Anyone Visit Canada Lately

boeboe

I'll be visiting Canada in a couple of weeks on business, Montreal area. I was wondering how security was at the border now days, both getting in and coming back. Should I expect any delays?

To err is human, to moo is bovine.

Iconoclast

I've been there three times since 9-11; more scrutiny than before, but no real delays in crossing either way - but there was little traffic at those times, so that little extra might mount up.

BlueTic

We are right on the border. Security got real tight there for awhile now they do more searches coming in to US, and ask more questions, but more business as usual now. New faces on the border. We may go across as much as 1-2 times a week (my wife's family is up there). I go to gun shows up there, but now you have delay after delay just getting paper on a firearm so I have given up on that. You can not even bring primers across now. Some of the Canadian members of our gun club can't even come down and shoot because they don't even recognize the legal paperwork required, that really burns us.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)

davcon

Make sure you have a passport or your birth certificate with you. In years gone by you may not have needed it but now you probably will not get in with out one or the other.

glb243

I cross the border about three times a week for my job. It pretty much depends where you cross, as to how tight the security is, and it is always harder to get back into the states than Canada. For example, at the Buffalo/Fort Erie border, there is so much truck traffic that the only people they stop and check are the towel-heads. But at the border in Houlton Maine,which is small and quiet, you'll get a thorough * exam every time you cross. It is also a good idea to carry either a birth certificate or a passport to prove your citizenship, since they do not recognize a state driver licence as proof. One more thing, if you have ever had a D.W.I., chances are, they won't let you into Canada.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."-Benjamin Franklin

davcon

I once was held up for 2 hours at the Buffalo border. The girl I was with didn't have proof that she had custody of her daughter that was with us. Last Fall I entered in through the Thousand Islands and every single vehicle was being checked and there was a lot of traffic. Maybe it depends on what sort of alert status they are on at the time or if they recogize your vehicle as one that crosses over daily.

Iconoclast

I crossed both ways twice last month w/ only my drivers license. I told the officers it was an unplanned trip - and I was in my own vehicle, so when they ran the plate, the name came up the same as the license. No hassle whatever. But they are paying a *lot* more attention now than in years past, when it was "are you a citizen?" & a wave.

Rembrandt

One of our people at work was up last week in a company marked mini-van, had no problem getting into Canada, but said the lines coming back in were pretty long....3 days later when comeing back accross he expected a long wait...U.S. Customs person was too busy filling her coffee cup and chatting with another official, the National Guard person just waved him on thru...(I know I feel more secure)