Crossing The Canadian Border

ELM-JLM · 03-09-2011, 02:34 PM

Hi All,
We are planning a trip to Maine in July and are curious if anyone has info pertaining to crossing the border into Canada. We are in the process of getting our Passport Cards now.
Experiences and border crossing stories would be most helpful!

scrubjaysnest · 03-09-2011, 04:56 PM

We had no problems last year. We used the smaller less busy crossings.
Check this web site:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html

ELM-JLM · 03-09-2011, 07:54 PM

Thats awesome Scrubjay! It appears there are only a few crossings into New Brunswick so we'll likely stay close to the coast.

Next year we intend to go to Alaska so the website will help greatly as we plan our route! I believe I read that you have made the Alaska trip from Florida. Are there any tips that you can offer.

03-09-2011, 07:59 PM

Strangest question asked at the border: "What was your great grandmother's maiden name?" My answer was "I have no idea" The officer's reply: "Have a nice day"

I guess if I had a ready answer that would have triggered a more rigorous discussion. They can ask any questions they want.

ELM-JLM · 03-09-2011, 08:15 PM

I am still thinking about that question! LoL! I have no idea either! I never spent much time trying to figure out where I came from, To busy watching where I am going!

**Bill** · 03-09-2011, 08:46 PM

Actually, I know my ggm's maiden name - Tillotson. Wonder what would have happened if I blurted it out. My guess is that what they really want to see is your reaction to an unexpected question. I once took a polygraph for a DoD security clearance, and they used this tactic at the end of the session. I'd tell you what the question was, but this is a family forum (PM me if you want to get grossed out).

In my limited experience, it is harder to get back into the US than to get out. You must have a passport (or some similar specific irrefutable form of ID). Got a dog? You'll need a vet-signed certificate of health. Certificate of auto insurance? Yup. Got firewood? Toss it in the bin by the side of the building.

Of course, arriving in Maine, you may show up at the border in the evening, when the crossing is closed. The sign on the building will say "Come back at 8AM, or drive 20 miles east to the all-night crossing at West Burlap Station." But they leave the gate up ...

Bill

T and C · 03-10-2011, 12:15 AM

Don't try to carry any firearms into Canada. They will confiscate them. Fortunately I learned this before the trip.

Returning from Canada to the USA got a little hairy. We were waved through by the Canucks, and then stopped at the US border station. They took our new passports to look them over. Then they came out and asked my wife to go over to the office and sit on a bench.

They had me get out of the truck and go around to the rear of the camper. They stationed themselves at widely separated places behind me, unsnapped their holsters, and placed their hands on the butts of their pistols.

Then they told me to open the door. When I did so and they could see that I had no passengers, they snapped their holsters closed and told us to get back in the truck.

One of the agents came up to the window and handed my wife the passports. He told us that we had failed to sign them. That was true. That was also what aroused their suspicions that something was wrong.

Tom

03-10-2011, 06:38 AM

We have been to Canada 3 times. The first time we entered Detroit-Windsor. The Canadian asked how many guns we had. We answered none. She then said, "You are from Missouri and you don't have any guns?" Again, No. She asked, "How do you protect yourself?" My answer then was a question to her, "Do we need guns to visit Canada?" She said, "Have a nice visit."

The second visit we were re-entering at the International Peace Gardens at about 8AM. The Americans searched our car, even going thru our dirty laundry bag. We got to watch it all on tv.

The third visit we were coming back into Maine about 9PM. The American guard wanted to see in the back. DW had a quilt making business and we had purchased a lot of fabrics. He just wanted to know how we could afford so much cloth. We gave him her business card and he waved us on.

So we had no trouble but recommend you not buy any eagle claws from the Indians road side stands. I was going to make necklaces for the grandkids, but that is another story.

ELM-JLM · 03-10-2011, 09:13 AM

Thank you all! These are what I was looking for. Preparedness and preventive maintenance are at the top of my list! I have read the gun laws and understand them. We likely will take a day trip across the border to site see! Maybe not if Maine is as beautiful as we expect it to be. We will get our share of Canadian site seeing when we head to Alaska next year!

Has anyone had to set up the TrailManor for search purposes?

03-10-2011, 11:14 AM

Our family has been going back and forth across the border for generations, looking for work, on vacation, visiting family, going to funerals or whatever. And, yes, getting back into the States has become more troublesome, even with an American passport. But, with few exceptions, we've been treated with courtesy and respect on both sides of the border.

I'm not sure what the rules are, but to keep things simple we never bring any fresh food into the US, especially fruits, and fire wood (as mentioned) is not good in either direction. The Canadian border people are definitely worried about firearms, but I suspect that they're primarily looking for handguns or illegal weapons. We get a lot of Tennessee bear hunters up in North-Central Ontario, and I'm sure they bring their own hunting rifles.

Maine is nice but so is New Brunswick and the rest of the Canadian Maritimes (My grandmother came from Bangor Maine, and my grandfather from New Brunswick). But if you're looking for some thing really different, go to Quebec.