I think we need a thread for pleasant border encounters

[Patricksgirls]

I am always reading the border crossing ones after my traumatic experience at Emerson/Pembina so it is nice to see that there are IO's out there that understand we just want to visit and do things the right way.
I noticed that the Niagra one is pretty friendly. I had no problems crossing at North Portal in North Dakota the first time....

 

[pinklady]

My husband is a PR of canada, I had spent an extended visit with him then we went on a 2 road trip to florida. On the way back into canada, the IO seemed very pleasant (despite it being about 2am!) checked passports etc then asked if we were bringing anything back in with us. My husband said 'yeah diet cherry coke' (he'd loaded the car up with it, loves the stuff!) the IO laughed and said 'Its good eh?' and that was it, waved us through the border.

Another time, I had flown into Pearson from UK for a visit and the IO, an older gentleman, studied my passport photo and asked me if my mother knew where i was!!! (He was joking, I just look a bit younger than my actual age lol!) Again, though, no problems, just stamped my card and let me by.

Had some pretty horrible experiences too though!!

 

[Patricksgirls]

Ya I wonder about time of day because when I crossed in North Portal it was around midnight and despite baby in the van they just waived me through. Pearson was not pleasant but not bad either because I did not get a stamp or VR that time.

 

[linalizzie]

I have never had a negative experience crossing the border - and do it often. I always go through the Vancouver airport, except once. We drove through Washington and over, but even then the experience was pleasant. ;D

 

[tulamoon]

I usually have good experiences. Sometimes I get silly questions, but for the most part, I'm friendly to them, they're friendly to me. I've had the warnings about having proof that I'm not trying to move to the states from the American side, which I carry with me when crossing, but I've never actually had them ask to see it. Coming into Canada is usually a breeze for us though. We cross into Surrey from Blaine VERY frequently.


One of the best border crossings I had was last spring when I was going down to my husbands house in Bellingham, with a girlfriend, and all the border guard did was laugh at her for still having her Canucks flag on her car. No questions about what we were up to at all.

The best experience coming across into Canada was when we went to get the husbands student visa. WAY easier than anticipated. The guy was really nice and gave it too him for 2.5 years even though he was taking two different programs and our understanding was you had to apply seperately. I'm hoping the permanent residence thing goes as smoothly as the student visa thing did.

 

[karla718]

Picture it...Christmas 2005...Rainbow Bridge...

I was driving to Toronto from Ohio, where I was attending grad school, to visit my then-fiance and his family for Christmas. It was getting late at night, and with so little traffic at the bridge at that moment, the agent and I got to chatting about my trip, school, and the holidays. She asked if I had anything to declare, and I told her that I had 2 bottles of wine to give to my future in-laws. She smiled at me for a moment and said,

"Alright then. You know if you bring in alcohol as a gift, you have to pay duty on it. However if it's for personal consumption, you can bring in up to 2 bottles with no duty. Now...are your bottles of wine gifts or for personal consumption?"

Personal consumption!

"I thought so. Welcome to Canada!"

 

[88mv]

We've had pretty good luck, we always cross in Washington usually through Blaine.
The worst luck we ever had was actually coming through the US in Maine. My hubby had his stuff with him as he was moving across Canada and it was faster to loop down through the Midwest. We were interrogated in separate rooms until we finally got them to look at his paperwork showing his job status in Canada and need for moving, and then they still had the nerve to be rude when they let us go.
I'm pleased to say that every Canadian border official we've dealt with has been friendly and understanding.

 

[californiajeninca]

I've had very good & bad encounters at the border, the bad ones (at the border) were from the U.S end. I had just come back from one of my summer visits to my then fiance, I got shuttle service to the Buffalo airport for my trip back to Cal. At the Ft. Erie border and since I was with other Americans I thought easy peasy. WRONG! Being cautious and doing your job is one thing, being an unprofessional a**clown is totally uncalled for.

I have had some negative issues in Toronto Pearson but the Canadian agents at the Peace & Rainbow bridge have always been professional, some very friendly, understanding and helpful.

Even at 1am-The agent asked me if I brought any weapons, firearms...you know the list. I said no, you have to have a license for guns in California and I don't like guns. We talked for a bit and he was like OK, blah blah blah...have a good morning and we went on our way.

 

[Patricksgirls]

So far the Peace Bridge and Blaine sound the best. I am hoping for a pleasant experience when I cross to visit with my daughters but you never seem to know who will be at that kiosk or booth.

 

[buffalo-toronto]

I might have crossed the border from the US side atleast 50 times now in last 3 years and everytime it has been pleasant and quick. I always cross through the Buffalo-Toronto border, the three we have over there. The IO has been nice, easy and only quick questions. No indication of racism or exploitation of his/her position. Sometimes all they did was swipe my passport, ask where I was going and thats it, go ahead. I am pretty sure IO has never asked to open my trunk or check my car and I have entered Canada at weird times too, sometimes more than 1 time in two weeks. I think Canadians are real nice people.

 

[linalizzie]

The trick I've been given by my hubby (who works for Air Canada and therefore travels quite a bit) is to not give anymore or any less of an answer than they are asking.
Who are you visiting? Person X.
Where do they live? XYZ Address.
How long is your stay? X days.
Those are the common questions I get. Other than that, they ask why I travel to Canada for two days (from California). I'm always honest, but don't give long answers.

 

[j2m]

This is a GREAT thread, great idea. It is easier to talk about the negatives and I can't tell you how many sleepless nights I had after reading about others horror stories. I have crossed from the US to Canada no less than 50 times in the last 4 years, and the truth is I have only had a problem 1 time, even that time they let me into Canada.

 

[Patricksgirls]

Yes I thought it would be nice to see where there are some good crossings. I too have horror thoughts about crossing again with my kids this time but I am going to chance it soon. I did see a youtube clip of some crossing that is on a reservation where they kicked off the border crossing.

 

[scylla]

My favorite crossing was New Year's Day several years back. My friends and I had spent New Year's Eve in the US partying (way too hard) with a large group of very close friends. The drive back to Canada the next day was painful to say the least (I'm sure you're all familiar with that "I'm never drinking again" feeling). Our border guard started laughing at us pretty much as soon as we pulled up. Normally this would irritate me - but we fully deserved it. The driver was paler than a sheet, very cranky and had sunglasses on. My second friend in the passenger seat looked green, had her head back and eyes close (she was trying not to throw up again). I was sitting in the back staring into a bag of MacDonald's food that I couldn't bring myself to eat.

The exchange went something like this with the border guard laughing progressively harder and harder with every answer:

BG: Where do you live?
Driver: Canada.
BG: I know that by your license plate. Which city?
Driver: Oh. Toronto.
BG: How long have you been in the US?
Driver: One day. Wait. One night. No. Since about 3pm yesterday.
BG: That was a tough one. I have one final question. Are you ready?
Driver: Yeah.
BG: Do you have anything to declare?
Driver: Just a bunch of hangovers.
BG: Go ahead.

He didn't even check our IDs...

 

[Bangkokcanuck]

I said it in another thread in the last few years I have taken 22 trips with an average of two flights both coming and going. So at the very least 44 times through customs either at home or elsewhere and I have never had a bad experience just lucky I guess but will be keeping my fingers crossed it continues.