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Hints for tourists on how to stay out of trouble when
crossing the
border between the United States and Canada
Visiting
Lockport? Visit Our Web Site!
SPECIAL TERRORISM ERA UPDATE
Expect delays at all border crossings due to increased security. Now, more
than ever, it is recommended that travelers follow the cautions on this page, especially
in regard to giving straight, no-nonsense answers at the borders. Those heading into
Canada may get radio updates in their cars, within about 10 miles of Niagara Falls, by
tuning to the special FM station at 105.1 MHz (cluttered, however, with
much Casino Niagara and other advertising material) . Information
is also available, constantly updated, by calling the Rainbow and Lewiston-Queenston
bridges special info line at 285-6322 Ext 1500.
It is especially important to have proof of identity with you in this terrorism
era.
If you have a Passport, bring it, even though it is still not a
requirement for US and Canadian citizens crossing the border. As of May 2002 authorities
at US Customs is requiring a photo ID (driver's license OK) for all who seek entry.
For daily developments: News of border incidents and other
major events will be posted in our news pages at the Lockport Home Page. Best place to check is our Niagara Frontier Today
Page.
US closing border to most part-time foreign students. International students, including those from Canada who have been attending college part-time at Niagara University and other Niagara Frontier higher education institutions will no longer be permitted to do so. The major change in policy was made effective May 22nd by United States Customs/Immigration. The Lockport Home Page was told Friday, 5/24, that those students who are already under contract to attend summer sessions at Niagara University and other colleges will be permitted to complete the summer courses however they will need proof of enrollment and will need to stop at Customs/Immigration each day they enter the US and fill out a form. Once their class has concluded for the summer future entry to the US to take additional courses part-time will be denied. Full-time international students will continue to be admitted, sources told the Lockport Page, but under stricter controls and monitoring. Students have been advised not to "tell stories" at the border, such as they are going shopping. If found out (and with computer checks this is likely) they will be banned from entering the country for a sizable time period. (5/24/02)
Surveillance cameras going up along Niagara River. The United State Border Patrol hopes to begin soon the installation of four, low-light cameras spaced at approximately even intervals along the Niagara River between the city of Niagara Falls (atop Wrobel Towers' subsidized apartments) and Fort Niagara. The remote-control, rotating cameras will be high enough above the Niagara Gorge to provide several miles of observational territory. Their purpose is to spot illegal border crossings and to save the cost of border patrol agents staking out long stretches of the US-Canadian border along the Niagara River. The cameras will feed video to remote transmitters which will send the signal back to a central control point where one Border Patrol agent can observe over ten miles of border, 24-hours-a-day. When an illegal is spotted making a border crossing the control operator will then dispatch a ground unit to make the intercept. In addition to the spots in Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, other cameras will be located on private property at a site off Lower River Road in the Town of Lewiston and at "The Ledges" a heavily treed area about a half mile north of the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. The surveillance project has been delayed almost a year by Lewiston residents who organized various protests against the Border Patrol initiative. (10/21/01)
If you're a tourist or an infrequent border crosser this page is prepared for you.
Travel between the United States and Canada is usually hassle-free. The amount of time you will be questioned at the border is usually less than 60-seconds. To keep it that way, and get you on your way to your destination promptly, consider the hints we give out from "locals" who cross the border frequently.
Realize first, however, this page is not designed to help anyone smuggle or break the law. This kind of activity takes lots of expertise to avoid detection. The authors here don't have that expertise but we do know that every day, those who do, get caught.
Novice border crossers sometimes think they can "pull something" and get away with it. We want to help you from making that mistake. This page also seeks to help you avoid unintentional actions which may cause you delay, inconvenience or trouble. You'll find here plain talk not normally published in travel guides.
These tips involve International border crossings at the Niagara Frontier including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Lewiston. Additional information on crossing by boat. You may find, however, that much of this information applies to U.S. - Canada border crossing anywhere.
"The Rainbow Bridge" Is The Main Tourist Border Crossing Point At Niagara Falls
There are four bridges to cross between the United States and Canada on the Niagara Frontier. One is Buffalo-Fort Erie (The Peace Bridge). At Niagara Falls, the main bridge for tourists is shown above (Rainbow Bridge). A bit further north is the "Whirlpool Bridge" somewhat hidden from the public and used almost exclusively by local residents and commuters. It is usually necessary to have a pre-obtained "pass" to use this bridge as the inspection process is streamlined. Tourists should not attempt to use this bridge. Much further north, well outside Niagara Falls is the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, an excellent route to take if you are not traveling to Niagara Falls.
Be sure to STOP your vehicle where instructed by signs. If the sign says remain at a certain spot until motioned to move up, don't disregard this. Examiners have computers and often enter your vehicle license plate number into the computer BEFORE you are motioned to the examiner's booth. Bridge tolls are collected on the Canadian side of the bridges only. $2.50US
Have seat belts engaged. The Province of Ontario requires seat belt use when motoring. There are frequent "blitz enforcement periods." Fines can be stiff and a stop can open you up to a probe for other violations. Why give the examiner at the booth an immediate reason to frown?
Have Ready:
(This material is asked for only when there is at least some
suspicion or someone in your vehicle is not a US citizen)
Proof of citizenship or at least driver's license or other form of government ID. A voter registration card is useful.
US Citizens do not need a Passport or Visa to enter Canada. However, if you have one, bring it since it can stop a lot of questioning. Offer only if some form of ID is requested. If you are not a U.S. Citizen be sure you have your "papers." Presentation of your US or Canadian Passport will work wonders for you in times of heightened security.For the vehicle driver: Personal driver's license and registration. If you are driving a rental car, check with the company to insure you are covered by insurance in Canada and that you have in the car adequate documentation for the vehicle.
Auto insurance certificate showing you have liability insurance. Before entering Canada be sure your auto insurer provides Canadian coverage. If you get in an accident you will be required to prove you have Canadian coverage. Best to ask your insurance carrier to provide you with a supplemental card that states you have Canadian coverage. Don't enter without liability coverage for your vehicle.
Receipts for any brand new merchandise you may have with you.
Have Answers: These are the "most frequently asked questions" at Canadian Customs. If the questions you are asked stray much from this, the examiner may be suspicious of something. Each person in the vehicle is usually expected to answer at least one question. You may not be asked all of these questions.
Where were you born? Citizen of what country? Where do you live? (city/state)
Where are you going? How long will stay?
What is the purpose of your visit?
What do you have to declare? What are you bringing into Canada?
Don't joke, don't stall, don't act up in any way (but speak up clearly)...and don't lie. The examiner wants to move you through within seconds...don't give a cause for a delay.
Don't Bring:
Professional tools, parts, or anything that would useful if you might work. You may need a work permit. Items not declared may be seized. This could also include extensive amounts of expensive, professional, photo or electronic gear.
Guns or weapons. You will be denied admission.
Illegal Drugs. If you have "prescription drugs" in a purse etc. be sure they are well labeled with documentation.
More than a pack or so of cigarettes or tobacco products. If you have more than a couple day's personal supplies you may have to explain.
Don't bring alcoholic beverages at all. Don't even leave a "six-pack" in your vehicle trunk.
"Radar detectors." They are illegal to have in a vehicle in Ontario.
If you find at the last minute that you have something that could be a
problem
in your vehicle, better to honestly declare it.
Special Advisory To Those Convicted of DWI In The USA:
Canadian authorities are reported to be refusing admission to drivers with a DWI conviction in the USA. Such records are immediately available on Canada Immigration computers and may show convictions as far back as 20 years ago. Those with such convictions may be able to get a waiver for up to 30 days visitation upon payment of a $200 (Canadian) fee. A single DWI conviction may be permanently expunged from the Canadian computers for payment of $400 (Canadian). Canadian officials are reported justifying the fees because they feel DWI is a serious crime and it is a way of keeping "undesirables" out of Canada. The law, which has been in effect since 1978, has not been evenly or consistently enforced. However, reports in October 1999 indicate more and more drivers with USA DWI conviction records are being refused admission to Canada without paying extra fees.
General Advisory Entering The USA
If you are returning from Canada from the US and are a citizen you can expect things to go very quickly, faster in fact, than when you were entering Canada.
Be sure to STOP your vehicle where instructed by signs. If the sign says remain at a certain spot until motioned to move up, don't disregard this. Examiners have computers and often enter your vehicle license plate number into the computer BEFORE you are motioned to the examiner's booth.
Have your seat belts engaged. NY State law requires seat belt use. Why give the examiner an excuse to probe into your status further?
Have Ready:
Proof of citizenship or at least driver's license or other form of government photo ID. A voter registration card or Canadian National Health Card (with photo) is useful.
Canadian citizens do not need a passport or visa to enter the United States. However, anyone that has such documentation should have it with them and present it only if ID is asked for. If you are not a citizen of Canada, you may need a Passport.
For the vehicle driver: Personal driver's license and registration. If you are driving a rental car, check with the company to insure you are covered by insurance in the US and that you have in the car adequate documentation for the vehicle.
Auto insurance certificate showing you have liability insurance. Before entering the US be sure your auto insurer provides US coverage. If you get in an accident you will be required to prove you have US coverage. Best to ask your insurance carrier to provide you with a supplemental card that states you have US coverage. In any case, don't enter without liability coverage for your vehicle.
Receipts for any brand new merchandise you may have with you.
For dogs and cats you must have a valid veterinary's certificate of rabies vaccination. Exceptions may be made for "performing" animals or "seeing eye" dogs.
Have Answers:
Where were you born? Citizen of what country? Where do you live? (city/state/province)
Where are you going? How long will you stay?
What is the purpose of your visit?
What do you have to declare? What are you bringing into the country?
Don't joke, don't stall, don't act up in any way (but speak up clearly)...and don't lie. The examiner wants to move you through within seconds...don't give a cause for a delay.
For those returning to the US there are some variations to expect:
How long were you in Canada?
What are you bringing back?
Often these are the only two questions that are asked. Because of the computer data base keyed to your vehicle license plate, the examiner may well know how long you were in Canada etc.
If you are bringing or taking $10,000 more in cash or negotiable paper through the US border you must declare it. There is no tax, but Uncle Sam wants to know. Fail to declare, and those assets, if discovered, will be seized no matter how innocent an explanation you have.
Re-Entry To US Within 48 Hours Of Leaving
Goods purchased must be for personal or household use. Exemption is individual and cannot be grouped with other family members. Goods free of duty up to the value of $200 in U.S. funds. Also, ten cigars, 50 cigarettes and four fluid ounces of alcohol or perfume containing alcohol, may be included. Cuban tobacco of any kind is prohibited into the United States regardless of where it was purchased. If limits are exceeded you are subject to duty and taxes.
Re-Entry To US After 48 Hours or More
Every 30 days, you may bring in goods free of duty up to the value of $400 in U.S. funds. Family members may make a joint declaration and combine their personal exemptions even if the articles acquired by one member of the family exceeds the person exemption allowed (Family members must live in the same household and return together to the United States. Your exemption is not cumulative. If you use any portion of your exemption on entering the U.S., you must wait 30 days before you are entitled to another exemption (other than the $200 exemption for within 48 hours detailed above). If you go over the exemptions you are subject to duty and taxes.
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