Crossing into Canada

[SRehberg]

We are getting ready to take a trip into British Columbia and I know before any beef products were a no-no. Is this still the case and on a secondary note, we plan on taking our dog with us and his shot records, anything else needed for a pet? Thanks

 

[michigandon]

Just got back from a trip to Montreal. Nobody on either side even mentioned anything about meat. You're supposed to carry a proof of rabies vaccination for your dog. I had that for my lab and nobody ever asked to see that either! They DID ask to see proof of US citizenship upon reentry though. A birth certificate works OK for this, but a passport is better.



Don

 

[BarryG]

I was up in BC last June. Came back into the US over in Montana by Glacier NP. The US asked us about meat and silly me had bought some hamburger earlier in the day for dinner and I fessed up. They said I could back up and pull over and cook dinner or toss it in the trash. They did take a look in my toolbox on the trailer and did ask for ID but that was it.

 

[Coalsmoke]

Ooooooh, coming to visit us here in PDR country are you?

 

[SRehberg]

Thank you for the replies, I'll make sure we don't carry any beef with us on our return trip to the U. S. Our dog is getting his shots updated and a certificate from the vet that he's healthy, so sounds like we should be o. k. Thanks again for the heads up.

 

[24V-DSL]

Not sure about dog issues, but here's a few of my suggestions based on more trips to DTT and PDR than my bank account liked... .



At the booth, shut your truck down RIGHT NOW! Try for a 300 degree turbo cool down, and it'll all be downhill from there.



Take off your sunglasses.



Picture I. D. (drivers license), and passport, or certified copy of birth certificate... not just a photocopy of the original.



Sometimes they hardly want anything, but be prepared for the worst, and if you get a snotty one, bite your lip and be nice.

 

[Midnight]

Just answer the questions asked . Be polite.

 

[GFrance]

Don't pack any fire wood in the back of your truck. I had them give me a hard time about it heading to Piers for the day. They let me go when I told them it was hard wood no beetles & it would remain in the truck for the trip back. Then I got asked about it crossing back into Washington. Also had to toss some beef the time before right around the time of the mad cow scare. Never asked to see the pet records but we had them.

 

[RDelissen]

and when they ask if you carry money over 10,000 dollars, don't be a wise *** like me one time and reply with 'I wish" :-laf

 

[Jim Smith]

Beef at Windsor bridge

Last year we were coming back from our weekend camping trip and was asked if we had any beef. Not knowing till later we said no just what we consumed at our campout. The guard was seeming to toy with us and he was hard to understand because of his accent ( from India or Pakistan ). If he would have just said this is a new check due to mad cow concerns we would have understood. I'm going to try and get in touch with customs and get a real answer.

 

[GFritsch]

Here is a site that might help you.



http://www.amcits.com/entry_ca.asp



My wife and I went into BC last year. Very beautiful country.

Unless you plan well in advance with the proper paerwork don't even think of bringing a firearm accross the border.



Greg

 

[DBCooper]

Where about's are you crossing? We go over the border at least 6 times a year and can give good info on the different border crossings in Washington. There are a few things that can make your crossing fast. If you have any questions I'll do my best to help. In any case, have a great trip. It is very beautiful and the people are great.

 

[SRehberg]

You guys are a wealth of information and for some reason my email notification isn't coming through, I just popped in to see what was happening.



We will be crossing at the Peace Arch or the small crossing on 13(?) if we hit Costco in Bellingham prior to going across. I learned a long time ago to not get smart with any border agent, they have all the rights and we're at their mercy.



Thanks for the help

 

[DBCooper]

There is a truck crossing down the road from the Peace Arch crossing that is usually faster. It is exit 276 and signed for trucks, but autos and RVs can use it also. The last time I was up there it was just after they opened in the morning so there was a huge line of trucks waiting to cross. Just stay in the left lane and pass them as they use a different area. I felt sorry for the guys with travel trailers and 5ers sitting in that line because they didn't need to. I was through in about 5 minutes... they had to have waited an hour or more. If you are traveling farther north into Vancouver you would need to take the next main left (big intersection with traffic lights) to get back onto the same road you would have been on if you used the Peace Arch. Follow for about a mile and get back on the freeway heading north.

If you are traveling east to say Hope, or going over the Coquihalla (pronounced Cokahalla) to Kamloops, Kelowna or Vernon I would use the Aldergrove crossing, especially if you're hitting the B-ham Costco. Come out of the Costco and head north (away from I-5) on the Guide Miridian (spelling) and just keep going for about 25 minutes. It is a smaller crossing less used and puts you east of the traffic of Langley and the towns to the west. Continue north from the crossing about 5-8 miles and you'll hit the main freeway. If you would like to cross at Sumas (even further east than the Aldergrove) there is a Costco a mile or two into Canada. That way you could buy whatever you wanted and wouldn't have to worry about beef, produce or beer wine (although I don't think the Costcos in Canada can sell that, I may be wrong). I would buy a map of the state to find the Sumas crossing. It is signed off the Guide Miridian, but can get a little confusing. If you need anything else let me know if I can help. Have a great trip.

Dan

 

[DBCooper]

Oh, by the way, the Guide Maridian is also Hwy 539 on the map.

 

[SRehberg]

Thanks for the great information, I'll pull the map out and go over the routes when we get close. We have stayed at Birch Bay by Blaine the last time (some years ago) and it seems like a pretty decent campground close to where we want to go. I'm hoping the weather will be cooperative, looks like a wet time so far, but that's how all the things stay green up that way.

Thanks again, I'm going to print up your comments.

 

[DBCooper]

SRehberg... how did the trip go?? Hope all went well. We'll be going up again in a couple of weeks. Been up to BC about 5 times since this thread went up. Looking forward to a little winter with snow, not the rain we get.

 

[MCrossley]

I am one of the lucky ones who found out the hard way that the Candaian border guys can be a bunch of pricks... I had a copy of my birth certificate, my drivers, myss card and a bunch of other stuff that was not good enough I spent half the day in the DMZ trying to get one way or the other and had to pretty much beg. they saw a box I was taking to DTT and well I got charged big time for that one even though it was a spare turbo since mine was questionable. Like others said you can not be bothered at all or as some of the people we saw there were literaly getting their vehicles ripped apart. Was not a nice crossing...

 

[TowPro]

I always crossed at airports, never drove to Canada. Yes I have had easy crossings and other times its been a PITA.



One time I was way up in canada and I bought a case of some Molson they are not allowed to sell in the US. I put around 18 bottles in my plastic suit case and went into customes. I watched the guy xray the bag and he pulled it off the line and walked over to me.

"Sir, is this your bag?"

I reply "yes" (as visions of the movie midnight express dance through my head).

"what is in the bottles" he asks

I reply "beer"

"What kind of Beer" he says

"Molson Brodore" (by now I am getting ready to panic and the guy can see it)

"OK, I was just hoping you were not taking any Amercian beer home, have a good Christmas!" he says

I reply "Marry Christmas"

 

[SRehberg]

Our crossing at the Peace Arch outside of Vancouver, went with no problems. We had all of our papers and were never asked for any of them. A few polite questions, and we were on our way. We had our dog with us, who stuck his head out and no issue with him either. Coming back to the U. S. was no issue either, so I wondered if I had been dreaming!