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From: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: Customs between U.S. and Canada (what's the problem)
Message-ID: <1443@dciem.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Mar-85 17:37:52 EST
Article-I.D.: dciem.1443
Posted: Thu Mar  7 17:37:52 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Mar-85 20:22:16 EST
References: <853@decwrl.UUCP> 
Reply-To: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor)
Organization: D.C.I.E.M., Toronto, Canada
Lines: 36
Summary: 


>     I was a little bit perturbed at the person who said customs between
>the States and Canada asks for I.D.. AtNiagara, the closest border point
>to here, they look at what kind of vehicle you have. Obviously, if you
>have a van or truck, they will take a look for illegal immigrants;
>but, if you are only a car, they'll just ask if you are a Canadian
>citizen or American, and what you plan to do.  Then, they'll let you go,
>unless you are doing something really unusual. Very rarely are people
>stopped with any amount of nuisance. In fact, to us up here, the Canadian
>border guards are nicer than the American(maybe it's our accents).
>All in all, customs is very good between the border; their are always
>horror stories, but it's kinda like the postal system. Everybody
>has a story of some kind.
>
>Sincerely yours,
>
>                        DAVE BROWN

Whether the Canada/US border is easy or difficult to cross depends on
a lot of things, including luck.  If you have an accent easily identified
as US or Canadian, things are likely to be easy, unless you look like
you might have long hair or be otherwise suspect.  With a somewhat
English accent (modified by 35 years living in Toronto), I find I
get asked for proof of citizenship coming into Canada about half the time.
Half the time going into the States I get some kind of hassle.  For
people accustomed to European borders, the Canada/US one is very tough.
For people accustomed to East European borders, it is probably very easy.
Immigration is usually worse than Customs (for me).  I've only had my
things looked at about 5-10% of the time, going either way.
Nowadays, I always carry my passport.  It has saved lots of time at
the border, even though it isn't strictly required.
-- 

Martin Taylor
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