Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 08:29:37 -0700
Reply-To: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Crossing the Canadian border...
In-Reply-To: <CA+az7_6PMHsPCLELXEv5utj_obSB7Eb_5ScZtheNnZ2V222GmQ@mail.gmail.com>
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Dear Border Crossers
Not sure about all other methods of carriage -
each has eccentricities depending on ability of method of carriage to
prevent necessity of stopping -
Ships and such vessels on the sea can get customs in USA to lock up liquor
and other such things with a "wax" like seal sort of device -
Actually using like properly - :) sort of :) ;)
Trailers with commercial goods can also make use of this service and be
locked with a "wax" like seal device which will communicate to next customs
office that an officer at point of departure has inspected and sealed goods
in container -
I would imagine if a person knew the questions to ask and how to approach
the situation and was making a trip through Canada with assured entry into
USA as a purpose of the trip - then i imagine there would be some sort of
"wax" like seal to implement on a Vanagon -
question becomes would it be worth it ???
probably not -
I might also note that if a person is crossing often they can do two things
-
1. create a Border Binder with copies of all the required documents in
tabbed order
2. apply for Nexus
3. when approaching border for a one time crossing have a written and easy
to read list of contents including cubby stowage - and containers - items
of value should be listed on separate page with $$ value and total --
SO it might look like this -
Rubbermaid Container - Blue
bread, cherrios, milk and coffee
Rubbermaid Container - Blue
Tools - various - some spare parts - filters and belts
Various personal clothing items for two passengers -male and ?
Safety gear in stowage over water storage port side -
Fridge contains 6 canned beer and two qt wine - 1 dozen eggs
spare bedding in stowage cupboard over bed
Magazines and books from personal library
various personal goods in port side cupboards
----
Then upon return to home port -- with time out of country effecting $$
amount allowed to return with duty free
Same list and
Goods purchased outside of home port list -
Fudge 20$
case of preserves from Aunt Sheila - 12 bottles of pickled Salmon - no $
value
Case of wine - 12 1litre bottles for gifts to relatives - 20$ - 75$ each
Total value of case 600$
Books purchased at used book store - 74$
candy at specialty shop - 100$
drill for uncle Joe -100$
New wheels for Vanagon including rims and tires 1500$
Household goods and groceries from Costco 1500$
Total value $3894.00
Now depending on the officer you get - they may say welcome home - they may
say pull over there and they this slip into the office - they may say
please see the officer in isle three in that building over there -
Once i went to Washington State for lunch with a girl - we were in a 1970
Loaf - 3 hours later (only other purchase 1 pak of cigarettes each) we went
to re-enter Canada at the single wicket dirt road crossing - the CBS person
wanted to charge me $$ as if i had purchased cigs in canada - so in other
words i would pay twice - I was stunned and said do i have any other
choice -- she said yes we can seize the goods - ok i said and handed them
over - better to lose 5$ than pay 10$
it really is all in the person you get and the way you deal with them - a
real one on one relationship with little to no rules - The space at a
border into any country is not a space that respects the "rights" of an
individual and does not assign any special privileges to a person just
because they are returning home.
Indeed the return home may indeed be the very action that causes them the
greatest upset -
I will also remind our American friends who have bank accounts in Canada -
FICA is in place and you may find upon your return to USA that you will be
asked questions regarding your $$ stowed in Canada that you may or may not
have declared or paid tax on -
There are also rules about declaring cash or other negotiable $ instruments
regardless of amount if amount is over normal reasonable person cash for
travel
Happy travels
regards
Now depending on the officer
On Wed, Jul 22, 2015 at 7:33 AM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have flown back and forth acroos US and Canadian borders in small planes
> many times. always a cordial interview with customs, a few questions, a
> cursory look into the airplane cockpit and I was on my way. Sometimes
> getting across the Canadian border back into Alaska was problematic, mostly
> because of the time it took. US Customs at the TOK airport was a little
> slow, mostly because there were oter things they has to as well as customs
> work, but there ws never any real problems.
>
> Dick Rutan, brother to BURT RUTAN, designer of the first plane to fly
> around the world, flew one of their planes from down in the states (can't
> remember where he started - mid-west somewhere) across Canada into ALASKA
> nonstop all the way to ANCHORAGE.. Customs was really upset on both sides
> of the border for a while, but since he didn't land in Canada there was no
> rule that he had to clear with customs. Eventually the argument went
> silent. There are probably rules about that now. Dick and Burt changed the
> fuel tank out in that plane, and then Dick flew it non-stop from ANCHORAGE
> to BERMUDA. The final goal was the VIRGIN ISLANDS if he could make it but I
> don't remember if he got there or not. He DID make it as far as BERMUDA,
> however.
>
> John
> On Jul 22, 2015 1:44 AM, "Mark Tuovinen" <aksyncronaut@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > The only time we were ever searched was entering Canada from Idaho, I
> > figured it had to do with a guy with a ponytail driving a VW van and even
> > then they only did a half hearted job, went through our luggage but did
> not
> > even attempt to search the van. Its a different world on the Border
> > between Alaska and Canada, not much smuggling going on there which makes
> > for more relaxed crossing. We have never been searched there in either
> > direction or asked about food items, sometimes alcohol though often they
> > don't mention it either. We are always asked about weapons, Alaskans and
> > their guns you know, but don't usually have any, they don't want you to
> > bring bear spray unless you are backpacking the Chilkoot Trail, etc, then
> > its ok. Unlike other travelers Alaskans with pets don't have to provide
> > proof of the animals health this is due to the fact that to get to or
> from
> > some parts of the state to others we have to go through Canada.
> >
> > The biggest question crossing the Border is which guard do you get the
> one
> > that follows the letter of the law and has the time to ask and search or
> > the one that asks the basics and makes a judgment call, plan for the
> first
> > one and you are ok. Each one will find something different to challenge
> > you on, last time through I crossed six times going from Anchorage to
> > Skagway and back, four by road, once hiking the Chilkoot Trail, and once
> on
> > the train back to Skagway. A Border Guard at Beaver Creek entering
> Canada
> > questioned me regarding my stepdaughter Julia whom was traveling with me,
> > our names are different but she was 18 and he had her passport showing
> that
> > in his hand. He said nothing about Brandon a friends 14yr old son whom
> was
> > with us and did not ask for documents proving I had permission to take a
> > unrelated minor out of the USA. A few hundred miles later entering back
> > into Alaska on our way to Skagway the US guard said nothing about Julia
> but
> > did about Brandon. In Skagway you get your Chilkoot Trail pass and they
> > check ID there but once on the trail the Rangers never checked us and on
> > the train that takes you from Lake Bennett back to Skagway they stopped
> us
> > short of town walked through the cars and had us hold our passports up
> and
> > open so they could match the photos but that was all. Crossing back into
> > Canada at Fraser on our way home the Canadian guards took Julia into
> their
> > office and grilled her about me and how we were all related but probably
> > got tired of the story as knowing her she started at the beginning when
> her
> > grandparents met Brandon's grandparents back in the early 60's or how her
> > mom, my wife, was my sisters roommate in college about 1980. The final
> > crossing at Beaver Creek back into the US was our typical there," where
> are
> > you headed?", "home", and away we went.
> >
> > Mark in AK - wishing I was on a road trip!
> >
> > On Tue, Jul 21, 2015 at 7:44 AM, bernie <1234bjs@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > A friend from Vancouver was recently fined
> > > 200 dollars at US border because she had some foods in her westy that
> she
> > > was not aware were not allowed. I bring nothing across to US but some
> > > tinned food and oatmeal. It's your responsibility to know what you have
> > on
> > > board.
> > > They are becoming more sticky in this regards and very intolerant of
> > people
> > > "forgetting" what they have aboard. The link below addresses what you
> can
> > > bring into Canada. I have never been asked about my prescription meds
> but
> > > they are in original container. In general coming into Canada is less
> > > restrictive in the food area than returning to the US. Presently Canada
> > > doesn't want uncooked chicken because of bird flu. See the list below.
> > > Coming back to US if agent asks about food indicate that you
> > > have no meat no fruit and no vegetables (Make very sure you do not!!!)
> > > Stating that right off the bat is big positive in their view. In one
> > > statement you are showing
> > > you know what you have on board and you don't have
> > > any restricted foods. There is little reason to bring food
> > > back from Canada anyway as it cheaper in the US.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/information-for-consumers/travellers/what-can-i-bring-into-canada-/eng/1389648337546/1389648516990
> > >
> >
>
--
roger whittaker 604.414.6266
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