Date:         Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:37:37 -0800
Reply-To:     bernie <1234bjs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         bernie <1234bjs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: What do you say to the customs guys when heading South??
Comments: To: Graham Janson <graham.janson@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <45A4FE1A-E447-4F19-A05E-037EB4318E31@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Lie blatantly. Tell them you're going for a week, tell them exactly which
park you'll be staying at, give an address of a friend you're going to
visit on the way (well, maybe don't make this one up completely).



This is possibly  the worst advice you could follow. US and Canada have just
signed a deal for more information sharing. Lying to a Customs Official can
you banned from the country. I know a guy that has been banned for 5 years.
You do not lie to a Customs Agent and if you do you suffer the consequences.
We have been down twice for six months or longer and we experienced no
problems at border.
For last 10 years I have gone down every year for 4 to 6 weeks.
I always explain how long I will be gone.
You don't think they can find out how long you have been in their country?
Once they find out, and they will, that you have lied and said you were
spending a week and spent several months they will make your life a
nightmare
because they will, of course, assume you have something to hide.
I cross the border 4 or 5 times a year and have never had a issue.
I have also been totally honest.
You start lying to these guys and you will get trouble.
How do you think that would go over if my last stay was 5 months and I had
declared I was going down for a week!
Lying to this officials is extremely bad advice!
They  know long you have been in their country and with the new
information sharing they will have more information than that.
If you want to get banned from the country starting lying  to them!

As far as unconventional destinations I have attended Buses by the Bridge
that last 10 years.
When they ask where I'm going I say "to a VW bus gathering in Lake
Havasu, Arizona.
This could be judged to be unconventional I have always been
waved through.
I declare it will be extended camping trip.
A few times they have said "in that"
No it's on the computer they knows it's part of my regular routine.
They see it there.
They know I'm retired and I like to camp and ramble.

You don't think they can find out with the press of button how long you
were down.
You ever heard of a computer!


Bernie
Vancouver