him the amount & he said have a nice day. I should also mention he did not even look at our Passports, eventhough my Dad was handing them to him but he never took them. So I am assuming if you have them it makes things a lot easier. Although we may have goten lucky with the border agents we got & in my opinion they are more different when flying. Anyway just thought I share this with any Canadians who will soon be going into the United States & then back into Canada.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

We have had similar crossings as we cross a lot, which are great!

However, I will say that you should always be prepared with passports and proper documentation because you never know what they will ask.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We have had similar crossings as we cross a lot, which are great!

However, I will say that you should always be prepared with passports and proper documentation because you never know what they will ask.

I totally agree because like I said before, we must have been lucky to have border guards who asked very few questions. The next time we cross into the United States & back into Canada, we might have every question in the book thrown at us.

 

[madonna31]

However, I will say that you should always be prepared with passports and proper documentation because you never know what they will ask.

So true.

Am I the only one who feels that they SHOULD ask for identification each and every time?

 

[briarberry]

We recently took an airport shuttle service from London, Ontario to the Detroit airport. They made the whole van load of us go into U.S. customs and present our passports or identification. We had no problems but they did ask us where we were going and staying. One gentleman was refused entry and the shuttle driver was told to pick him up on the way back across the border. They offered no explanation and we left him there at the customs office. It was weird. I had a passport but my DD9 didn't but her birth certificate was good enough for them but the agent did ask my DD her name.
Since coming home I have sent in an application for my DD's passport. It just makes me feel better about travelling. I had to present my passport and her birth certificate at security in Detroit and Orlando and they actually examined both closely. In Detroit we had to pass through this explosives seeking chamber which blew air on us and they also took an iris scan in Detroit.
It makes me sad that we can't trust people anymore but that's the way it is now. It is actually good to know they are being watchful.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

So true.

Am I the only one who feels that they SHOULD ask for identification each and every time?

What if you hand them your Passports (on both the American & Canadian side) but the border guard does not take them? Would you still say to them, don't you want to see our ID? That happened to my family both times, where we handed them our Passports but they never took them. I do agree that showing ID is a very good thing, but if they don't want to see them it's not our problem because we still were willing to show them.

 

[Donald - my hero]

We had the scariest border crossing ever on Wednesday (August 23th) We were just going to Crackle Barrel for lunch and to check out hotels for park-n-fly. Well let me tell you, the guy 1st YELLED at us put all the windows down -- even one were no one is sitting! Let me see you id (good thing we all had Passports). Asked hubby where he worked (made him cough and sputter). ASked daughter where she went to school --- we had to wait while he checked to see if our city HAS a school with that name. Asked me what I do ... Uhm nothing sir I stay at home. WHY?? I am on long-term disability for mental illness (check out siggy) TURN off engine and hand me those keys -- keep your hands on steering wheel where we can see them. He then proceeded to pull entire trunk apart -- even removed spare tire and bounced it on ground. Then had me open glove compartment -- full of napkins, CD's etc. FINALLY handed hubby keys and passport. Have an nice day. The entire area where peeps go for extra questions was FULL and they were directing cars to employee parking lot.
Have a nice day?? Gawd none of us wanted to eat for hours after that. When we came home , How long have you been away? Ok Thanks and drive safely.

 

[Scratch42]

Donald ~ my hero,

Obviously, you were driving a car that they were looking for! It's unfortunate, but they have to be dilligent considering what is happening in today's world.

j

 

[maryliz]

Donald ... we went over this past Thurs for Cracker Barrel - great minds must think alike It took us 25 minutes to get through customs in Port Huron, and the lineups weren't that long (ie. we were OFF the bridge when we got into line). There was one line that was moving more quickly (of course we weren't IN that line ). One car in our line was at the window for 6 minutes ... I'm sorry, but if they have THAT much to ask you or say to you, then you should be pulled over and let those in the office deal with it. And they weren't searching the car so who knows what they were doing. Most cars were on average of 3 minutes each. She asked us twice where we were going, and kind of rolled her eyes at us the second time, like she didn't believe us. Coming back, we handed the guy all four passports -- he actually did ask who was in the back, and their ages -- and compared our answers to the passports. Got them 2 years ago and already the kids don't really look like their pictures because they've grown so much. I can just imagine when DS is 9 and they're comparing it with his picture of when he was 4.

But long and short ... they get to control who and when, and how long it takes to enter their country. And if you really want that meal at Cracker Barrel, you won't mention to them at the window how ridiculously long it took for this line to move. And BTW, the meal WAS worth the wait!

MaryLiz

 

[madonna31]

I do agree that showing ID is a very good thing, but if they don't want to see them it's not our problem because we still were willing to show them.

That's my point. They should be asking AND looking at the ID. We shouldn't have to offer it to them. They should ask to see and look at them each and every time.

That's the way it's done in the airports and I feel it should be done the exact same via car.

It's unfortunate, but they have to be dilligent considering what is happening in today's world

Very, very well said!

 

[dancin Disney style]

We do a lot of cross border shopping. We only live 45 minutes from Niagara Falls. Going into the US we have always been questioned---where are you going, who is in the car, ID's etc. However, returning to Canada I can't remember a single time in 15 years that we were asked anything more than --How long have you been away and what is the value of goods in the car?

Kind of strange that you get grilled at the airport when you return to Canada but not when you drive. Personally, I think everyone should be identified when they cross the border.

 

[Scratch42]

We do a lot of cross border shopping. We only live 45 minutes from Niagara Falls. Going into the US we have always been questioned---where are you going, who is in the car, ID's etc. However, returning to Canada I can't remember a single time in 15 years that we were asked anything more than --How long have you been away and what is the value of goods in the car?

Kind of strange that you get grilled at the airport when you return to Canada but not when you drive. Personally, I think everyone should be identified when they cross the border.

The last time we came home from NYC via Airport, the Custom's Officer wrote down how many pieces of luggage we had and even asked me and I quote, "If I were to X-ray your luggage, we would not find any bottles of Alcohol?" Strange but true! All the writing he put down on the Declaration Form even confused the person checking it on the way out!?! I did not go to NYC to shop for Alcohol! Clothes maybe!

j

 

[Donald - my hero]

But long and short ... they get to control who and when, and how long it takes to enter their country. And if you really want that meal at Cracker Barrel, you won't mention to them at the window how ridiculously long it took for this line to move. And BTW, the meal WAS worth the wait!

MaryLiz

Yummy food there! We just can't believe how much you get to eat and still get change from a 50 when there are FOUR of us!! Like I said we went to the one by the Buffalo airport and then found the PERFECT hotel for park-n-fly

 

[Mortlives]

The last time we crossed at Niagara Falls, we were told to pull over and park and go into the building. The guard kept our passports while (my guess) they waited for us to freak out or look nervous or something. When we were in the building we had to wait about 10 minutes (no one in front of us) until we were called up to the desk. The emphasis seemed to be on whether or not we were going to be working in the US. I didn't think we went that often.

They finally handed us back our passports, and we were off. It didn't look like the car was searched, so we're still not sure what was up.

 

[ottawa-newbie]

OT - but I'm glad I'm not the only one here who loves Cracker Barrel!

I was thinking of driving there this weekend

 

[TimNDansMom]

Dh and I just recently discovered the Cracker Barrel near BUFF airport! I couldn't believe it! I've been a CB fan for years!

I'm hoping I can convince Dh to leave work early enough so we can go for dinner before our evening flight at the end of November.

 

[sammi]

We've always been big Cracker Barrel fans in Florida especially at Christmas time with all the lovely things they have in their gift shop!

We too discovered the Cracker Barrel near the Buffalo airport this past Feb and that now is a must do for dinner, before we fly out. Looking forward to returning in Oct before our flight again!

 

[MomtoEmIs&Ow]

I went across with 2 of my kids and a friend the other day and the guy asked ALMOST NOTHING!!! Just where we where going and where we where from and how may of us was there. No ID was asked for, and my husband was not with me.... It was the same on the way back. The easiest border crossing I've had.

I can just imagine when DS is 9 and they're comparing it with his picture of when he was 4.

I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure that kids passports need to be renewed every three years??? Or that might be just for kids three and under when the passport was issued. Something like that though.

 

[maryliz]

I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure that kids passports need to be renewed every three years??? Or that might be just for kids three and under when the passport was issued. Something like that though.

I think it's for kids three and under. I just double-checked my kids passports and they expire in 2009 like mine does. I remember when my DSis had to get a new passport for her DD because the first one she got expired after a couple of years because the DD was only a baby when she got it for her. I think the baby even smiled in the photo but it was accepted because how do you reason with a baby to NOT smile I know that was a tough one to NOT smile, for my kids and they were 4 and 7.

MaryLiz

 

[tone.def]

Just came back over the border at the Peace bridge tonight from Colorado... Customs guy asked when I left, where do I live, what did I buy, said have a good night... I asked "don't you want to see our passports?" he goes "nah, I trust you."

Good thing it wasn't my axe-welding alter-ego at the wheel!