First Time To Canada Questions « Columbus Underground Messageboard

Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Travel

First Time To Canada Questions

[35 posts] [21 contributors]

Topic Rating:

(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:

Started 1 year ago by Neil Jaye
Latest reply from 0Angle

Tags:

12 Next »

Neil Jaye

Login to Send PM

Hey all. This will be my first trip to Canada, or DRIVING to another country period. I wanted to know if any of you could advise me on what to expect and what the procedures are. In addition, I believe I have all the proper documents (at least I hope so because itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s probably too late to get them if not), but below is a list of what I am taking. Let me know if I need more, or donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t need any of it.

- Valid Passport
- Valid DriverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s License
- Current Insurance Card (both US and Canadian permission)
- Vehicle Registration
- Hotel Verification
- Checking account info (was told they may ask for proof of financial ability to stay for the time. Sounds odd but let me know)

Also are there good or bad times to go across? I am shoot for 7a Saturday morning.

Thanks for the feed back!!!!

Posted 1 year ago #
JimL2

Login to Send PM

I think you should be fine. But on the other hand, I wouldn't have even considered bringing proof of fiscal solvency or hotel verification. Unless you're going there to set up a business or are staying for more than a couple weeks, I doubt you'll need more than that.

Posted 1 year ago #
chaptal
West Side
Login to Send PM

Looks like you have everything. I drove over two years ago. Not sure if anything changed. Checking account info is odd, but better to be safe than not allowed to cross.

Crossing over at Windsor or the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area?

Have a safe and fun trip.

Posted 1 year ago #
groundrules

Login to Send PM

You're crossing at Windsor, I take it? They'll only look at your passport. It's practically a non-issue. If in doubt, just tell 'em you're going for a bachelor party and they'll just give you the knowing nod and send you through. It's usually more of a pain to get back into the US. Remember no fresh fruit, no weapons, and no DUIs.

Posted 1 year ago #
Neil Jaye

Login to Send PM

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Yes, I am going through Winsdor. Don't expect any issues.

Posted 1 year ago #
anillo
Marzipan City
Login to Send PM

Just end every sentence with "ay?" and if they start to look suspicious start talking about hockey or curling and you'll be fine.

Posted 1 year ago #
Neil Jaye

Login to Send PM

One other question...will an Ohio ID serve as valid ID for bars, etc, or do I need carry my passport everywhere?

Posted 1 year ago #
groundrules

Login to Send PM

Neil Jaye wrote >>
One other question...will an Ohio ID serve as valid ID for bars, etc, or do I need carry my passport everywhere?

I really doubt you'll get IDed at all, but I think a license will work fine.

Posted 1 year ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
Login to Send PM

We used to drive into Canada to drink when we ere 18 in high school and they never carded us.

Posted 1 year ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
Login to Send PM

If you have any questions about Canadian cities, well, I can tell you that in Windsor you can get real absinthe (with wordwood) at Milk Bar (a cafe/bar), Ouelette is the main stretch in downtown and west of there is the university area and lots of Asian restaurants, east on Erie is Via Italia, and east on Wyandotte brings you to the Arab quarter.

Oh, and be sure to make it to Montreal and Quebec City to get your poutin fix.

Posted 1 year ago #
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
Login to Send PM

I drove across the border into Vancouver several times, and never had any trouble getting into Canada. Getting back into the country of my birth, with all the proper documentation, however, was a massive pain in the ass.

Posted 1 year ago #
Paul
Vancouver, BC
Login to Send PM

I live in Vancovuer, BC right now. Crossed back and forth across the border about 100+ times while living in Bellingham, WA prior to that.

At work but will write a more detailed response on all your cross-border Canadian questions after a meeting here.

Posted 1 year ago #
Paul
Vancouver, BC
Login to Send PM

Everyone pretty much has this nailed already.

The only thing you really are going to have to show is a valid passport.

If youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re driving, you should have your driverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s license, proof or insurance, and current registration with you regardless.

I canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t imagine in a million years theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢d ask you for your hotel verification or proof of financial accountability.

As for the best time to go, check on the border wait times: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html There are probably a few other resource online as well.

As for getting into bars, an Ohio ID should not give you any problems in Windsor. Never hurts to have a second piece of ID on you for verification, though.

Border crossing experience can vary from a couple brief questions to them having you sit in a room for 6 hours while they tear apart your car. Just make sure you answer all questions honestly and concisely. DonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t expound on your answer unless asked to. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve run into that issue a few times. I guess it makes it look like youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re trying to hide something. TheyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll most likely ask the purpose of your visit, where youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re staying, and how long youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re staying for. They might ask questions of other people in your car and ask how you know each other. They might also ask random questions to try and throw you off. Just answer yes or no, if appropriate, or give an honest direct answer. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve been asked if I was bringing up any drugs, guns, illegal electronics, and child porn on separate occasions.

Depending on the guard you get it can either be friendly and straightforward or aggressive and scary. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve had plenty of both.

You should be fine. Have a good time up north!

Posted 1 year ago #
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
Login to Send PM

It used to be a breeze but the last time I went through to Canada (Sarnia/Port Huron) the guy asked me LOTS of questions. I was travelling alone and must have looked like a drug runner or something. Getting back was also more hassle than years past; they made me pop the trunk and looked in the glove box.

Also, if you have kids with you, make damn sure you have all the necessary paperwork in order.

Posted 1 year ago #
drew

Login to Send PM

Most of the time it's a whole lot of nothing, but I did get the full 'criminal suspect' treatment once. They took everything out of my car and searched through it while I sat in a big acrylic detainment cube watching them (Niagara crossing). I have no idea why they do that to some people and not others... guess I looked suspicious.

They found an aspirin under a floor mat, and desperately seemed to want for it to have been something more illicit. 3 hours later, I was off...

Posted 1 year ago #
The Hegemo
Delusions of Grandview
Login to Send PM

I used to live in Canada, so I've crossed the border hundreds of times both ways, as both an American and a Canadian resident. Usually it's pretty perfunctory. Especially at Windsor, which is always really busy. Canadian Customs officials at Windsor are kind of assholes (there and Pearson Airport are the rudest in my experience) but also usually in a hurry to get you on through. Every time I've actually been pulled in and questioned or had my car searched has been at a less busy rural crossing. Just don't overthink their questions or try to be clever. Answer simply and directly. Sometimes they will throw in oddball questions to try and trip you up, like asking where you work or something. Or instead of asking first where you live, ask where you were born -- that always trips me up when they reverse that order: "Colu -- er, Cincinnati, Ohio."

Generally, if you're just going to travel and sightsee, they don't ask much. I've found that it generates a lot of suspicion when I say I'm going to visit friends, which is typically why I go to Canada these days, because I guess they think that if you know people there, you might be trying to stay illegally. That's when they start asking about my job and so on, I guess to try and suss out what commitments I have here that I would be going back for.

I'd be really surprised if they asked for proof of how much is in your checking account. I don't think they even checked that when I was moving to Canada on a student visa.

Ohio ID will generally work okay in bars or liquor stores, although if you're young-looking, you might get the occasional person who questions it. Having your passport on you would back it up, but so would any other library card or credit card or whatever that shows evidence that you do live in Ohio. But in general they don't card much there.

7AM will probably be a less busy time at Windsor. I have really avoided the Ambassador Bridge the past decade or so because it is almost always really backed up. The Detroit-Windsor tunnel is often not as bad. Usually, when I'm going on across to Toronto or other points east of London, I just go around Detroit and cross at Port Huron-Sarnia because it's usually not as busy. But 7AM on a weekend might be one of the few times the Ambassador Bridge isn't too bad. I did use it last summer and I think it was a Sunday morning and the wait wasn't too bad.

Posted 1 year ago #
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
Login to Send PM

They did just add a bunch of booths at the Ambassador bridge. Provided they are all open, things move alright most of the time.

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
Login to Send PM

Passport is all you need at the crossing. They'll typically ask citizenship and residency of vehicle occupants, where you are going, how long you are staying and if you are bringing anything in. As long as you have good, concrete answers you won't have a problem:

US, Columbus, OH...3 days...hotel x on y street

Canada is pretty different about carding. I never get carded visiting family in the Soo. Down here, I am carded 99% of the time.

Make sure you have some small bills/loose change for any bridge tolls.

ETA

If you planned on stopping at the Beer Store and grabbing a case for the hotel room or anything, stock up stateside. Beer is expensive on the other side of the bridge with the various taxes.

Posted 1 year ago #
racheltb
clintonville
Login to Send PM

We just crossed in Sarnia on July 7 and Peace Bridge July 17 with child and car full of camping gear. Small wait and only a few questions each way.

Keep your eyes to the sky for northern lights if you are out of the cities - there's some solar madness going on that's making them more visible right now.

Posted 1 year ago #
JonMyers
Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
Login to Send PM

Neil, funny enough, I accidentally recorded the audio on a Flip cam when Chuck and I crossed the Canadian border last October.

He did a great job of doing the talking. I got chewed out for being on my iPhone.

This is what you can expect:

Get the Video Player

Posted 1 year ago #