Buffalo Border

[mykonso82]

Hi all, my PR card will expire in Jul 17 and I have not fulfilled the 2-year PR obligation. I intend to travel by rental car from Buffalo to Toronto and understand that there are a few borders that I can take, namely Rainbow Bridge, Peach Bridge and Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. Anyone has experience taking this route and can kindly share how is your experience like and which border is preferred over the rest?

 

[dpenabill]

Hi all, my PR card will expire in Jul 17 and I have not fulfilled the 2-year PR obligation. I intend to travel by rental car from Buffalo to Toronto and understand that there are a few borders that I can take, namely Rainbow Bridge, Peach Bridge and Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. Anyone has experience taking this route and can kindly share how is your experience like and which border is preferred over the rest?

I have crossed all three many, many times (not all that much in recent years however). How it goes will depend more on individual factors and whether the PIL officer gives you a referral to Secondary. In Secondary, all three are probably comparable, the mood and attitude of the particular officer who handles you being a bigger factor than which PoE it is.

 

[keesio]

I prefer the Lewiston bridge myself but as dpenabill mentioned, it really depends on which officer you get.

One tip: avoid the rainbow bridge on friday/saturday nights. It can get very busy with Americans looking to hit Casino Niagara for the evening... at least from what I remember when I lived in WNY long time ago. I assume things didn't change unless they built a comparable casino on the US side.

 

[mykonso82]

I prefer the Lewiston bridge myself but as dpenabill mentioned, it really depends on which officer you get.

One tip: avoid the rainbow bridge on friday/saturday nights. It can get very busy with Americans looking to hit Casino Niagara for the evening... at least from what I remember when I lived in WNY long time ago. I assume things didn't change unless they built a comparable casino on the US side.

Hi Keesio, Appreciate your inputs on this topic. I remember reading somewhere that sometimes if the PoE is less busy, the border immigration officer will have more time to check on the incoming visitors. Since my point is to avoid being check, I wonder whether I should be using a busier border such as Rainbow or Fort Erie. What is your view?

 

[scylla]

Hi Keesio, Appreciate your inputs on this topic. I remember reading somewhere that sometimes if the PoE is less busy, the border immigration officer will have more time to check on the incoming visitors. Since my point is to avoid being check, I wonder whether I should be using a busier border such as Rainbow or Fort Erie. What is your view?

Your way over thinking it. As others have said, it all depends on the official you encounter. A busy border doesn't mean they don't have time to check incoming visitors. They certainly still check. And if you're pulled into secondary at a busy border, you end up waiting a lot longer and may end up with a far less patient CBSA official. You can't game the system.

 

[keesio]

I agree with scylla. If it is busy, the first officer may just decide that he doesn't have much time to deal with anything other than the usual American visitor (or returning Canadian coming back from a Buffalo shopping spree) and just immediately send you to secondary. No one can tell you with any confidence whether busy or not busy is better. The biggest factor by far is who you get that first time (and if they are having a bad day or not).