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-   -   no entry from Canada to the States (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/north-america/no-entry-from-canada-states-45354)

BMdriver 16 Sep 2009 16:25

no entry from Canada to the States
 
My story: in July 2009 I already wanted to come to the USA from Vancouver, I didn't get a permit to enter and had to turn. The reasons? I would not have any ties to Germany any more after 14 months of travelling! So they told me to bring evidences that I want to go back. Unfortunatelly I didn't understand quite well. And yesterday I wanted to cross the border again. I had a unworthy (like a criminal) procedure of 4 hours and then the customs sent me back again. Now I have to bring this evidences for applying for a visa to travel through the USA. I just want to go to South America.
I want to warn everybody that it is not so easy as it seems to travel through the States. Does somebody have similar experiences? I'm absolutely shocked about this arrogance of the costums. After 14 bordercrossings on this trip it was my worst experience.

Axel

CTB 16 Sep 2009 16:57

Getting Prickly
 
As a Canadian living close to the border me and my buddy would often go over the border for a ride. We've been doing so for years then all of a sudden they decided my bud couldn't cross anymore - something to do with a charge over 30 years ago that had long been cleared. It amounted to a paper work error on their side but short story is they can get pretty prickly at the US border.

MountainMan 16 Sep 2009 17:09

In general, most borders have a great many similarities. Rude customs officials, long line ups, arcane regulations and procedures conspire to make it a potentially difficult process. Usually we get to skirt a lot of the worst of it because we are tourists and they want our money. The people who are crossing regularly for commerce or other reasons aren't usually as fortunate to be treated acceptably.

Sorry to hear about your experience crossing into the US, sounds like you may have encountered an overzealous border guard the first time and as a result you were flagged. They have tightened the border considerably post 9/11, for all, even Canadians who previously were perhaps treated a little better due to proximity and frequency of border crossings. Now, everyone is a foreigner and treated as such.

I doubt there is anything you can do about it now, other than go through the visa process. It's a good warning to other long distance riders to be prepared in their stories if they have been away for a while. Might be better to state that you just starting or are returning back home once you reach x destination. A full fare airline ticket in your possesion (that you can cancel later for a full refund) might be a useful thing to show at the right time.

If the visa process takes a while, and you need to a place to crash, you are welcome to ride a short ways into the interior of BC and drink cold beer here while you wait.

markharf 16 Sep 2009 22:27

Mountain Man, that was one of the most clear, balanced and informative posts I've seen in a long while (from anyone but myself, I mean!).

To the OP and others: US customs can be tremendous jerks. Tread cautiously and you may improve the odds, but never forget that they are as often as not precisely the sort of power-mongering, irrational, armed-and-dangerous uniformed folks who inhabit border posts throughout the world. As an American, I can only apologize for their unpredictability and (often) unprofessionalism.

And yes, I think you're stuck going through the visa process. FWIW, Mountain Man has a few good stories to tell....

enjoy,

Mark

(from Mpeasem, Cape Coast, Ghana)

BMdriver 17 Sep 2009 18:26

never ending story?
 
Thank you for your informations and experiences, it just helps to stay calm and not to go crazy.
This story isn't over jet...:(
The shortest way from the border was to go to Calgary and get my visa there from the Consulate. It's unbelivable but the next free appiontment for an interview (what you have to do) is in November! Now I have to drive to Vancouver where I got an appointment for the end of September. And still, even if you have the visa, it is not sure, that you can cross the border.

And by the way, where could I get a nice cold beer?
Axel

MountainMan 18 Sep 2009 17:55

Sir Mark, thanks for the kind comments. Unfortunately clear writing is an art form honed from years of practice and produced easily by those of you smart enough to pursue an area of study where it is emphasized. The rest of us have to fake it and rely on being tired or hungover enough to keep our answers short.:). And as for border crossings, now there's a memory I have been trying to suppress. Enjoy your Ghanian holiday.

Axel, if you are killing time until the visa process kicks in, you are welcome to stay and scrub some of the road grime. I can also map out some interesting rides for you if you want to fill some of the time. BC is a pretty good place to be laid up for a while. I'll email you with my contact details, feel free to drop me a line.

Ekke 18 Sep 2009 18:57

And of course if you're still in the Calgary area you are more than welcome to visit us.

In fact we're planning an HU Breakfast this coming Sunday.

Singaporedream 19 Sep 2009 06:52

my wife carries a malaysia passport and tried to apply for the usa visa before our RTW. the usa embassy took the US$100 and rejected the application.

now i am shipping the bike to australia and the custom is giving me problem.

shit.

Travelbug 19 Sep 2009 11:31

After entering more than 135 UN-countries, I may be qualified :smartass: to state that border hassles are usually counter proportionate to the attractivity and civility of a country.

The more "f:censored:d-up", the more "rogue", the more "failed" a nation gets, the more difficult it becomes to "be good enough" to enter it.

P.S.: I am just back from Iran and I was rarely treated more friendly and cultivated by other country officials. Be it at the the consulate, borders, police, etc. Surprising, isn't it?

Cruz 30 Sep 2009 15:29

Dear Axel, and all others,


I cannot believe I am reading your thread that you posted just one week ago. I have done research for nearly a year without reading about this difficulty. I can assure you how shocked I am. I have just posted a thread, please read below. I am stuck like you. What are you up to now? I would be most grateful for any advice. Looking into visas and contacting the consulate now.

Hi all,

As some of you know, we were meant to cross the Canada-USA border yesterday. After a 12-hour exhausting day driving and sitting in border agencies, we were thrown away from the USA, twice!

The main issue seems to be that we don't have a return ticket and we don't have jobs. Now of course, we had to leave our jobs in the first place to have enough time ahead of us to cross the Americas. The return ticket (back to the UK) is also impossible as we don't have a specific location (Chile, Argentina, or before if we get sick?) or date of leaving.

They do not understand what a temporary import of a vehicle is (which we had to do in Canada when we shipped our car from London as a proof that the vehicle would leave the country with us), they do not want to believe we are doing a private expedition for tourism purposes, and are obviously concerned of us staying in the US. They are worried of us being illegal immigrants because we don't have return tickets, nor jobs, and the car is loaded with stuff. They asked us about our bank account details, our money. We told them we had enough savings, but they obviously thought it mean't we would have enough to start a new life in the US.

When we were received entry in the first border, we were so shocked, we didn't see it coming at all. The officer dealing with our case even kindly suggested that we tried a different border (or even come back within a few hours) where somebody perhaps would understand better. To our horror, at the second border, we were horribly treated and threatened. We were shouted at, saying that this was our second warning (was there ever a first one?) and that if we tried this again without proof of empolyment and return tickets (+ financial proofs), they would confiscate the car and deport us back to the UK, and bar us from the US!!! They registered us in the US Justice Dptmt system, asked for our addresses, DOB, parents' addresses and DOB, old jobs' details, fingerprints, photos, ect. I was so shocked I could only cry on my chair, realising that this was over before it had even started; meanwhile, they were entering our details in their database and checking I would not move.

So after all this, we are back at my parents house in Montreal, and our question is: how is it possible that so many other overlanders have done the Americas and not reported this problem, did we miss something in our extensive research?

We have a family wedding in Texas (and John was supposed to meet his sister from the UK there in a few days, and she was bringin extra filters for the car). We have spent nearly a year planning, preparing, saving for this trip. We have quit our jobs and spent money on our car and expedition equipment. We have put so much efforts into realising our dream. I am Canadian and French, my husband is British and Filipino. We have lived and worked together in London UK for our respective governments for the past 5 years, and have spent the last three months in Montreal with my family to kit up the car and prepare for the adventure down south. Obviously, they don't care about this and don't want to know. We had so many documents that they did not even want to see (travel inventory, 1yr tax return form UK, marriage certificate, worlwide travel insurance, inoculations, bank statements, proof of house in the UK. ect). Now, John and the UK registered car only have 6 months in Canada, only 3 left.

Any advice asap would be appreciated because we are now in limbo.
We cannot believe the dream ends here. It would be ridiculous to ship the car to Chile to be told the same thing again on our way up. I will try to contact officials today to get a clear picture.
I hope some of you can help out. This forum has been amazing for us throughout our preps and I'm sure someone out there must know something. Thanks in advance.

John and Isabelle

61timm 30 Sep 2009 17:18

Axel,

If you need a place to stay while in BC let me know. My wife and I live 60 km East of Vancouver and have plenty of space for you to relax while your situation is sorted out.

BMdriver 1 Oct 2009 04:46

Thank you for all the offers.
I got my visa now and tomorrow we try to come into the States again.
Maybe we need another place to stay in Canada. But fingers crossed. We let you know, what is going on.
Axel

Fastship 1 Oct 2009 10:12

That is just shocking.

Miquel-Silvestre 1 Oct 2009 13:30

Hi all. I just finished a WTT in New York after crossing Canada from Vancouver to Quebec. I had no problems at the US border. I crossed in a small point, Armstrong, few miles away from Ste- Teophile and in the straightest way from Quebec City to Portland, Maine. All the proccedure took me 10 minutes and when they asked me the pourpose of my visit to Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Syria, and etc, I answered: the trip. They let me go in. I just said I want to fly back from NYC but I didnĀ“t have to show them the tiket flight.

The point is before I arrived USA by plane and got the inmigration card and then ride the bike, so I can leave the country and come back the times I want till that card expires. So maybe you should buy a tiket flight to the nearest city in US, enter the country by an airport and then get the inmigration card, go back to Canada and ride the bike. A lot of problems and wasting time, but it is better than doing nothing. Have luck.

Back to America

flying biker 2 Oct 2009 00:54

To those who've suggested above that customs and immigration officials are the same the world over, I can only say that in the western world nothing could be further from the truth.

Most, at least in the developed world, are courteous and in some cases genuinely friendly.

I've never found that to be so in the US where paranoia reigns supreme.

evilgruffalo 2 Oct 2009 21:08

Sorry to hear about your problems, we crossed from Victoria to port angeles last year with no problems, but after touring Mexico we ran into problems at the Brownsville border crossing in Texas, same deal no jobs and did not own property in our home country (UK) but were told if we had landed in the US on a flight we would have had no problems! perhaps you could look for the cheapest return flight into the US and once you have your 90 day visa in your passport go back to Canada and pickup your vehicle then drive across the border with less hassle as you already have a Visa? don't know if it will work but could be worth a try if your out of options.
Might be worth telling a few white lies at the border such as we're spending 2 weeks touring the states then returning to Canada, thats what we told the border guards when we entered the US as explaining that we were riding to Mexico might be more hassle to explain than it was was worth? as once you have your visa and your in you are free to change any plans as you wish.
Hope it works out.
Adam & Roz

Bear 3 Oct 2009 04:02

US to Canada crossing
 
I try to get to Canada every year from the US. Last year I was treated badly by the Canadian border officials. I don't know why, perhaps because I was a middle aged white male on a motorcycle. The young, rather attractive border official was rude and told me to pull off to be searched. When I finally went inside to ask when they were going to do the inspection, she acted like she was not the one who told me to pull off into the inspection area. Finally she told me to just leave. In 1996, long before 9/11 I was treated like dirt by another female border official crossing from Alaska to Canada enroute to the US. I've always been treated well by the US customs, but it is my home country. My conclusion: Some of the border officials are self-important bureaucrats (both in Canada and the USA) that don't mind hassling folks. But most US and Canadian officials are decent, hard working folks sometimes forced to adhere to obnoxious rules. Anyway, good luck with the trip and I hope by now you've worked through the problems with the US customs.

Travelbug 3 Oct 2009 06:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear (Post 259031)
I try to get to Canada every year from the US. Last year I was treated badly by the Canadian border officials. I don't know why, perhaps because I was a middle aged white male on a motorcycle. The young, rather attractive border official was rude and told me to pull off to be searched. When I finally went inside to ask when they were going to do the inspection, she acted like she was not the one who told me to pull off into the inspection area. Finally she told me to just leave. In 1996, long before 9/11 I was treated like dirt by another female border official crossing from Alaska to Canada enroute to the US. I've always been treated well by the US customs, but it is my home country. My conclusion: Some of the border officials are self-important bureaucrats (both in Canada and the USA) that don't mind hassling folks. But most US and Canadian officials are decent, hard working folks sometimes forced to adhere to obnoxious rules. Anyway, good luck with the trip and I hope by now you've worked through the problems with the US customs.

We need open-minded and experienced American travelers like you on the HUBB.

wheatwhacker 3 Oct 2009 18:08

Your motorcycle is 3' wide.
The border is almost 4000 miles wide......

There are rural check points in the midwest, North Dakota, Idaho, etc with genuine people who can figure out the difference between a potential terrorist and a tourist.

I used to work in the midwest and we travelled to Canada all the time, never had a problem.

beemerbird 4 Oct 2009 08:07

Smaller is better ...
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by wheatwhacker (Post 259067)
Your motorcycle is 3' wide.
The border is almost 4000 miles wide......

There are rural check points in the midwest, North Dakota, Idaho, etc with genuine people who can figure out the difference between a potential terrorist and a tourist.

I used to work in the midwest and we travelled to Canada all the time, never had a problem.

I'm an Aussie biker. I have crossed from the US into Canada and back, twice in the past couple of months, and many times over the past few years.

I ONLY use the smaller border crossings (eg: Lynden/Aldergrove, Sumas/Huntingdon, Osoyoos/Oroville, Midway, Danville, Cascade/Laurier etc etc (these are all in Washington state) These smaller crossings are a blessing - no huge queues, often no waiting at all (Midway, either time) and the staff are generally pleasant and friendly.

The only problem is when the officer is a noobie, and has never seen a foreign bike registration before, and doesn't know what to put in the computer - so I just tell them what to do!!

However, I do know that Australian Emergency passports are no longer accepted by the US, unless the holder also has a current visa. DAMHIK !!:innocent:

BMdriver 6 Oct 2009 04:44

Hey folks,
I crossed the border:clap:to the States! I took the border in Lynden, a small one with very friendly officers. For the first time. And it took only half an hour. I got my visa in Vancouver, and after that no problem. But for the visa I needed a lot of documents to show at the Consulate (1. bank account, 2. letter from my ex-employer - they just wrote, that I'm still employed, thanks to them, 3. a letter from my little workshop, I still pay rent for, 4. letters from insurances, I still pay in Germany, 5. a letter of my ownership of my HD, I still have at home)
For long travellers I recommend to apply for a visa. But it needs very long (at an US Consulate in Canada) for an interview appointment. I had to wait for 6 weeks. The visa costs 131 USDollars, but it is for 10 years + 6 US Dollar entry at the border.
But my girlfriend got through, without visa, only with this visa waiver programm, just paid the 6 Dollar at the border and passed with such a green card, which you get at the border, got entry for 3 months, without showing any proof of leaving America.
Now we are going south, it's getting cold now. :scooter:
Thanks for your support and the offers!
Axel

Sjoerd Bakker 6 Oct 2009 18:18

To Cruz, - shocking is the least I can say of how you were treated. Did you apply for the US travel clearance number for the visa waiver card before showing up at the border.?
The first officer by suggesting you try the other port did you a gross disservice when he already registered your names ,that would automatically show up at every border computer as an entry attempt denied.
I think you would do well to not give up yet, talk to your UK and Filipino consular authorities and ask for their help in clearing up this matter and to show that you are honest travellers set on only crossing the USA.

IronArse 12 Mar 2010 13:47

Does anyone have a rough idea of how many times a foreign national can cross into and out of America?? How many different entry visas you are entitled to in one year?
Basically I fly to Vancouver soon, get a bike there where I continue on up to Alaska (American entry No 1), back down through Canada and into the States (Entry No 2), on towards Mexico, on down to a few other Central American countries, then back up through Mexico and back into the States again (Entry No 3) before planning to fly home to Ireland from NY in December.
Is this even possible, this many border entries??
I hope so or my plan is slightly ****ed...

Texastrike 12 Mar 2010 14:05

We went into the USA by 'plane to Baltimore, up into Canada via Glacier National Park, rode up the Alaska Highway turning off into Skagway from the Yukon (Canada into USA), back to the Alaska Highway (USA to Canada), up into Alaska proper, rode around Alaska, back into the Yukon (Canada) and down to Haines (USA) to catch a ferry to take us down to Vancouver Island and then across Canada to Niagara Falls where we went back into the USA. No problem at all at any crossing, they asked a few questions but we didn't have any problems at all but officially you're only allowed 31 days (I think) out of the country on the same white card (the bit they give back to you when you first go in).

However, in '08 we went up to Nova Scotia and gave up the white card ('cos we didn't know any better) and when we came back into the USA, because we didn't have one we had to answer a few questions and buy a new one each for $6.00, but again, no problem, but that gave us another 6 months stay !

Be polite, tell the truth, smile a lot.


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